Telenor makes peace with Alfa and plans $23bn merger October 5, 2009 NORWEGIAN Telenor and Russian Alfa Group have agreed to merge their Russian and Ukrainian holdings into a $23bn (£14.4bn) New-York listed telecoms firm, ending one of Russia’s longest corporate wars. Telenor’s stock surged 15 per cent on the news the row had ended. The dispute was seen as a major threat to foreign investment in [...]
Kroenke one step closer to Arsenal goal September 30, 2009 US SPORTS tycoon Stan Kroenke yesterday inched closer to his dream of taking over Arsenal Football Club, after its board confirmed that he had upped his stake to 28.7 per cent. The owner of the Denver Nuggets basketball team bought a further 80 shares in the Premiership club for £680,000, nudging him closer to the [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS September 29, 2009 AvivaThe insurer has appointed Andrea Moneta, chief executive of its European business, to its PLC board with immediate effect. Moneta joined the firm in July 2008 to lead its European operations outside the UK. Prior to that, he was managing director of Dubai Financial Group and has also held senior executive positions with the European [...]
Venus and Safina crash in Tokyo September 28, 2009 TENNIS: World No1 and defending champion Dinara Safina was sensationally dumped out of the Pan Pacific Open in the second round by Taiwanese qualifier Chang Kai-Chen.“It’s not an easy moment, it’s so disappointing I didn’t play the way I should have,” she said. Second seed Venus Williams was also sent packing in Tokyo, losing 7-6 [...]
Deripaska in HK flotation September 27, 2009 ALUMINIUM giant Rusal, the group controlled by Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska, is set to announce one of the biggest floats of the year this week, in Hong Kong. The $30bn (£19bn) flotation, which will see 10 per cent of the group’s shares put on the Asian market, is snubbing the London Stock Exchange (LSE) because [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF September 22, 2009 Fury could help Haye’s Valuev bidBOXING: Britain’s David Haye is eager to spar with heavyweight prospect Tyson Fury as he steps up preparations for his WBA title bout with giant Nikolai Valuev. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion meets the 7ft 2ins Russian in Germany on November 7 and wants the help of 6ft 8in, 21-year-old [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 22, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES VODAFONE TO REJIG MOBILE INTERNET STRATEGYVodafone will set out a significant revamp of its services strategy for mobile phones tomorrow as it tries to bridge the gap with global rivals. Vittorio Colao, chief executive, will outline new services that are intended to capitalise on the rising popularity of surfing the internet on mobiles.Some [...]
GM to discuss plant’s future September 21, 2009 GM Europe is forming a group to discuss the future of Opel's plant in Antwerp, Belgium and will give details on its restructuring plan after talks are concluded, it said yesterday. Magna and Russian partner Sberbank struck a deal to buy a majority stake of Opel from GM two weeks ago. They plan to cut [...]
Putin in gas extraction summit September 20, 2009 Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he will this week hold a meeting on how to tap giant gas reserves on the Arctic Yamal peninsula, and global majors hope to hear about tax breaks and the easing of regulations. Industry sources said invitations had gone to the heads of Total, Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil, [...]
Bank of New York Mellon settles $22.5bn Russia case September 16, 2009 RUSSIA expects to get costs of at least $14m (£8.5m) in an out-of-court settlement of a $22.5bn lawsuit against Bank of New York Mellon, finance minister Alexei Kudrin said yesterday. The deal should bring to an end Russia’s more than two-year quest for compensation from the bank over alleged laundering of $7bn from Russia in [...]