Rodney Cook interview: Just Retirement rides out annuity storm September 18, 2014 In February this year, crisis management experts visited Just Retirement’s Surrey head office to give senior executives a crash course in coping with the unexpected. Managers didn’t have to wait long to put that advice to use. When George Osborne announced sweeping changes to pension arrangements within the March Budget, allowing retirees to withdraw their [...]
From chips to telecoms innovation is the key September 17, 2014 INNOVATIVE COMPANY of the year City A.M.’s Innovative Company of the Year category salutes businesses that are frontrunners in their industry, from micro-chips to car service apps. With London being one of the leading hubs in Europe – if not the world – of innovative technology, our judges have had a hard time choosing a [...]
Quindell investors hold strong as £30m joint venture breaks up September 2, 2014 QUINDELL, the Aim-listed insurance firm whose stock price was ravaged by a short-seller attack earlier this year, saw its shares rally nearly six per cent yesterday after it announced it was buying out the RAC’s stake in its Connected Car Solutions (CCS) joint venture. Quindell said it would take full control of CCS, which makes [...]
Quindell share price opens down but rallies with RAC black box buy September 2, 2014 Quindell’s shares opened five per cent down this morning but then rallied six per cent on yesterday’s close after the company announced it was buying the RAC’s stake in joint venture CCS. Quindell said it will take full control of Connected Car Solutions, which makes “black boxes” for cars, in a restructure costing £18.5m, but [...]
Quindell buys out RAC partner September 1, 2014 QUINDELL is poised to announce today that it is buying the RAC’s stake in a joint venture for black boxes in cars. The London-listed insurance claims processor, whose shares have slumped this year after criticism about its business model, will inform the stock market today that it is to take full control of Connected Car [...]
RAC drives on with Rake amid flotation boom August 31, 2014 RAC has appointed CBI president Sir Michael Rake as its chairman today, as the major UK roadside breakdown recovery and car insurance firm considers whether to go ahead with a potential float this month, with the possibility of a retail offering. Rake has a wealth of board experience, also currently serving as chairman of major [...]
Work on building Walkie Talkie tower sunshade gets underway after Scorchie debacle August 20, 2014 Builders scaled the heights of the Walkie Talkie skyscraper in the City yesterday as work got underway to install “aluminium fins” that will prevent its windows reflecting ultra-bright rays and dazzling passers-by. Land Securities and Canary Wharf, the owners of 20 Fenchurch Street, are arming the southern facade of the tower with horizontal blades [...]
Get on the road with these famous literary trips August 19, 2014 A-level results are in and those of us with kids are preparing to put our hands in our pockets to fund their “mind-expanding” trip abroad before the hard work – or hard drinking – of university begins. According to insurance firm Endsleigh, almost a third of students have a road trip across North America as [...]
Uber ban suspended: Berlin court upholds opposition to taxi app prohibition August 18, 2014 Uber has received some welcome news from Berlin's Administrative Court. Last week, the Berlin State Department of Civil and Regulatory Affairs said Uber risked passenger safety through the use of “unverified drivers in unlicensed vehicles” and consequently banned the popular taxi app. The company had been threatened with fines of up to €25,000 for each [...]
Berlin bans Uber citing passenger safety rules August 14, 2014 THE BATTLE between smartphone car service Uber and city regulators heated up yesterday after the German capital turned against the San Francisco startup and banned the mini cab app on safety grounds. In a press release, the Berlin State Department of Civil and Regulatory Affairs said Uber risked passenger safety through the use of “unverified [...]