Rugby tightens salary cap rules October 8, 2013 ENGLAND’S top rugby union clubs have agreed to tighten regulations on salary caps in a bid to ensure no teams are cheating the system. Premiership Rugby now has the power to undertake an investigatory audit in addition to the standard salary cap audit in order to root out financial cheats. The organisation, which represents the [...]
O’Shea keeps faith despite Quins’ third defeat from five October 6, 2013 DEFIANT Harlequins boss Conor O’Shea has warned his rivals not to write them off after seeing his troops slip to their third Aviva Premiership defeat of the season at London Irish. Quins were undone on Saturday by a second-half flurry from the Exiles, as both Blair Cowan and Alex Lewington crossed for tries in the [...]
Aviva receives £500m boost from US sale October 3, 2013 BRITISH insurance giant Aviva was one of the top risers on yesterday’s FTSE after banking $800m (£495m) more than expected from the disposal of its US business. The company’s shares closed up 1.4 per cent after announcing that it had sold Aviva USA to Athene Holding for $2.6bn, well above the $1.8bn expected when the deal was first [...]
London Report: BP’s court win sees FTSE defy US shutdown October 3, 2013 THE FTSE 100 rose yesterday, boosted by heavyweight BP which won a rare legal battle related to its oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but ongoing US government shutdown uncertainty sapped momentum. Energy firm BP – the UK’s fifth biggest company by market capitalisation – rose 1.1 per cent after it won a legal [...]
Sarries star Brits happy to sit out and cash in as understudy George thrives October 3, 2013 CANNY Schalk Brits is adamant he will cash in on the talents of Jamie George as the hookers battle for the right to keep Saracens unbeaten in Aviva Premiership Rugby against Wasps on Saturday. George, 22, is set to replace the South African as the leaders rotate their squad but Brits is content to sit [...]
Aviva USA sale grows by $800m October 2, 2013 Insurance group Aviva has completed the sale of its American business, Aviva USA, to Athene Holding for $2.6bn (£1.7bn). The deal comes in $800m higher than the $1.8bn that was announced in December resulting from increased estimated earnings for the American business. “This is a solid outcome with transaction proceeds of $2.6bn. The sale of [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 30 September 2013 September 29, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES CLO issuance hits pre-crisis level Sales of sliced-and-diced corporate loans have reached a fresh post-crisis record as investors clamour for higher returns from the structured financial products. A spurt in sales last week has helped push US issuance of so-called “collateralised loan obligations” so far this year to at least $55.41bn, according to [...]
Saracens miss out on record but stay clear at top of table September 29, 2013 SARACENS director of rugby Mark McCall signalled a job well done after watching his side overcome Harlequins and extend their lead at the top of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table on Saturday. McCall took his team into the all-London clash at the Stoop looking to become the first top-flight team to begin a campaign with [...]
Prolific Sarries pair keeping try rivalry friendly September 26, 2013 SARACENS star David Strettle insists he and fellow wing Chris Ashton are not competing for tries as they look to continue their free-scoring ways, and unbeaten start, at Harlequins tomorrow. Sarries have scored 117 points in their three Aviva Premiership wins from three with 30-year-old Strettle their most prolific, scoring four of the club’s 13 [...]
Strettle double keeps four-try Saracens on top September 22, 2013 SARACENS director of rugby Mark McCall believes a first half full of effective decision making paved the way for a 31-17 victory over Bath as his side maintained their 100 per cent record in Aviva Premiership Rugby. The Allianz Park outfit had wrapped up the try bonus point in the first 40 minutes thanks to [...]