Ex-Network Rail chief in new role November 4, 2012 Turnaround specialists Alvarez & Marsal has hired Iain Coucher, the former chief executive of Network Rail, as managing director to help drive its growth in transport and infrastructure sectors overseas. Coucher, who stepped down from Network Rail in 2010, was dogged by allegations of excessive pay and sparked a public backlash over his £1m payoff. [...]
Easy rider: Win Vmoto scooter November 4, 2012 EAGLE-EYED readers will remember a couple of weeks ago that The Capitalist revealed the mystery rider on electric scooter business VMoto’s new ride was none other than Mia Gardener, corporate broker at FinnCap. The brokers were preparing to float Vmoto on AIM when Gardener was accidentally papped on the motorcycle at the Corney & Barrow [...]
A well-oiled Halloween for some at Raffles November 4, 2012 A HAIR-RAISING Halloween bill this morning to make you feel better about the weekend’s excesses, which no doubt pale in comparison to one group’s £40,000 cork-popper at Chelsea members club Raffles last week. The Capitalist hears one regular, a energy trader, was pleasantly surprised when actor Benicio del Toro planted himself on a neighbouring table [...]
Troubled small business seeks state roll-back November 4, 2012 SMALL FIRMS today called for a national insurance holiday and a greater focus on cutting red tape as they fight their way out of recession. Some 41 per cent of firms surveyed by BDO and the Quoted Companies Alliance said reforming equities regulation could help them access finance to grow. The most popular reform would [...]
UK’s highest earners face sixth highest tax burden in the world November 4, 2012 THE UK’S highest earners are being clobbered with the sixth highest overall tax burden in the world, data showed today, dampening the incentives to work and invest in the UK. UK citizens earning the equivalent of $1.5m (£936,900) in a year take home just $749,600 after taxes and social security contributions, the report from UHY [...]
Companies still wary despite bounce back out of recession November 4, 2012 FIRMS REMAIN cautious going into the fourth quarter, according to research released today, despite the UK’s escape from recession. Business confidence climbed to 4.2 for the last three months of the year, accounting body ICAEW said today, from 1.1 in the third quarter. “While the UK economy has come out recession, business confidence is still [...]
Aureus strikes share deal gold November 4, 2012 GOLD miner Aureus Mining, the junior mining entity listed on Aim, has outlined an underwriting agreement with brokers RBC, GMP and Clarus Securities to place $80m (£50m) of shares to fund Liberia’s first commercial gold mine. The London-listed firm, led by former Randgold exploration chief David Reading, is hoping to place a minimum of £50m [...]
Public Accounts Committee set to grill HMRC bosses at hearing November 4, 2012 THE PUBLIC Accounts Committee today opens a probe into tax receipts, with top HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officials to be grilled ahead of the committee questioning Starbucks and Google. Lin Homer, the chief executive of HMRC, will face the committee this afternoon, as will other members of the department. HMRC faced criticism over the [...]
Why banishing fraudsters isn’t such a bad idea November 4, 2012 IN 1814, my ancestors Mary and William met and fell in love on a cruise from England to Australia. It must have been romantic, sailing the three month ocean journey, eating fresh fish while watching the crimson red sunset merge with the sapphire blue waters. Except for one thing, of course. They were convicts. Both [...]
German hospitals have stolen a march on 4G cost savings November 4, 2012 BATTERSEA saw the launch of the UK’s first major fourth generation (4G) mobile service last Thursday. Nicole Scherzinger of X-Factor chose a dress made up of live Tweets for the occasion, while a 4D light show transformed the grim exterior of Battersea’s derelict power station into a lively illumination of what a future super-fast Britain [...]
