Takeover hopes fade for Omega March 27, 2012 Omega, the Lloyd’s of London insurer that rejected three takeover bids last year, yesterday disappointed the market by providing scant details of a possible takeover offer. The firm said yesterday it “confirms that it continues to review possible options to increase value for its shareholders, which include an offer for the company”. Its shares, which [...]
Sony offers EMI deal concessions March 27, 2012 The Sony-led consortium bidding to buy EMI’s music publishing unit has offered concessions to Brussels as it pushes for approval of the takeover. Details were not given, but it is thought Sony would be willing to sell off some divisions or commit to certain business practices to protect the $2.2bn deal. Sony, alongside Blackstone, Abu [...]
HSBC shuts Slovakian business March 27, 2012 HSBC is planning to close its Slovakian operations by the end of the third quarter, the banking group announced yesterday, as part of its efforts to refocus on its core Asian markets. HSBC will stop taking new business in the country immediately but will provide services for existing clients until the closure later this year. [...]
Kalou fires Chelsea to brink of Euro semis March 27, 2012 BENFICA 0 vs CHELSEA 1 CHELSEA manager Roberto di Matteo is still expecting sleepless nights before next week’s return leg, despite planting one foot into the Champions League semi-finals with a gutsy victory last night in Lisbon. Much-maligned forward Salomon Kalou’s 75th-minute tap-in and his team-mates’ tireless chasing of a talented Benfica side ushered the [...]
Spurs see off Bolton to book all-London Wembley cup date March 27, 2012 TOTTENHAM 3 vs BOLTON1 TOTTENHAM winger Gareth Bale admits they face daunting FA Cup semi-final opposition in Chelsea after his late goal helped vanquish stubborn Bolton last night and set up an all-London date at Wembley. In a match rearranged after the original was abandoned due to Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba’s on-field cardiac arrest, Spurs [...]
England star Hartley lands eight-week ban for biting March 27, 2012 SIX NATIONS rugby chiefs were last night coming under increasing pressure to explain their reasoning after England hooker Dylan Hartley escaped with an eight-week ban for biting Ireland’s Stephen Ferris. The suspension, which leaves Hartley free for the summer tour to South Africa, is four weeks shorter than the minimum stipulated by the International Rugby [...]
Batsmen have let side down, confesses Bell March 27, 2012 ENGLAND cricketer Ian Bell admits he and his fellow batsmen have failed their bowling colleagues too often this year after spin again proved their undoing on day two of the first Test in Sri Lanka. Woefully off-form Bell and out-of-sorts twirler Graeme Swann were the tourists’ unlikely star performers on an eventful day that saw [...]
Murray on course for Nadal clash in Miami March 27, 2012 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray swept into the quarter-finals of the Miami Masters with a straight-sets triumph over Frenchman Gilles Simon last night. World No4 Murray beat Simon for the ninth time in 10 meetings 6-3, 6-4 to set up a last-eight clash against Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic. The Scot profited from a patient approach against Simon, [...]
Pendleton stokes rivalry with Meares March 27, 2012 BRITAIN’S Olympic track cycling champion Victoria Pendleton has branded her arch-rival, Australia’s Anna Meares, a rider who “pushes the rules”, just days before they are due to clash. There has been no love lost between the pair since Meares cut Pendleton off at a race more than five years ago, and nowhere is their duel [...]
Bradford Bulls beg fans for £1m March 27, 2012 HARD-UP rugby league outfit Bradford Bulls have warned the club will go out of business unless they raise £1m – and have asked fans to chip in. The four-time Super League champions want supporters to pledge £100 each, and say they need £500,000 by the middle of next month to reduce their debts. Chairman Peter [...]
