LOOK BEYOND THE UK TO CASH IN ON GROWTH February 5, 2012 THE UK is full of chief executives facing the harsh reality of uncertain home markets for years to come. So, with forecast sales flatlining – what is an entrepreneur to do? Successful companies are finding new customers and markets beyond our shores. In our recent global survey of over 400 companies, India (34 per cent) [...]
Zynga soars but Facebook has yet to fly February 2, 2012 ZYNGA shares jumped 17 per cent yesterday following Facebook’s revelation that 12 per cent of its 2011 revenues came from the social gaming company. Facebook’s IPO filing on Wednesday also confirmed that Morgan Stanley will lead the troupe of underwriters, who could accept a fee of just one per cent in their keenness to land [...]
Coryton attracts 40 suitors February 2, 2012 UK REFINERY Coryton has attracted more than 40 interested parties following the insolvency of its owner, Swiss refining group Petroplus and some of them are “very credible,” its administrator said yesterday. “There have been over 40 expressions of interest from the speculative to the highly credible,” said Katherine Howbrook, a spokeswoman for PwC. “There have [...]
Statoil seeks Iraq sale consent February 2, 2012 Norway’s Statoil wants to sell its stake in a giant 12.9bn barrel oilfield in southern Iraq to Russia’s Lukoil, and the Iraqi oil ministry has no objection “in principle”, an Iraqi oil official said yesterday. Statoil holds 18.75 per cent of the West Qurna Phase-2 field, with Lukoil at 56.25 per cent and Iraq’s North [...]
Outlook grim for Unilever as markets slow February 2, 2012 CONSUMER goods group Unilever said 2012 will be a difficult year as growth in emerging markets, which accounts for more than half its business, slows and demand in Europe and North America stays flat at best. The gloomy outlook sent shares in the Anglo-Dutch group sharply lower yesterday after it broadly matched 2011 sales growth [...]
London office take-up falls but tech firm demand soars February 1, 2012 TAKE-UP of central London offices fell by 27 per cent in 2011 compared to the previous year, as the global economic slowdown continued to take its toll, according to research by Knight Frank. The property consultancy said take-up fell to 10.7m square feet last year. However, this coincided with a fall in supply and doubling [...]
Spurs snatch Saha late to beat deadline January 31, 2012 ● Striker joins from Everton, Nelsen set to follow ● Pavlyuchenko, Pienaar and Bassong let go ● QPR finish spree by signing Fulham’s Zamora TOTTENHAM pulled off a deadline-beating late swoop for Everton striker Louis Saha last night as clubs shook off their lethargy and whipped up a frenzied finish to the January transfer window. [...]
The Games are the starting gun for race to transform British innovation January 31, 2012 Cisco has a growth plan for the UK, and Neil Crockett reveals why the Olympics is the perfect catalyst Q.What WAS YOUR BRAND’S PRIMARY REASON FOR BEING Involved with the games? A.It’s the first time worldwide that Cisco’s ever been involved in anything like this as a sponsor. We’ve been a supplier: we supplied to [...]
Russia in push for foreign cash January 30, 2012 Russia’s newest state fund made its first investment yesterday, buying a stake in Moscow’s MICEX-RTS bourse to boost its initial public offering hopes and compete with big international centres like London for Russian company listings. The $10bn Russian Direct Investment Fund, which is government funded but run by private equity specialist Kirill Dmitriev, is investing [...]
QPR move for Cisse as clubs eye deadline January 30, 2012 Maverick French striker ready to join Loftus Road revolution with transfer activity set to increase on the closing day of January sales QPR will go to the wire in a dramatic last ditch attempt to bolster their squad with as many as four new additions, including flamboyant £4m Lazio striker Djibril Cisse, before tonight’s transfer [...]