AOL close to sale of Bebo June 16, 2010 AOL is close to selling social network site Bebo to private investment firm Criterion Capital Partners, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. AOL bought the site more than two years ago for $850m (£569.7m), but is now aiming to streamline its business since Time Warner spun it off last year. In April, [...]
Icahn has 31pc Lions Gate stake June 16, 2010 Billionaire Carl Icahn said yesterday that 12.5 per cent of Lions Gate Entertainment’s shares were tendered after his $7 a share offer, effectively giving him a 31 per cent stake in the studio. Under the terms of Lions Gate’s $340m (£230.6m) credit facility, any investor gaining more than 20 per cent of the studio, home [...]
France Tel in £67m bid June 16, 2010 France Telecom SA is planning to bid alongside a French magazine owner for a controlling stake in Le Monde. The French telecommunications operator and Groupe SFA PAR will bid around €80m (£66.9m) for a 65 per cent stake in Le Monde SA, said SFA owner Claude Perdriel yesterday.
Retirement age in France to rise to 62 June 16, 2010 FRENCH citizens face two more years of slogging away at work until they can retire, under new pensions system reforms unveiled by the country’s government yesterday. France plans to raise its minimum retirement age to 62 by 2018, from its current threshold of 60. The government will also increase taxes for top earners, targeting capital [...]
Spain to reveal bank stress test results in a move to reassure June 16, 2010 SPAIN’S central bank will publish stress tests on its lenders and Germany is coordinating disclosure at EU level, moving Europe’s banking sector closer to putting its financial health on public display. After media leaks that Madrid was keen on disclosure of stress tests on banks to dispel rumours it is about to seek Greek-style aid, [...]
For a top Royal Ascot tip, just Ask June 16, 2010 ASK is a horse that won at the highest level over a mile and a half and when connections stepped him up to two miles last time in France, he was simply devastating. With Yeats no longer in the picture, today’s Ascot Gold Cup looks there for the taking and he can provide Sir Michael [...]
CITY VIEWS: SHOULD THE UK RAISE ITS RETIREMENT AGE? June 16, 2010 KIM BRADY | WEST LB “I’ve got a work pension, but other than that I’ve not really considered retirement. I don’t really like the thought of working past 65, but it might be necessary. I wouldn’t have thought people could change jobs easily past that age – I can’t see many companies willing to hire [...]
the INSIDER June 16, 2010 ANIFEST (10%) is something we have all heard plenty about over the last five months but in a political sense rather than the horse. Really it wasn’t until the demolition of a quality field in the Yorkshire Cup that this horse really stole the show. Henry Cecil’s charge powered clear of Purple Moon at York [...]
Euro air traffic down 15.6pc June 16, 2010 European passenger traffic fell by 15.6 per cent in April after taking a hit from the volcano disruptions. The numbers mark a drop from the 3.6 per cent rise reported by the industry in the first quarter. Figures from aviation body International Air Transport Association (IATA) showed that international passenger traffic was also adversely impacted [...]
L&C hires M&S director Michels June 16, 2010 Boutique wealth management firm London & Capital has scored a coup with the appointment of Sir David Michels as chairman. Michels is also currently deputy chairman of retail giant Marks & Spencer and budget airline easyJet. He said: “London & Capital has shown throughout the credit crunch that well run, independent wealth management companies have [...]
