O’Shea eyes home semi after Harlequins seal play-off place April 15, 2012 HARLEQUINS might be the first side to have secured an Aviva Premiership semi-final spot but director of rugby Conor O’Shea insists the job is only half done. O’Shea’s troops crept closer to the 26 May final at Twickenham on Saturday, when they comfortably saw off struggling Wasps 33-17 at The Stoop to clinch only their [...]
NBNK goes on offensive for Lloyds branches April 12, 2012 NBNK Investments has leapt back into the fray by sending in a new bid for 632 Lloyds branches, as the deal to sell them to the Co-op appears close to collapse. The bid, which values the package of assets at between £1.5bn and £2bn, is designed to make Lloyds think twice about continuing with its [...]
Aviva considering plans to sell £1bn US life insurance business April 12, 2012 INSURANCE giant Aviva is considering selling its US business, which is estimated to be worth around £1bn – but analysts say that regulatory conditions mean it may struggle to dispose of the division. Chief executive Andrew Moss reportedly told an investor conference that the company is open to offers for its American unit, which was [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING April 11, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Aviva considers plans for sale of US division Aviva is considering plans to sell its life assurance business in the US in a move analysts estimate could raise at least £1bn and mark an exit from one of the UK-listed group’s core markets. Andrew Moss, chief executive, told investment managers at a recent [...]
Barclays shrugs off criticism of executive pay April 9, 2012 BARCLAYS is relaxed about the row over bonuses for its top executives and would be unfazed if an expected 10 per cent of shareholders vote against its remuneration report, said a source familiar with the bank’s thinking. The bank has shrugged off criticism amid suggestions that four of its biggest British institutional shareholders could cast [...]
Why most investors don’t care if Diamond gets rich April 9, 2012 IT used to be big news if the likes of Standard Life, Scottish Widows, Fidelity and Aviva combined forces to vote against a company’s remuneration report. Such a roster of big British institutions would have had the clout and the votes to make the company reconsider its intentions or risk a very bloody nose. Hence [...]
Beaten English readjust targets April 9, 2012 SARACENS boss Mark McCall has backed his team to bounce back from European disappointment and focus on their Aviva Premiership title defence, starting this weekend at London Irish. Defeat against Harlequins at Wembley 10 days ago followed by a 22-3 Heineken Cup exit to Clermont Auvergne on Easter Sunday leaves the domestic champions with just [...]
ONE FOR THE TROPHY CABINET April 2, 2012 Over the past few days, the Aviva Premiership Rugby trophy has been making its way into City offices, where busy executives have tried to see for how long they can raise the silverware. Martin Smith (pictured above) of recruiting group Hydrogen has taken an early lead in the challenge, which will reward the lucky winner [...]
Robshaw lifts Quins for Saracens clash March 30, 2012 HARLEQUINS stand-in skipper George Robson believes the return of captain Chris Robshaw is the perfect fillip ahead of tomorrow’s Aviva Premiership table-topping clash with Saracens at Wembley. Robshaw, 25, is back to bolster the Quins pack for the first time since captaining England to second place in the Six Nations, with revenge on the menu [...]
Leicester leave it late to ruin Irish Heineken hopes March 25, 2012 LONDON IRISH head coach Toby Booth refused to show remorse for not shutting up shop as the Exiles squandered an Aviva Premiership victory and a losing bonus point against Leicester yesterday. Tom Croft’s last-gasp breakaway try put the gloss on a 41-32 Tigers win at the Madejski Stadium, after Irish had led 32-31 with just [...]