Activist investors eye bumper 2011 as market improves March 6, 2011 THIS year has started well for activist investors, those outspoken stake-builders that push boards to buck up their strategy. 2011 has kicked off with a spate of high profile public exchanges between funds and their targets. Activists claimed their first major scalp last month when Sherborne Investors ousted City veteran Nick MacAndrew from the chair [...]
Lawyers on boards would benefit City March 1, 2011 THE corporate headlines last week focused on women being overlooked for board positions in FTSE companies. They’re not alone: other than as general counsel there’s a similar paucity of lawyers. Presumably female solicitors don’t have any chance at all. This is pretty curious given the many skills that lawyers can add, most notably a willingness [...]
Style, charm and quiet in Marylebone February 17, 2011 THE idea of owning a luxurious home in central London is the sort of thing lots of upwardly-mobile urbanites aspired to. But given the chance, where and what do you go for? One of central London’s primary characteristics is the sheer range of localities, architectures and atmospheres all crammed into it. Grand apartment in Knightsbridge? [...]
Pietersen thrilled at the opportunity to act as England’s emergency opener February 16, 2011 ENGLAND batsman Kevin Pietersen insists he is ready to embrace the role of emergency World Cup opener. Pietersen, who has played the vast majority of his 110 one-day internationals at No4, was promoted to the top of the order as England struggled to a narrow warm-up victory over Canada yesterday. The South African-born star made [...]
Three ways to maximise your borrowing potential February 16, 2011 IT’S bonus season, and some high-earning City workers are likely to take advantage of the promise of rising top-end prices to snap up exclusive pads – provided they can get the necessary finance. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) estimated earlier this year that bonuses would amount to £7bn. The final figure is [...]
Davies rejects gender quotas February 13, 2011 UK boardrooms will not be forced to recruit more women to top jobs, after a government panel ruled out imposing gender quotas, City A.M. can confirm. A report chaired by former trade minister Lord Davies of Abersoch (pictured) will not recommend a state-imposed quota system to help break up the male dominance of UK companies [...]
Live at the most famous 18th hole February 10, 2011 THE most famous building in golf is, without question, the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse at St Andrews. But the most recognisable? Arguably it’s the tall, turreted eruption of high Victoriana that overshadows it, the Hamilton Grand. So the story goes, it was originally built by a chap named Thomas Hamilton in 1895, after he was [...]
Bopara named as injured Morgan’s replacement February 8, 2011 ESSEX batsman Ravi Bopara has been called up to England’s World Cup squad as a replacement for the injured Eoin Morgan. The Irishman missed the final one-day international of the recent series against Australia after fracturing the middle finger of his left hand, a problem he first became aware of in the fourth one-day match [...]
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OSBORNE’S DECISION TO INCREASE THE BANK LEVY? February 8, 2011 GRAEME LEACH | INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS The increase confirms our concern that the levy would ramp up over time and risk undermining the competitiveness of the City. Let’s hope this is the last increase. CHUKA UMUNNA LABOUR Ministers have already been boasting that the bank levy will raise £2.5bn a year, so this is little [...]
Bensalem to burst into World Hurdle picture January 27, 2011 CHELTENHAM stages its ‘Trials Day’’tomorrow and BENSALEM looks the best bet on the card in the Cleeve Hurdle at 3.35pm. Alan King’s eight-year-old has an amazing record when fresh and has won all of his career starts to date when reappearing from a substantial break. He is reportedly working extremely well at home and will [...]