JJB’s sale faces scrutiny of the retail watchdog September 23, 2012 SPORTS Direct’s proposed takeover of JJB Sports’ 180 stores is likely to come under investigation by the competition watchdog once the acquisition has already taken place. The sportswear giant founded by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley remains one of the frontrunners to buy the struggling retailer, although it is said to be interested in less [...]
Antarctica is a mysterious, icy wonderland and a visual feast September 23, 2012 THE Antarctic tundra is a black and white world, except for the occasional colourful beak, feather, foot or fin, or the blue ice and turquoise underbelly of a whale. While it is certainly remote and desolate, it is also pure and peaceful: it makes you feel alive. From October to March, there is no night [...]
What the other papers say this morning September 19, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Push to relax terms of tech IPOs A push to make it easier for high-growth technology companies to list in London will be launched by the government today. Ministers will put forward proposals including relaxing listing rules on the London Stock Exchange, allowing companies to list as little as 10 per cent of [...]
Ashley’s move for JJB thrown by new interest September 18, 2012 SPORTS DIRECT’S bid for JJB has taken a setback as new offers for the retailer have surfaced, with Mike Ashley’s firm no longer considered the frontrunner for the bid. Irish consortium Stafford Group has launched a late bid for JJB, while JD Sports and JJB founder Dave Whelan have pulled out of talks, it emerged [...]
The locks lowdown September 17, 2012 FASHION moves so fast it is often hard to keep up. Gone are the days of the mods and rockers, collections being shown in the spring and the spring/summer 2013 collections having been broadcast across London only in the last few days, it all becomes very confusing. Should we be wearing autumn styles now or [...]
JJB carve up set to give the lion’s share to Sports Direct September 16, 2012 THE SALE of doomed sports retailer JJB is set to be completed early this week, with the biggest slice of the firm’s 180 UK stores to go to Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct. Sources close to the deal said last night that the sale to Sports Direct, being handled by KPMG, was nearing completion although talks [...]
What the other papers say this morning September 10, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Risky groups face outsourcing ban The performance of troubled Olympics contractor G4S will be reviewed “very carefully”, the Cabinet Office has warned, in a shake-up of outsourcing contracts across government that has already seen two IT companies struck off its list for future tenders. The department’s decision to look at G4S’s record comes [...]
Ashley’s payout plan is rejected by shareholders September 5, 2012 SHAREHOLDERS in Sports Direct yesterday rejected a proposed “super-stretch” scheme that could have netted its founder Mike Ashley a multi-million pound bonus. Under the proposals tabled at yesterday’s annual general meeting Ashley would have received 8m shares worth around £25m at yesterday’s share price if the retailer hit a series of targets over the next [...]
Analyst Views | Were Sports Direct’s results in line with expectations? September 5, 2012 PHILIP DORGAN PANMURE GORDON Knock-out numbers from Sports Direct. It has clearly fully-capitalised on the opportunities that the summer of sport has presented. We remain ‘Buyers’, with a target price of 350p. We think that there is also a danger that it could become an internet stock, as online penetration races to 20 per cent [...]
FTSE 100 opens lower on weak economic data September 5, 2012 The index fell in early trading, as investors were cautious on sluggish economic data. A contraction in US manufacturing, following a production slowdown in China, meant shares were little changed ahead of the European Central Bank’s monthly meeting tomorrow. Oil firms and miners clustered in the fallers, with natural resources group Bumi leading the pack, [...]