FUND MANAGER OF THE YEAR | The Shortlist day nine June 29, 2011 Institutional investors play a critical role across the spectrum of corporate life and wealth generation in the UK. From generating households’ pension or life insurance income, to ensuring companies maintain the highest standards of corporate governance, their decisions are vital. In an increasingly globalised and competitive world, the City’s investment managers have proved themselves innovative, [...]
Insurance stocks jitter as Goldman reviews ratings June 28, 2011 SHARES in the UK’s biggest life insurers moved significantly yesterday after stockbroker Goldman Sachs published a review of the companies’ ratings. Its analysis concluded that a massive upswing in demand for financial protection would not benefit listed life insurers as new alternatives such as the government-sponsored National Employment Savings Trust would grab market share. “Worryingly, [...]
Banks and commodities lift FTSE June 28, 2011 The FTSE 100 tracked gains in Asia and on Wall Street this morning as fears of an economic meltdown in Greece were eased with France moving to give the country a reprieve. Banking and commodity sectors saw a lift as new life was breathed into global markets. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said his country’s banks [...]
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRM OF THE YEAR June 27, 2011 ON the back of the Office of Fair Trading launching its investigation into the market dominance of the “Big Four”, it’s never been more important for professional services firms to prove their worth. Never far from the centre of the City’s biggest deals, strategic reviews and financial reports, our shortlisted entrants are favourites of UK [...]
FTSE up but investors jittery over Greek crisis June 27, 2011 The FTSE 100 was up this morning but investors remained wary ahead of yet another chapter in the Greek financial crisis. Greek MPs are due to debate a fresh package of austerity measures later. The euro slipped as confidence in the eurozone continued to be sapped by Greece’s debt pile. Meanwhile France’s Christine Lagarde was [...]
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR | The Shortlist day six June 26, 2011 THOUGH pipeline deals that spurred record law firm profits last decade are yet to return, an influx of regulation and demand for innovative ways to raise capital means law firms are more in demand than ever. Whether running multi-billion pound IPOs or reforming how their businesses are run, our shortlisted firms are at the top [...]
Aviva sells off RAC to Carlyle for £1bn cash June 23, 2011 AVIVA is to sell its RAC roadside rescue business to private equity firm The Carlyle Group for £1bn, as the British group continues scaling back from non-core areas to focus on its insurance operations. The auction process was fiercely fought, with Carlyle battling rivals Clayton Dubilier & Rice and BC Partners to be the first [...]
Laggard of sector deserves second look June 23, 2011 AND so the great tidying-up exercise continues. Fresh from selling part of its stake in Dutch unit Delta Lloyd for £381m, Aviva has offloaded its roadside rescue business RAC for £1bn. Analysts said it had done well to sell the unit on a price to earnings multiple of 17 times, considering its own stock trades [...]
ALTERNATIVE MANAGER OF THE YEAR | The Shortlist day 5 June 23, 2011 Alternative fund managers represent one of the fastest-growing and most in demand areas of investment management. Demand for hedge funds from institutional investors is climbing rapidly thanks to their above inflation returns and low correlation to stock and bond markets. The global industry is now worth more than £1.2 trillion and looks set to shape [...]
Aviva sells RAC to Carlyle for £1bn June 23, 2011 Aviva is to sell its RAC roadside rescue business to private equity firm The Carlyle Group for £1bn, as the insurer continues scaling back from non-core areas to focus on its insurance operations. Aviva said it expected an accounting profit of £600m from the sale of Britain’s second-largest breakdown recovery group, and would use the [...]