SSP stays silent on float plans as profits take leap June 9, 2014 KATE Swann, the boss of travel catering giant SSP, stayed silent on potential plans for a £2bn float yesterday after posting a 28 per cent jump in operating profits. The private equity-owned group was said earlier this year to be gearing up for a float this month, after drafting in Goldman Sachs. Swann declined to [...]
The labour squeeze: How slow reform threatens Abenomics June 9, 2014 More QE cannot be a substitute for labour market reform JAPANESE shares hit a three-month high yesterday, boosted by an upward revision to first quarter GDP and Friday’s strong US jobs report. The Japanese government announced that the economy grew at an annualised 6.7 per cent in the first quarter, up sharply on the initial [...]
Kings of Leon: Meet fast food entrepreneurs Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent June 8, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks fast food in heaven with Leon founders Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent BRITAIN’S foodies have never had it so good. Barely a week goes by without a new fad emerging to whet their sweetbreads (most recently, the rise of American-inspired dipping and Korean cuisine); BBC One’s Masterchef becomes ever more delectable as [...]
A warm welcome to race-goers from London’s business paper June 7, 2014 WELCOME to today’s special Saturday edition to celebrate one of the greatest and most exciting sporting events of the year. Here at City A.M., we are truly passionate about the Investec Derby as well as horse-racing in general. Our readers work hard – but they also love to play hard, and that means they have [...]
Ladies by a head at sun-soaked Epsom June 7, 2014 THE SUN came out to meet the millenary yesterday as Investec Epsom Ladies Day got underway. There was all sorts of fashion to be seen from tartan to frilly tutus, but the Harvey Nichols fashion scouts and star fashion judge Mariella Tandy managed to pick out six ladies for the best dressed final. “It’s been [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 04 June 2014 June 3, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES Bildt warns of British Balkanisation Sweden’s foreign minister has warned that Scottish independence would lead to the “Balkanisation of the British Isles” and have far-reaching consequences for the rest of Europe, in the strongest expression of concern from another EU government so far. Carl Bildt told the Financial Times that there would be [...]
Polo maverick riding out the storm June 2, 2014 As thousands of fans head to Hurlingham for Polo in the Park this weekend, City A.M. chats to its founder, City veteran Daniel Fox-Davies AMONG the sun seekers flocking to Hurlingham Park this weekend for the sixth annual Polo in the Park will be one man with a good reason to smile – the event’s [...]
Mitchells & Butlers nearing finish line in its bid to buy Orchid pubs May 29, 2014 A BEVY of All Bar Ones and Harvester pubs could soon be flooding the high street after owner Mitchells & Butlers announced it was nearing a deal to acquire a portfolio of pub sites from operator Orchid Group. M&B, which runs about 1,600 pubs and restaurants across the UK, said it was in exclusive talks [...]
Best British staycations May 23, 2014 In the space of just over twenty years, a remarkable resurgence in the quality and quantity of luxury British hotels has transformed the fortunes of our seaside resorts and rural destinations. Pioneers like millionaire industrialist Jim Ratcliffe, Robin Hutson (of Hotel du Vin and The Pig fame) and Olga Polizzi have given the industry a [...]
Quintain returns to profitability with strong focus on London May 23, 2014 Quintain Estates has returned to profitability, supported by the opening of the London Designer Outlet and sales of new homes at Wembley Park. The first release of 73 apartments have been sold for an average price of £570 per square foot. Today's results mark the first time the company has been back in the black [...]