Scottish finance MP speaks out September 23, 2012 SCOTLAND’S finance minister John Swinney has claimed that an independent Scotland would be able to take on the state-backed liabilities of Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group. Speaking at the Institute of Chartered Accountants conference the SNP minister said that if Scotland had been independent at the time RBS and HBOS, now Lloyds, [...]
SocGen sets retail targets September 23, 2012 SOCIETE Generale has set itself a target to increase profits at its retail banking arms in Russia and Romania. SocGen, like its rivals, is cutting costs and selling assets to better resist Europe’s sovereign debt crisis, regulatory costs and volatile markets. The chief executive of France’s second-biggest listed bank, Frederic Oudea, told the Financial Times [...]
G4S bosses in firing line after roles examined September 23, 2012 THE roles of top bosses at security firm G4S are on the line this week as the firm finalises its internal report into its Olympic staffing fiasco. The jobs of Nick Buckles, chief executive, David Taylor-Smith, chief operating officer, and Ian Horseman Sewell, head of global events are all being examined as part of the [...]
GI Partners eyes sale of mental health-care provider Cambian September 23, 2012 THE OWNERS of the Cambian Group are exploring the sale of the UK’s largest healthcare provider for around £500m. GI Partners, the private equity group, has appointed the investment bank Rothschild to work on a strategic review that could lead to the sale of Cambian. Sources close to the company said that GI hoped to [...]
Ex-Asda chief joins food group Bigham’s September 23, 2012 ALLAN Leighton, the former boss of Asda and the Royal Mail, has joined the board of Charlie Bigham’s, the upmarket ready meal maker, as a non-executive director. The London-based food group, which employs over 200 staff and turns over around £24m a year, said it hopes bringing Leighton on board will help it reach its [...]
George Soros invests in Lookers September 23, 2012 Billionaire investor George Soros has snapped up a 4.5 per cent shareholding in Manchester-based Lookers car dealership. The 82-year-old, famous for his £10bn bet against the exchange mechanism in 1992, is thought to have paid around £12m, based on the firm’s £267.6m stock market value on Friday. Soros bought the shares through Soros Fund Management. [...]
Fidelity set to oppose Redrow bid September 23, 2012 Redrow’s third largest shareholder is set to oppose the proposed bid by Steve Morgan, the housebuilder’s founder and executive chairman to take the company private for about £660m. Fidelity Worldwide Investments, which together with its US counterpart, owns 10.5 per cent of Redrow, said Morgan’s offer was “opportunistic” and plans to oppose the plans, according [...]
JJB’s sale faces scrutiny of the retail watchdog September 23, 2012 SPORTS Direct’s proposed takeover of JJB Sports’ 180 stores is likely to come under investigation by the competition watchdog once the acquisition has already taken place. The sportswear giant founded by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley remains one of the frontrunners to buy the struggling retailer, although it is said to be interested in less [...]
Interest in Tchenguiz property portfolio reaches a crescendo September 23, 2012 INSURANCE firms are leading the charge for property magnate Vincent Tchenguiz’s £3bn property portfolio after a pick up in demand for the assets. MetLife, AIG and Prudential are all understood to be in the running for the portfolio, which is being sold off by the Tchenguiz Family Trust. Citigroup has been appointed to handle the [...]
Norway’s oil workers in deal September 23, 2012 NORWEGIAN energy firms and oil services workers reached a preliminary wage deal over the weekend, raising hopes the sides could avoid another strike after labour action in July hamstrung the world’s eighth-largest oil exporter. They agreed on a 4.5 per cent wage increase, subject to a ballot by the 5,800 employees, negotiators said in separate [...]
