WILL FEWER PEOPLE BE TAKING A WINTER BREAK IN THE RECESSION? August 12, 2009 SAM HART CHARLES STANLEYWinter 2009/10 is expected to be the toughest period in the current downturn, as winter holidays tend to be more discretionary than summer holidays. Bookings for winter appear to have got off to a slow start, but it remains early in the booking cycle and trading has strengthened in the last four [...]
Mitie acquires UK Dalkia arm August 12, 2009 UK maintenance firm Mitie said it had acquired the British arm of Dalkia, the outsourcing group owned by France’s EDF and Veolia for £130m and had raised £43m through a share placing. Mitie, which cleans the Tower of London, said it had acquired Dalkia Technical Facilities Management to boost the reach and depth of its [...]
Northgate wins placing support August 12, 2009 Northgate, the van hire company, yesterday said that 97.5 per cent of shareholders had backed its rights issue. The group wants to raise around £115m from a placing and rights issue to shelter it from the downturn, which has hit the value of its vehicles.
Norcros sees sales slightly down August 12, 2009 Shower and tile maker Norcros yesterday reported sales down 3.7 per cent at constant currency levels in the 18 weeks to 2 August. The company said in a trading update that its UK businesses had continued to perform well, but warned that its South African operations had been hit by falling demand.
AIG offloads pair of businesses August 12, 2009 US insurer giant AIG said yesterday that it is to sell its Hong Kong finance business to China Construction Bank Asia for $70m in cash and $557m in debt. The group is also selling its Indian IT unit to MphasiS for an undisclosed sum.
Defoe brace rescues England August 12, 2009 HOLLAND (2) vs ENGLAND (2) ENGLAND boss Fabio Capello insisted he remained calm at half-time after substitute Jermain Defoe spared his side’s blushes in Amsterdam last night. Comedy defensive errors from Rio Ferdinand and Gareth Barry handed the Netherlands a 2-0 lead at the break before Defoe climbed off the bench to earn his side [...]
Burley still buoyant as Scots crash August 12, 2009 SCOTLAND boss George Burley insists his team are still on course for a World Cup qualifying play-off spot despite crashing to a 4-0 defeat to Norway in Oslo. The Scots had defender Gary Caldwell sent off on 34 minutes for two bookable offences, prompting Norway to take control and open up a two-goal lead at [...]
Ramprakash tells England: I’m all yours August 12, 2009 MARK RAMPRAKASH last night issued a “come and get me” plea to the England selectors on the day his rivals for a batting spot in next week’s Ashes decider flopped on their county returns. The 39-year-old averages an impressive 100.75 with the bat for Surrey this season and is being strongly linked with a return [...]
Harrington has mindset to defend US PGA title August 12, 2009 DEFENDING champion Padraig Harrington admits he may still be six months away from perfecting his swing, but the Irishman is confident of retaining the US PGA Championship this weekend. Harrington posted his best result of the year on Sunday, when he finished in a tie for second behind Tiger Woods at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. [...]
Quins chief is sorry for blood feigning saga August 12, 2009 HARLEQUINS chief Mark Evans has written to the club’s fans to apologise for the blood-feigning affair. Winger Tom Williams was banned for 12 months after being found guilty of faking an injury in against Leinster in April. “We have to accept we have been found guilty of behaviour that cannot be accepted or condoned and [...]
