BT unanimously backs Rio Tinto chair Jan du Plessis to deal with “continuing challenges” March 9, 2017 BT has announced Rio Tinto's Jan du Plessis will take over as chairman of the telecoms giant from November. Du Plessis succeeds Sir Mike Rake who will step down after 10 years in the job. He admitted it was "an important time" for BT while Rake highlighted the new chairman will face "continuing challenges". The FTSE 100 firm [...]
Could Arsenal survive outside the Champions League in a post-Arsene Wenger future? March 8, 2017 Season after season, Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has been able to bank on Champions League income boosting the club's bottom line thanks to manager Arsene Wenger reliably delivering top four finishes. Yet with speculation surrounding the Frenchman’s position reaching fever pitch since a 10-2 aggregate hammering to Bayern Munich in the last 16 of this year's [...]
Inmarsat share price rockets after announcing landmark tie-up with British Airways March 8, 2017 Inmarsat shares jumped over six per cent this morning after announcing a landmark tie-up BA that it is to be the first airline to provide high speed in-flight broadband to customers. The satellite firm also revealed it had grown group revenue and earnings over the last year, although bottom line figures fell. The figures Group revenue [...]
Inmarsat reveals $3bn savings through embracing its satellite technology March 7, 2017 Satellite firm Inmarsat said today its technology has saved airlines $3bn by enabling planes to fly closer to one another, among other things. The FTSE 250 firm compiled a report in association with specialist consultancy Helios. It concluded $1.1bn had been saved through a single air traffic control system and a further $1.9bn was spared by improving the communications with airline control [...]
Foreign takeovers in the UK hit record levels last year as Megabrew and BG-Shell deals completed March 7, 2017 Foreign takeovers of British companies reached record levels last year as mega-deals announced during 2015 were tied up. In 2016, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) tracked 227 foreign takeovers, the highest annual number since 2011, worth £187.4bn, the highest total value since records began in 1969. These figures were boosted by AB InBev’s £79bn [...]
BT must innovate to win over more football fans and justify its lavish £1.2bn outlay on Champions League rights March 7, 2017 The business of football TV rights used to be relatively simple. There were rights to show live games, and rights to show highlights. For years, Sky dominated the live market, crushing a series of challengers with its financial fire-power and superior coverage. Highlights were often reserved for traditional free-to-air TV channels such as ITV and [...]
BT says it has not overpaid after beating Sky to UEFA Champions League rights March 6, 2017 BT has won the battle to secure the UK TV rights for European Champions League football for the next three years in a deal that will cost the telecoms giant £1.2bn and dismissed suggestions it has overpaid for them The deal, announced this morning, means BT will continue its coverage of Europe's premier club football competition until the [...]
There’s no need for Treasury giveaways to help the just about managing March 6, 2017 On the steps of Downing Street, Theresa May outlined the core of her political strategy: “If you are just about managing, I want to address you directly”. The just about managing – the so-called JAMs – saw their cost of living significantly squeezed in the aftermath of the financial crisis, and it is indeed vital that [...]
Hello, Jan du Plessis: BT set to tap Rio Tinto boss as new chairman March 5, 2017 BT Group is expected to name Rio Tinto boss Jan du Plessis as its new chairman. Du Plessis has emerged as the frontrunner for the role, beating HSBC group chairman Douglas Flint, according to the Sunday Times. Du Plessis has also served as chairman of SAB Miller and overseen its sale to Belgian-Brazilian beer firm Anheuser-Busch [...]
Santander wants to reflect its diverse customer base by hiring 400 new apprentices March 3, 2017 Santander will offer 400 lucky youngsters the chance to undertake an apprenticeship with the lender so it can tap into a wider spectrum of future talent. The bank announced the places today, in advance of next week's National Apprenticeship Week. Read more: Now Santander lets you make payments using just your voice And Santander wasn't stopping there. It [...]