Chelsea at odds over Villas-Boas February 16, 2012 Manager admits squad is divided over his approach as Blues battle to finish in top four UNDER-FIRE Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas admits he is battling a divided dressing room – but insists owner Roman Abramovich still has faith in him. Villas-Boas is under increasing pressure, with the Blues on course to miss out on Champions [...]
Baume & Mercier: historic brand back on its game February 16, 2012 FOR a luxury watch brand with a history dating back to 1830, Baume & Mercier has been maintaining a curiously low profile for the past few years. Or rather had been until 2011, during which it had a bit of a break-out year. Suddenly there were interesting, charismatic pieces appearing again in its collection, and [...]
CAIRN ENERGY CHAIRMAN BREAKS BREAD IN SPANISH SUPERMARKETS February 15, 2012 A RED-LETTER day for Sir Bill Gammell yesterday, as the fast-growing food brand backed by the Cairn Energy chairman announced expansion into its second international market. Under a deal with French supermarket giant Carrefour, Genius Foods, the gluten-free grocery range in which Gammell is the largest single investor, will be available in the chain’s 350 [...]
Telenor claws back Vimpelcom February 15, 2012 Norway’s Telenor yesterday wrestled back partial control of telecom firm Vimpelcom from Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman’s Alfa Group, in a move that gives it more say over strategy and could prolong a long-running corporate battle. The company said it has bought 234m shares in Vimpelcom that will boost its voting share to 36.36 per cent.
Will the real Abramovich please stand up? February 14, 2012 POPULAR wisdom has it that Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is facing his moment of truth, but the next week promises to tell us at least as much about the man who hired him, Roman Abramovich. Villas-Boas swept into Stamford Bridge in the summer at a cost of £28m armed with a reputation as the next [...]
Moody’s UK warning hits FTSE 100 February 14, 2012 The FTSE dipped this morning after debt rating agency Moody’s warned it could downgrade top-rated sovereigns including Britain. Moody’s grim assessment sapped some of the confidence of investors who had been encouraged by Greece finally agreeing a package of austerity measures to steer it away from a default. The move put the UK’s rating in [...]
Cappello awaits Russian call February 13, 2012 FOOTBALL: Mega-wealthy Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala have accepted the resignation of head coach Yuri Krasnozhan – paving the way for a possible approach for former England manager Fabio Capello. The 65-year-old Italian has also been strongly linked with Inter Milan, but hinted last week that his next managerial role was likely to be based outside [...]
Russians grab investment visas February 12, 2012 Wealthy Russians are increasingly moving to the UK through the use of “investment visas”, commercial law firm McGrigors has said today. The number of investment visas issued has surged from 43 in 2008 to 320 in 2011, with over a fifth granted to Russians. Introduced in 2008, the visas give a three-year right to stay [...]
Abramovich’s watching brief won’t distract AVB February 9, 2012 CHELSEA boss Andre Villas-Boas insists the presence of owner Roman Abramovich at the club’s training complex this week should not be treated as a sign that the Russian is contemplating condemning him to the Stamford Bridge managerial scrapheap. Abramovich hired Villas-Boas in the summer, his sixth managerial appointment since he assumed control of the west [...]
Polymetal buys out Ashanti February 8, 2012 RUSSIAN gold and silver miner Polymetal yesterday bought out AngloGold Ashanti from a joint venture in Siberia for $20m (£12.6m). FTSE 100-listed Polymetal acquired the 50 per cent it did not already own of the Veduga deposit in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk region. The companies worked on the project together from 2008 but Polymetal has found new [...]