WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING
FINANCIAL TIMES
UNITED ANGER AT EU CARBON RULE
The European Union’s plan to pull almost every leading airline into its scheme to limited carbon emissions is so “beyond the pale”, that a foreign government is certain to challenge it, according to the head of the world’s largest airline by passenger traffic, the newly merged United Continental Holdings.
ALCHEMY FUND EYES DISTRESSED COMPANIES
Buy-out group Alchemy has raised the largest fund to target financially troubled European companies since the financial crisis. The move will tap into demand from investors anticipating new opportunities as the region’s banks offload assets to deflate their vast balance sheets. While fundraising remains challenging for the private equity industry in the wake of Lehman Brothers’ collapse, the move highlight investor’s interest in profits that can be made in near-bankrupt companies.
CHINALCO PLEDGES TO KEEP STAKE IN RIO TINTO
Chinalco, the Chinese aluminium group, has quashed speculation that it plans to sell down its stake in Rio Tinto, saying it views the mining group as a key strategic partner in its expansion overseas. The Chinese group is still Rio’s largest shareholder.
OIL PRICE RISES WILL HIT ROAD REPAIRS
The UK will struggle to foot the bill of repairing its weather-damaged road network as soaring oil costs spark concerns about the price of building materials. In a series of letters obtained by the Financial Times, the world’s largest asphalt and concrete suppliers warn customers about the likely impact high oil prices and ongoing unrest in the Middle East will have on costs.
THE TIMES
GLENCORE’S $14M BONUSES FOR TRADERS LEAVE BANKS IN SHADE
Glencore paid its senior traders more than $900m (£558m) in bonuses last year, giving them an estimated average pay-out of $14m each, dwarfing most City bonuses. The Swiss commodities trader is understood to have told its bondholders that the basic pay of senior staff totalled $146m last year, with a further $938m in bonuses.
JAPANESE PARTS SHORTAGE THREATENS HONDA IN SWINDON
Honda has drawn up plans to halt production at its factory in Swindon as the economic aftershocks of Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami begin to reach Britain. The Japanese carmaker, which employs 3,000 staff at the Wiltshire plant, has been hit by a parts shortage, including sat-navs and essential electronic components.
The Daily Telegraph
THOMAS THE TANK SUITORS QUESTION $1BN VALUATION
A sale of the famous train’s owner has begun, with information memorandums being sent out by Bank of America Merrill Lynch last week. When it emerged last year that a sale was in the offing, sources close to Hit and its private equity owner Apax said they hoped to sell the company for up to $1.5bn. Sources close to one potential bidder said Apax wants $1bn for Hit, but the group plans to offer nearer $600m.
MORE THAN 1.5M “LOSE OUT” ON UNIVERSAL STATE PENSION
More than 1.5m people will lose out if a universal state pension is introduced, experts warned. The new flat rate is expected to be unveiled by the Government next week and will bring to an end the current system. The flat rate of £155 will start around 2015.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
EUROPE
RANDOM HOUSE ADDS VIDEOGAME PARTNER
A year after venturing into the videogame business, Random House has struck a collaborative deal with game producer THQ in a bid to gain traction. The two companies said they intend to create a wide spectrum of original works that include novels, graphic novels and digital books, as wells as online, console and mobile-phone games. Hollywood may participate as well.
NASDAQ BATTLES FOR BIG BOARD
Igniting a battle for control of the New York Stock Exchange, a team led by Nasdaq launched an $11.3bn bid for the Big Board aimed at sinking a German rival’s offer to buy America’s most storied stock exchange. Nasdaq OMX and IntercontinentalExchange announced Friday an unsolicited bid that tops Deutsche Börse’s offer.