Ex-OFT expert brought in to probe banks June 16, 2010 SIR John Vickers, the former boss of the Office of Fair Trading, has been appointed to lead a wide-ranging review into the future shape of the banking industry. Announcing the appointment in the Commons, chancellor George Osborne said Vickers would be asked to investigate the best “size, scale and function” of banks in the future. [...]
LISTED PRODUCT NEWS June 16, 2010 MAY RECORD ETF MONTH FOR BARCLAYS As the stock markets plummeted in May, ETF trading volumes picked up sharply, according to figures from Barclays Stockbrokers. Monthly trading volumes were at their highest on record – up 44 per cent on the previous month and up 52 per cent on May 2009. Barclays Stockbrokers said that [...]
Trio of efficiency experts drafted in to mobilise review of spending June 15, 2010 THE government has appointed cost-cutting stalwarts Sir Peter Gershon, Dr Martin Read and Lucy Neville-Rolfe to advise on tackling waste in public services, the Cabinet Office announced yesterday. The trio will form part of the Efficiency and Reform Group which is charged with finding savings in procurement, property and workforce costs. All three have advised [...]
Fading Eurozone fears push banks up while bid activity sends BSkyB higher June 15, 2010 A RALLY by banks, fuelled by demand in European bond auctions on easing debt concerns, helped Britain’s top share index higher yesterday, with BSkyB up after an approach by News Corp. The FTSE 100 closed up 15.69 points or 0.3 per cent at 5,217.82, the highest closing level since 15 May, and taking its winning [...]
Brit Insurance June 14, 2010 BRIT INSURANCE has been a source of frustration to investors for some time. Before Apollo came along, the stock was trading on less than 0.7 times 2010 net tangible assets (NTA), a deeper discount than many of its peers on the generally undervalued Lloyd’s of London market. Quite what a large-scale US private equity player wants with a [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING June 13, 2010 THE SUNDAYS The Sunday Telegraph $2.6M BUFFETT LUNCH WON BY ANONYMOUS BIDDER A mystery benefactor has paid $2.6m (£1.8m) to meet with billionaire investor Warren Buffett for a business lunch. The Sage of Omaha auctioned his time in aid of a San Francisco charity. This year’s auction brought in 25 per cent more than any [...]
Apollo weighs higher Brit bid June 13, 2010 BRIT INSURANCE, the Lloyd’s of London outfit, has its largest investors’ backing to demand an improved takeover offer from US private equity giant Apollo, City A.M. understands. The FTSE 250-listed insurer on Friday knocked back a cash approach from Apollo worth £785m, or 1,000p per share, arguing it “significantly undervalues” the company. Apollo was last [...]
Brit Ins rejects takeover offer June 10, 2010 Brit Insurance said yesterday it had rejected a takeover bid from a private equity group. The Lloyd’s of London insurer, which is the principal sponsor of the England cricket team, said the unsolicited offer significantly undervalues the firm.
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING June 8, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES GREECE SEEKS INVESTMENTS FROM LIBYA George Papandreou will travel to Libya today for talks with?Muammer Gaddafi on possible investments in Greece as Athens struggles with its debt crisis. The Greek prime minister will discuss potential investments by Libya’s sovereign wealth fund and its state-owned energy groups with the country’s leader, officials said. EMERGING [...]
ABB pounces with surprise Chloride offer June 8, 2010 CHLORIDE, the UK power protection group that is being courted by Emerson, yesterday shocked the markets by announcing it has tied up a £860m deal with Switzerland’s ABB. ABB is offering 325p a share, plus the payment of a 3.3p dividend, and its bid easily beats an earlier rejected offer of 275p a share from [...]