A SUITABLY SPIRITED SENDOFF TO SIR STUART July 14, 2010 WE’LL begin by heading over to the Royal Festival Hall for Marks and Sparks’ annual general meeting, where the usual fun and games were to be had. Hundreds of ageing M&S veterans queued up for the speeches, stage antics and free food and drink, armed with piercing questions for Sir Stuart Rose and his successor, [...]
World Cup flop to boost cinemas and restaurants June 28, 2010 ENGLAND’S failure to get past the second round of the World Cup will give a welcome boost to cinemas and restaurants, analysts said yesterday. Traditional boozers are set to lose the most income, as fans tend to watch non-England games at home, according to Hugh-Guy Lorriman at Seymour Pierce. He said food-led pubs would be [...]
Knight Vinke builds up a stake in Kesa June 28, 2010 Activist investor Knight Vinke has bought a three per cent stake in electrical retailer Kesa. The move sent shares up nearly two per cent, amid speculation the investor may push for the group to be broken up. Knight Vinke is known for its activist tendencies, having demanded changes at firms including HSBC, Royal Dutch Shell, [...]
Dixons brand to be revived June 24, 2010 DSG International, which owns Currys and PC World said yesterday it would change its name back to Dixons as it returned to profit in the year to the end of May. Europe’s second largest electricals retailer reported profits of £112.7m – up from a loss the year before of £123.6m. Sales rose three per cent [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS June 24, 2010 Hogan Lovells The law firm has boosted its banking team by hiring Stuart Brinkworth from rival SJ Berwin. Brinkworth is a partner at SJ Berwin, where he specialises in leveraged buy-outs, public bids, trade purchases and recapitalisations. He recently acted on key deals including advising lenders to Manchester City FC in connection with the £210m [...]
DSG to rebrand as Dixons June 24, 2010 DSG International has posted an expected 61 per cent rise in full-year profit and forecast more growth in 2010-11. The firm, which owns the Currys and PC World chains said that although the economic backdrop in Europe would remain challenging in the current year it was well placed to continue to grow profits. DSG also [...]
Jungles, sea and history in old Malaysia June 13, 2010 A 100-mile ferry-ride across the South China Sea is Langkawi, one of the world’s most idyllic spots for sunbathing, swimming in crystal green waters framed by lush jungle, and the total luxury of a world-class beach resort. It’s gorgeous – but probably quite similar to retreats in Thailand, Indonesia, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Mauritius…you get [...]
No World Cup magic June 10, 2010 WITH the start of the World Cup just days away, fans have been splashing out on flat-screen TVs. It’s strange then that the bigger-than-expected slump in Argos revenues was driven by weak TV sales. If the catalogue retailer can’t shift tellys in the run up to the year’s biggest sporting event, when can it? This [...]
WH Smith and Currys Digital hit with label of being worst retailers May 27, 2010 TWO of Britain’s best-known high street chains have been named and shamed as the worst shops in the UK in a new consumer poll. Retailer WH Smith and electronics store Currys Digital (formerly known as Dixons) came bottom in the survey by consumer experts Which? More than 14,000 people scored 100 shops on factors including [...]
Pullman pulls off Jesus triumph May 26, 2010 THE GOOD MAN JESUS AND THE SCOUNDREL CHRIST BY PHILIP PULLMAN Canongate, £16.99 by Joanna Elias A book about Jesus? Risky business. The son of God has inspired libraries of works on the quest for his true historical life. Geza Vermes’ controversial Jesus the Jew, which takes Jesus back to his Jewish roots, proved JC [...]