Ryanair hopes to woo EU with compromise on Aer Lingus bid October 22, 2012 IRISH low-cost airline Ryanair has offered concessions to European Union antitrust regulators in a bid to secure regulatory clearance to acquire local rival Aer Lingus. Ryanair, whose most recent bid for Aer Lingus in June valued the firm at €694m (£566m), hopes to convince the European Commission that a takeover would not restrict competition on [...]
Imaging firm OMG shares leap on rising technology demand October 22, 2012 INCREASED demand for complex video-capture technology in Hollywood and on spy planes has led imaging technology company Oxford Metrics Group (OMG) to beat expectations this year. The firm’s trading update yesterday sent shares in the Aim-listed company up 24 per cent, to levels not seen since 2008. The company runs a number of separate imaging [...]
EE chief encouraged Apple to change iPhone 5 for 4G October 22, 2012 OLAF Swantee, the chief executive of Orange and T-Mobile owner EE, personally intervened to convince Apple and other smartphone manufacturers to make their devices run on EE’s new high speed “4G” network, Swantee claimed yesterday. The new EE service, the details of which were announced today, will be the first 4G network in the UK, [...]
Can London compete with Silicon Valley? October 22, 2012 BEN RIGBY | IT CONSULTANT Not really. The concentration is too much on mobile app developers rather than Silicon Valley, where there is a history of fledgling technologies being developed from the ground up. GUY EMMERSON | BADENOCH & CLARK We’re a way off Silicon Valley in terms of numbers but we’ve got the brainpower [...]
O2 Arena launches ticketing scheme October 22, 2012 O2 Arena owner AEG is launching a ticketing service to bypass the likes of Ticketmaster and sell direct to fans. It said the AXS service would put an end to inflated fees and website crashes. “Until now, purchasing tickets has often been a frustrating and time-consuming process,” AEG said. Upcoming O2 shows include The Rolling [...]
Gloves on: City lawyers slug it out in the ring October 22, 2012 FIVE sparring solicitors from DLA Piper, Clyde & Co and SJ Berwin have clubbed together to compete against each other in a black tie boxing bash at St Paul’s – though the tuxes will be worn by spectators, rather than our jousting lawyers. The reason for the fisticuffs isn’t to vent anger but to raise money [...]
No shortage of bedtime financial reading October 22, 2012 WATERSTONES in Leadenhall Market is becoming a popular City hangout. For evidence look no further than the photograph above. The Capitalist reported a couple of weeks ago that City A.M’s Sam Torrance was spotted scribbling away there; now ex-corporate financier Tony Drury has done the same, signing copies of his second novel The Deal while [...]
Symphony adds to acquisition war chest with London placing October 22, 2012 SYMPHONY International Holdings, the Asian orientated investment company listed in London, yesterday said it is well on the way to raise $100m (£62.5m) in London through a share placing. The company, which makes investments in burgeoning Asian consumer businesses, announced its rights issue on 4 October. Yesterday it said it had received acceptances for 99.9m [...]
Philips revival continues as it doubles profit October 22, 2012 PHILIPS boss Frans van Houten’s comprehensive cost-saving plan is paying off, the Dutch company revealed yesterday, as it revealed that profits more than doubled in the three months to October. Van Houten has overseen thousands of job cuts and ditched Philips’ loss-making TV business since he took over the ailing firm 18 months ago. Yesterday’s [...]
Fidessa profits to flatline after brokers’ dip in equity volumes October 22, 2012 FIDESSA, the London-listed company that makes trading systems for brokers, yesterday warned there would be no revenue growth at the firm this year due to a squeeze on software spending by brokerage customers. The FTSE 250-listed firm said its customer base was being hit by lagging equity volumes, leading to a drop in demand for [...]
