Our schools must be open to business so we can have a bright economic future January 10, 2012 NOW that pupils are back at school, it’s time to help them get down to business. One key question they need to be asked is: “Hands up who wants to go into business?” Their answer will not only shape the life chances of millions of young people, but will also have a dramatic impact on [...]
La Senza and Blacks saved from brink January 9, 2012 IT WAS all change on the high street yesterday after two of the UK’s stricken retailers, lingerie chain La Senza and outdoor sportswear company Blacks Leisure, were rescued from administration. Retailer JD Sports confirmed yesterday that it had bought all of Blacks’ 290 stores and the bulk of its business from its administrator KPMG in [...]
Creditors back plan for MF Global UK January 9, 2012 CLIENTS and creditors of MF Global UK, part of the defunct US brokerage, may get some of their cash back next month after a crunch meeting with the administrator yesterday. They backed the proposals put forward by special administrator KPMG in a session which critics had billed as a vote of confidence. Richard Heis, joint [...]
Experian announces shock death of finance boss Brooks at his US home January 9, 2012 BRITISH credit information firm Experian yesterday announced the death of chief financial officer Paul Brooks (pictured right). “Paul died suddenly this weekend at his home in California. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Paul’s family at this time,” the company said in a statement. Brooks, 58, had been Experian’s finance chief since October 2001, [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS January 9, 2012 Just-Eat The world’s largest online takeaway business has appointed John Hughes as chairman to replace Klaus Nyengaard, who continues as group chief executive. Hughes previously held senior positions at Thales Group, Lucent Technologies and Hewlett Packard. He is also chairman of Telecity Group and a non-executive Director of CSG Systems International. In addition, he is [...]
KPMG profit for UK falls five per cent January 8, 2012 PROFESSIONAL services firm KPMG is poised to announce a five per cent dip in profit for the UK this morning, despite a revenue lift of seven per cent. In the twelve months to 30 September 2011, profit dropped from £416m to £396m, while revenues rose from £1.6m to £1.7m. The partners’ profitpool fell to £683,000 [...]
Dragon adds fire to fight for Blacks Leisure stores January 5, 2012 DRAGONS’ Den star and serial entrepreneur Peter Jones has thrown his hat in the ring for the troubled outdoor goods retailer Blacks Leisure, which was put up for sale last month. Jones, who is on the panel of the BBC reality TV show, has emerged as one of the four trade bidders to have tabled [...]
MF Global UK clients set to get back cash this month – KPMG January 5, 2012 THE ADMINISTRATOR of MF Global UK plans to start returning to clients the $1.2bn (£774m) of cash and assets frozen at the collapsed broker as early as this month, in a move that will placate customers ahead of their showdown with KPMG next week. Richard Heis, KPMG’s joint special administrator of MF Global UK, said: [...]
Deadline for Blacks bids draws closer as January 3, 2012 SPORTS DIRECT, the retailer controlled by the billionaire football tycoon Mike Ashley (pictured), is understood to be one of four interested buyers expected to place a bid for the ailing outdoor retailer Blacks Leisure within the next two days. Blacks, which put itself up for sale last month after failing to secure extra funding, is [...]
Retail layoffs to soar as six chains falter January 2, 2012 MORE than 11,800 retail jobs and 870 high street shops may be lost in coming weeks after six struggling high street names were put up for sale or into administration in December. Retail analysts warned of a potential wave of consolidation in the sector and grim trading updates this month as poor Christmas trading put [...]