Takeover Panel boss defers his entrance again February 25, 2010 THE Takeover Panel yesterday said the arrival of incoming director general Peter Kiernan had been delayed again, and it had drafted in former head Philip Remnant, chairman of the Shareholder Executive, to serve in his place. The arrival of Kiernan, a senior Lazard banker who advised Kraft Foods on its takeover of Cadbury, had been [...]
Tenon hit with FSA sanctions February 25, 2010 THE Financial Services Authority (FSA) yesterday handed out its first fine in connection with investments backed by the collapsed Lehman Brothers bank after carrying out a review of the structured products market. The City watchdog fined accounting firm RSM Tenon £700,000 on charges that it failed to “treat some of its customers fairly” between November [...]
London Capital profits dip as chief executive quits February 25, 2010 LONDON Capital has seen 2009 profits fall by nearly 50 per cent as the spread betting group is preparing to overhaul its senior management structure. The London-based company said in its annual financial statement that pre-tax profits, which have fallen from £10.8m to £5.8m, had been impacted by unfavourable market conditions, lower interest income and [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS February 25, 2010 CAIRN ENERGY Goldman Sachs downgrades Cairn Energy to “sell” from “neutral” saying it believes the shares are too expensive relative to peers. Sees better risk/reward elsewhere in the sector, and cites Cairn rival Dana as its best buy idea, upgrading it to “buy” from “neutral”. However, says Cairn’s assets and management are both “excellent”. HENDERSON [...]
CHEERS TO A GREAT SCOT February 25, 2010 Renowned artist Jack Vettriano was awarded the 2010 Johnnie Walker Blue Label Great Scot Award at a dinner held at the Boisdale of Belgravia restaurant yesterday. Vettriano is pictured here with his prize, a £3,000 bottle of the John Walker Whisky. Jack, who was presented with the award by last year’s inaugural winner Sir Jackie [...]
Landmark corporate trial begins February 25, 2010 Lawyers across the country will be watching as a landmark corporate court case begins today. Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings becomes the first company to be tried under the 2007 Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act after being accused of a “gross breach” of duty in connection with the death of junior employee Alexander Wright, who was [...]
Ashmore seeking retail growth February 25, 2010 Emerging markets fund firm Ashmore yesterday said it would seek to grow its retail business to diversify its client base, as it boosted first-half profit due to good flows from emerging market sovereign wealth funds. Pre-tax profit leapt 40 per cent to £112m in the six months to end-December compared with the same period a [...]
Poor results for big names in telecoms February 25, 2010 France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom’s celebration of the merger between their Orange and T-Mobile brands in the UK will be muted after both reported disappointing annual results. Deutsche Telekom reported revenue of €64.6bn (£57.2bn), up 4.8 per cent on 2008, largely due to acquisitions. But full-year net income plummeted 76 per cent from €1.5bn in [...]
We must step up our game to beat French, says Williams February 25, 2010 FLANKER Martyn Williams insists Wales have to step up to the mark when they host tournament favourites France in Cardiff tonight. The Cardiff Blues star is set to equal Colin Charvis’ 94-cap Test best for a Wales forward, but knows there will need to be a significant improvement if it is to prove a winning [...]
Troubled Virgin Media turns the corner at last February 25, 2010 VIRGIN Media is a company with a troubled past. Having posted a full-year loss of £94.4m, it obviously still bears the scars. After 25 years of pain, however, the firm is finally turning a corner. The most impressive detail in yesterday’s results was the 28,600 net subscribers the firm signed up to its cable TV [...]
