Patisserie Valerie enters administration after bank talks fail January 22, 2019 Patisserie Valerie collapsed into administration this evening after discussions with its lenders fell apart following the shock revelation of “significant fraud” at the high street cafe chain. Chairman Luke Johnson had been scrambling to come to an agreement with creditors to secure a cash lifeline after posting an update to the market last week admitting [...]
Employment rate hits record high as wages reach new post-financial crisis peak January 22, 2019 Employment rose to a record high in the three months to November as wage growth hit a 10-year peak, according to official data released today. The number of people in paid work rose by 141,000 people to 32.53m, the Office for National Statistics said, giving a record employment rate of 75.8 per cent. Sterling surged [...]
Patisserie Valerie keeps shareholders in the dark on future as last ditch talks with banks continue January 21, 2019 Patisserie Valerie’s holding company has failed to shed further light on the future of the troubled bakery chain after announcing this morning talks were still ongoing with its creditors to save the company. The firm was expected to provide an update this morning, after speculation the last week of talks with its banks could spell [...]
Carlos Ghosn offers electronic tagging and holdings in Nissan in bid to overturn bail refusal January 21, 2019 Carlos Ghosn has volunteered to wear an electronic ankle tag and hire security to keep watch on him in a last ditch attempt to secure bail after being imprisoned in Japan for alleged financial misconduct. The ousted Nissan chairman has also offered to post stock he owns in the company as collateral and hand over [...]
Lloyds prepares for Brexit with Berlin banking licence January 18, 2019 Lloyds Banking Group has secured a banking license for its Berlin subsidiary as the Brexit deadline date approaches. The lender has previously run the office on a standard passporting licence, however all British banks with customers in the EU could lose the licence after March 29 therefore Lloyds is seeking further regulatory approval, Reuters reported. [...]
Universally Challenged: Oxford University turns on under-fire Chinese tech giant Huawei January 17, 2019 Oxford University said last night it was suspending donations from Huawei following widespread concern over the Chinese tech firm’s practices. The university said it had decided on 8 January that it will “not pursue” new funding opportunities with the firm “at present". “Huawei has been notified of the decision, which the university will keep under review. [...]
Patisserie Valerie exodus continues as deputy chairman steps down January 17, 2019 Patisserie Valerie has been burned further this morning by the walkout of its deputy chairman. Lee Ginsberg – a non-executive director at the beleaguered cafe chain, which is caught in a devastating alleged fraud – would resign with immediate effect, the company said in an update. Ginsberg had been chair of the audit committee at [...]
City law firm Fieldfisher acquires Mayfair boutique in bet on London’s hedge fund sector January 17, 2019 City law firm Fieldfisher has acquired a specialist Mayfair boutique in a bet London’s hedge fund sector will thrive post-Brexit. The City firm has acquired West End boutique Cummings Law and hired two senior partners from rival firms to launch Cummings Fisher, which will specialise in funds, derivatives, financial services regulation and fund formation work. [...]
Chevron and Total join new Blockchain venture for oil trading January 16, 2019 Chevron, Total and Indian refiner Reliance Industries have joined their rivals in a new venture to bring blockchain into energy trading. The oil majors will become users of Vakt, a London-based platform for trading Brent crude oil using the technology behind bitcoin. Read more: Blockchain is changing finance forever – it will do the same to [...]
Patisserie Valerie reveals balance sheet was significantly manipulated in ‘devastating’ fraud January 16, 2019 Patisserie Valerie posted a bombshell update to the market this afternoon, admitting that its balance sheet was “significantly” manipulated and thousands of false entries were made into the high street baker’s books before a shock £40m black hole was discovered last year. The troubled firm has appointed RSM as auditors and KPMG has been hired to [...]