BARCAP TRIUMPH IN SQUARE MILE RELAY
THE City’s many sporting fanatics were out in force last night at the Bloomberg Square Mile Relay, which saw around 100 teams of ten runners competing over a specially-designed mile-long course.
Special mention must go to third-placed West LB, second-placed Legal & General, and Barclays Capital, who broke L&G’s two-year winning streak to take this year’s title in just 47 minutes 48 seconds.
“I’m very happy,” said Stephen Whitehead, the Barcap skipper, chatting to The Capitalist after the race. “We have come second to L&G for the last two years and we’re delighted to finally beat them…”
So they should be, because it’s no mean feat – especially since one of L&G’s men, Phil Wicks, was recently chosen to be a member of the Great Britain national half-marathon team. Congratulations to all who took part.
FUNERAL RIGHTS
There was an almighty commotion outside the Berkeley Square headquarters of steel giant ArcelorMittal yesterday, as minority shareholders in the firm’s Czech subsidiary took to the streets for a mass protest.
The minor shareholders’ claims centre around two low-interest intra-company loans made to the parent company, run by tycoon Lakshmi Mittal. But though they’ve got the police investigating the case back in the Czech Republic, yesterday’s protest was a little more off-the-wall.
The group had a hearse and coffin (complete with body, pictured right) pull up in front of the office, where they proceeded to “symbolically bury” their shareholder rights (their words, not mine) in full view of the public.
And it’s not the first time, either – I’m told that last month, they held a protest at the company’s EGM by blocking the entrance with rubber chickens and feathers. Full marks for creativity…
DRAMA KING
City folk were astounded on Wednesday night to see one of their own lurking behind actor Michael Brandon in a scene from the BBC’s drama about the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Jeff Ross, the managing director of broker dealer Magna Capital, is a part-time actor in his spare time – and also, as fate would have it, formerly worked at Lehman himself.
“I couldn’t believe it when my agent called to ask me if I’d like to take a part as a banker at the Fed, listening to Hank Paulson talking about the death of Lehman Brothers,” Ross told The Capitalist.
“Twelve years ago, I was working at Lehman Brothers when they dumped me unceremoniously, and I ended up writing a letter to Dick Fuld at the time to complain. It’s certainly what you might call ironic…”
What goes around comes around, so they say.
GALA SPECIAL
And finally, over to a cause close to City AM’s heart.
The inaugural Ndoro Children’s Charities fund-raising gala evening is being held at The Dorchester on 17 September, to raise funds for Zimbabwean orphans. The night will feature music from Destiny’s Child’s Michelle Williams and ex-Sugababe Mutya Buena, as well as a fashion show from 20 top designers. Visit www.ndorocc.org.uk for tickets.