UBS celebrates with watches June 26, 2012 In these days of cutbacks and (relative) austerity among the world’s investment banks, it’s good to see that the Swiss-based UBS is trying to muster up a celebratory mood. UBS is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and in so doing has given each of its 65,000 employees worldwide a Swatch watch. The gesture has [...]
BT Vision gamble might be costly June 26, 2012 Group’s football move must win customers from BSkyB BT VISION’S surprising capture of the rights to 38 live Premier League matches from the beginning of the season after next is described as “the largest thing we have done in television to date” by the group’s chief executive Marc Watson. The problem for BT Vision is [...]
Ofcom takes new steps to crack down on piracy June 26, 2012 ILLEGAL downloaders could be reported to copyright owners under a new system unveiled yesterday by communications regulator Ofcom. The draft code – still subject to a consultation period, European approval and the governmental green light – requires the major internet service providers (ISPs) to notify their customers of allegations that their internet connection has been [...]
Digital Realty invests £715m in London data centre properties June 26, 2012 US DATA centre firm Digital Realty Trust said yesterday it was buying three properties near London for a total of £715.6m. The world’s biggest provider of real estate for data centres is looking to the European market for growth with the 761,000 square feet investment across three data centres located in Woking, Watford and Croydon. [...]
Wolfson soars on deal to supply Samsung parts June 26, 2012 SHARES in chipmaking firm Wolfson Microelectronics rose by almost seven per cent yesterday after it announced a deal to provide audio technology to Samsung’s next Galaxy smartphone. The Edinburgh-based company’s ultra low power HD audio hub, known as the WM8994, will be used in Samsung’s Galaxy S3 handset, which was launched last month and is [...]
Profits fall at Domino Printing June 26, 2012 Barcode-printer maker Domino Printing Sciences reported a nine per cent fall in first-half profit, as the fallout from the debt crisis in Europe prompted customers to delay orders, and the company said sales for the year would be similar to those achieved last year. For the six months ended 30 April, Domino Printing reported an [...]
BAA says charges dent earnings June 26, 2012 Airport operator BAA yesterday trimmed its earnings forecasts for the year by 1.2 per cent as parking charges temporarily dent its bottom line. The owner of Heathrow and Stansted said it would recoup the levies in 2014, and expects to make £1.268bn in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation during 2012.
Francisco set to win Kewill fight June 26, 2012 Francisco Partners looks set to take over Kewill, after rival bidder Symphony said yesterday it will not raise its bid for the software company. Fransisco, who swooped in to top Symphony’s offer last week, will formally win the bidding war with its £102.7m approach as early as this week.
Upbeat outlook as Stagecoach grows revenue June 26, 2012 STAGECOACH, one of the UK’s biggest bus and coach operators, said yesterday it was confident about the coming 12 months, despite a 1.5 per cent dip in pre-tax profits to £202.5m. Revenues rose eight per cent to £2.6bn, helped by a strong financial performance at its London bus services. But its East Midlands rail franchise [...]
SAB Miller boss Graham Mackay gets rise to £5.9m for last year June 26, 2012 GRAHAM MACKAY, the chief executive of the world’s second largest brewer SAB Miller, was paid £5.9m last year, putting him among the 20 best paid bosses in the FTSE 100. SAB’s annual report published yesterday shows that his pay package, which includes base salary, bonuses and benefits, but excludes stock options, increased five per cent [...]
