Russian embassy reports no damage in Damascus after missile detection September 3, 2013 The Russian Defence Ministry announced detection of two ballistic "objects" fired towards the Eastern Mediterranean early this morning, according to the RIA News Agency. That report has now been denied by the Russian embassy in Syria, which has stated that there is no sign of a missile attack or explosions in Damascus after ballistic launches [...]
Entertainment One set to pick Allan Leighton as new chairman September 2, 2013 CITY heavyweight Allan Leighton is in line to take the top job at media group Entertainment One, it emerged last night. The ex-Royal Mail chairman and former Asda chief executive is reported to be preparing to take the job at the business which co-owns television sensation Peppa Pig, and which backed the Twilight film series. The [...]
Whisky wonderland September 1, 2013 Scotland’s Jura may be remote, but it sure knows its drink THE Edinburgh Festival may finish today, but there’s still reason to head north of the border. Richard Paterson, Master Blender for the past 40 years at Glasgow-based whisky producer Whyte & Mackay (makers of Jura whisky), is a third generation whisky man who has [...]
Goldman Sachs in pole position for Hastings bid August 29, 2013 GOLDMAN Sachs is discussions with British motor insurer Hastings about taking a stake in the company, it emerged yesterday. Hastings declined to comment on the identity of its potential suitor but the company said it is in discussion with various organisations as it looks to raise funds for future expansion. The company is currently privately owned [...]
Networks see more to 4G than travel games – despite limited roll out August 29, 2013 EE’S TEN-month monopoly on 4G in the UK came to an end yesterday, with Vodafone rolling out a competing network in London and O2 launching in the capital, plus Bradford and Leeds. These small-scale launches have been disappointing to many. But two factors underpin the operators’ abundance of caution: the expensive 3G debacle a decade [...]
Syrian parliament invokes strange Shakespearean allegory in letter to UK MPs August 29, 2013 (Salanio and Salarino encounter Shylock) The Syrian parliament appears to have dropped a reference to Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" in a letter to UK MPs. In the second paragraph of a document obtained by Sky News, Mohammad Jihad al-Laham, speaker of the people's assembly of Syria, writes: We write to you as fathers and [...]
Football fans descend on Mayfair hedgie August 29, 2013 HEDGE fund Sisu Capital was targeted by a group of angry football fans last night, as Coventry City supporters protested outside the firm’s Mayfair offices. The Sky Blues supporters are furious at Sisu – which took over the struggling midlands club in late 2007 – for moving the team’s home games to Northampton, over [...]
Inside Track: City watchdog must be careful to practise what it preaches August 28, 2013 IT is not easy to overlook the villainy of the banks and credit card issuers which sold superfluous insurance policies to millions of consumers through the York-based company CPP. But for sheer duplicity, the sanctimonious words of Martin Wheatley, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), came close to rivalling the firms it regulates [...]
Chargemaster pulls flotation August 28, 2013 ELECTRIC car charging company Chargemaster has pulled its £6m float, its chief executive said yesterday. David Martell, who previously floated GPS software firm Trafficmaster, told City A.M.: “There was support out there but we didn’t feel the timing was right. We’re definitely open to it in future.” The company, which has an investment from car [...]
Lloyds Bank private equity arm in the frame for Silverstone stake August 27, 2013 THE HOME of British motor racing Silverstone is nearing a landmark deal that could herald Lloyds Banking Group’s private equity arm investing in the legendary site. Silverstone Circuits, which promotes events at the Formula One and Moto GP racetrack, is understood to be in talks with Lloyds private equity arm LDC to take an investment [...]