Incoming Barclays chairman John McFarlane to face “very challenging requirements” September 12, 2014 Aviva chairman John McFarlane will face "very challenging requirements" in his new role as chairman of Barclays, said the man who recruited him today. McFarlane, who is one of Scotland's most senior businessmen, will pick up the reins at Barclays' next AGM next April when incumbent Sir David Walker steps down. He is [...]
Most bank branches could close over the next 10 to 20 years September 11, 2014 Most bank branches could close over the next 10 to 20 years, shaking up the whole landscape of British banking – and the high street – industry analysts predicted yesterday. In a decade, a bank could serve the whole UK with just 500 branches, Deutsche Bank analysts forecast. Right now Lloyds Banking Group has more [...]
Europe’s biggest banks are still facing dozens more giant fines September 11, 2014 EUROPE’S biggest banks could face as many as 63 more giant fines between them over the coming years as regulators continue to comb through their misdeeds, analysts at Berenberg warned yesterday. There are 15 major issues still outstanding which could lead to fines of more than €100m (£80m) each, per bank. Those investigations include Libor [...]
British factory output rises but still below pre-crash peak September 9, 2014 Britain’s manufacturers increased their output strongly in the 12 months to July, official data revealed yesterday, driven by a boom in plastics and transport equipment. Factory output climbed 2.2 per cent on the year, continuing a run of solid growth seen every month since last September. But the industries are still well below their pre-crash [...]
Electra strikes £90m deal to buy The Original Bowling Company September 8, 2014 Private equity firm Electra Partners yesterday clinched a £91m deal to take control of the UK’s largest bowling alley operator The Original Bowling Company. The group, which is currently wrestling with activist investor Ed Bramson over strategic control of Electra’s future, has bought the 43-site business from CBPE Capital. “We are now firmly established as [...]
All change at the top as trio of firms shuffle executives September 8, 2014 BERKELEY GROUP | FINANCE CHIEF EXITS Berkeley Group yesterday said finance director Nick Simpkin had left the board with immediate effect after five years in the role. Ben Marks, financial controller, who has been with group for 10 years will be working closely with Rob Perrins, group managing director, to manage financial function pending recruitment [...]
Europe vows to stop bank bonus cap avoidance September 7, 2014 The European Union’s chief financial services officer pledged last night to stop banks from sidestepping the bloc’s cap on bonuses. Michel Barnier said that the EU’s probe into allowances that some banks have started to pay staff must wrap up by the end of September. Already banks including Barclays, HSBC and RBS have implemented systems [...]
New York Report: Strong US auto sales set to lift retail figures September 7, 2014 RETAIL sales figures are the most keenly-awaited data this week. The Commerce Department is expected to report on Friday that they increased 0.6 per cent in August, driven by robust automobile sales, after being flat in July. Core retail sales, a gauge of consumer spending, are expected to have risen 0.3 per cent after July’s [...]
EU bonus cap: UK’s challenge reaches final stage in court September 7, 2014 The UK's challenge to the European Union's bonus cap plan will be heard in the European Court of Justice tomorrow. This will be the final stage in the case opened by the UK Treasury last September. The new rule, which is supposed to be imposed on all bonuses awarded from 2014 onwards, caps bankers' [...]
Bob Diamond’s fund Atlas Mara increases stake in Union Bank of Nigeria September 5, 2014 Former Barclays chief Bob Diamond's African investment vehicle has increased its stake in a Nigerian banking group by nearly 30 per cent as it bets on the success of the country's economy. Atlas Mara exercised an option to buy a 20.9 per cent stake in Union Bank of Nigeria from the Asset Management Corporation of [...]