Playing by the book February 18, 2015 Annabel Denham talks to CrowdBnk founder and chief executive Ayan Mitra about plugging the SME funding gap and the importance of regulation in a new industry CROWDFUNDING appears to be experiencing an interminable growth spurt. According to Nesta, the UK alternative finance market grew by 91 per cent between 2012 and 2013, and crowdfunding represented [...]
Second hotel cancels crucial Rangers’ meeting after “threats from persons unknown” February 18, 2015 A second hotel has pulled out of the Rangers' extraordinary general meeting, this time with the club citing "threats from persons unknown". The meeting, which will seek shareholder approval over a requisition order made by former directors Dave King and Paul Murray, had been scheduled to take place at the Grange Hotel at Tower Hill [...]
Sports Direct shares drop with M&A chief’s sudden exit February 17, 2015 SPORTS Direct’s share price fell more than four per cent in morning trading yesterday after it emerged that its mergers and acquisitions boss Jeff Blue was leaving the retailer. Blue, a former Merril Lynch banker, was hired two years ago to spearhead takeover deals for Mike Ashley’s high street giant. He was also standing in [...]
Sports Direct shares drop as M&A boss departs February 17, 2015 Sports Direct's share price was down more than four per cent this morning after it emerged that its mergers and acquisitions boss Jeff Blue is leaving the company. Blue, a former Merril Lynch banker, was hired two years ago to spearhead takeover deals for Mike Ashley's high street behemoth. He was also standing in [...]
Gordon Ramsay buys Rangers stock to join Mike Ashley fight February 16, 2015 Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay yesterday became the latest big name to join the Rangers First group of fan shareholders, as the association looks to thwart Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley’s attempts to gain control of the club. Former Rangers trainee Ramsay took to Twitter on Sunday to announce he had joined the movement. He [...]
Armstrong hit with record $10m bill after losing doping lawsuit February 16, 2015 DISGRACED cyclist Lance Armstrong has been ordered to pay an American record $10m (£6.5m) in damages after losing a lawsuit with sports insurance company SCA Promotions. The Texan firm paid Armstrong $7.5m (£4.9m) in bonuses for his multiple Tour de France wins but sued him for the return of that sum plus $4.5m (£2.9m) in [...]
Revamped Institute of Directors finds its voice in time for general election February 15, 2015 With its grand architecture, and seemingly arcane rules, the Institute of Directors (IoD) has often felt more like a gentleman’s club than a political body. However, under director general Simon Walker, the renowned business institution is getting a bit of a shake-up. Previously characterised as a rather safe organisation, the IoD has been far more [...]
Britain close to deflation as oil drags on prices – London Report February 15, 2015 CONSUMER price inflation is expected to have fallen to a record low, with figures out this week likely to show it reached 0.3 per cent in January. The rate was 0.5 per cent in December – at a low since comparable records began in 1989 – and it is forecast to have fallen further, as [...]
Apple and Pinterest partner to make app discovery easier February 12, 2015 The app store may have revolutionised the way we listen to music, read newspapers and order a cab, but there is one major problem with it which Apple hasn't addressed. Until now. Among the 1.4m apps, how do people find the app they’re looking for, and how do companies get their app into people’s hands? [...]
#awks: Twitter finance chief Anthony Noto’s Twitter account gets hacked February 11, 2015 No one on Twitter wants to look like they don’t know how to use Twitter, especially when you’re Twitter’s finance chief. Even worse is when it’s the second gaffe in as many months. Anthony Noto, newish CFO and former Goldman Sachs man, has had his Twitter account hacked. A string of spammy tweets were sent [...]