Accelerating competition: How to level the playing field for challenger banks June 24, 2014 THERE is something that politicians and bankers both agree upon – we believe that greater competition improves the service and the products that customers get. We’ve heard ideas about increasing competition in banking from across the political spectrum. Today, the BBA is adding to that debate with some new ideas on promoting competition by levelling [...]
Ryanair offers to sell shares in Aer Lingus July 23, 2013 RYANAIR has offered to sell its stake in Aer Lingus in an effort to prove that owning shares in its Irish rival does not stifle competition. The budget carrier also attacked the UK Competition Commission for its “unfounded and invented” probe into Ryanair’s 29 per cent stake in Aer Lingus. As part of its discussions [...]
Ryanair first-quarter profits fall 21pc July 29, 2013 RYANAIR today posted a 21 per cent fall in first-quarter profits to €78m (£67.3m), due to higher fuel costs and the timing of Easter. The budget airline said that average fares fell four per cent during the period, but revenue per passenger grew one per cent. Ryanair expects yields to rise in the second quarter [...]
What do Liberum Capital, George Best and the Highlands have in common? April 14, 2014 Liberum Capital has recently had quite the honour bestowed upon it. The stockbroker, based usually in the heart of the City at Ropemaker Place, is taking to the skies – kind of. Flybe has named one of its planes after it. It’s called The Spirit of Liberum. Troubled airline Flybe has just gone [...]
Three things you didn’t know about… January 19, 2014 Chief executive of Oppenheimer Europe Max Lami 1 The banking boss spent 18 years learning Judo and has a black belt. He feels his time spent training in Japan and other parts of Asia has left him with a Buddhist-like, open minded approach to life. 2 He flies Ryanair. He described his ideal weekend as [...]
Trust spring horse Lieutenant to come alive at Aintree again April 2, 2014 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS TODAY’S ACTION AT AINTREE THE Crabbie’s Grand National Festival has grown in stature over the past decade and with huge pots on offer you find that some trainers are willing to sacrifice a win at Cheltenham for a success at Aintree. For others a crack at both meetings is irresistible, but with [...]
Bonderman’s TPG eyes future flotation to join buyout rivals February 25, 2014 THE CHAIRMAN of budget airline Ryanair and private equity guru David Bonderman yesterday said he was “contemplating” floating his firm TPG Capital. Bonderman, speaking at private equity conference Super Return in Berlin yesterday, said TPG would join the public markets at some point in the future. “At the end of the day, everybody will go [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 12 March 2014 March 11, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES Brent crude contract underpinning Slowing output from the North Sea may require IntercontinentalExchange to add oil grades from beyond the offshore European fields to underpin its flagship Brent crude contract. The comments from David Peniket, president of the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, echo growing industry concern that the global crude oil benchmark [...]
High fuel costs and early Easter send Ryanair profit plummeting July 29, 2013 STRIKES in France, soaring fuel costs and an earlier Easter have knocked quarterly profits at budget airline Ryanair. The Irish firm yesterday posted a 21 per cent fall in profits after tax to €78m (£67.4m) for the three months to the end of June. Revenues rose five per cent to €1.34bn, while fuel costs rose [...]
Regulator imposes surprise Heathrow price cap January 10, 2014 The operator of Heathrow airport is set to clash with regulators after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said user charges for airlines will be capped at 1.5 per cent below RPI inflation. Dame Deidre Hutton, CAA chairwoman, said the price cap was "good news for air passengers. They will see prices fall, whilst still being [...]