NBNK goes on offensive for Lloyds branches April 12, 2012 NBNK Investments has leapt back into the fray by sending in a new bid for 632 Lloyds branches, as the deal to sell them to the Co-op appears close to collapse. The bid, which values the package of assets at between £1.5bn and £2bn, is designed to make Lloyds think twice about continuing with its [...]
FTSE enjoys some breathing space as bargain-hunters prompt gains May 24, 2012 BRITAIN’S benchmark share index recovered yesterday from stinging losses during the previous session as bargain hunters snapped up beaten-down financial and commodities stocks, although traders said any rally could prove short-lived. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed up 83.64 points, or 1.6 per cent, to 5,350.05 points. It fell 2.5 per cent on Wednesday to [...]
Andy Haste in line for RBS insurance job February 26, 2012 ROYAL Bank of Scotland (RBS) is considering appointing the former chief executive of RSA to be chairman of its insurance arm as it prepares to spin off the division. Andy Haste, 50, took control of RSA in 2003, turning the group around by cutting costs and closing its loss-making US operation. He spent eight years [...]
Andy Haste in line for RBS insurance job February 26, 2012 ROYAL Bank of Scotland (RBS) is considering appointing the former chief executive of RSA to be chairman of its insurance arm as it prepares to spin off the division. Andy Haste, 50, took control of RSA in 2003, turning the group around by cutting costs and closing its loss-making US operation. He spent eight years [...]
Kidney plots St Patrick’s Day party at HQ March 11, 2012 IRELAND head coach Declan insists his side are ready to make it a St Patrick’s Day to remember for their travelling fans at Twickenham on Saturday. Hapless Scotland were put to the sword at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday as Ireland made light of skipper Paul O’Connell’s absence, running in four tries in a convincing [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS February 23, 2012 Deloitte Mike Sobers has been appointed as a partner to Deloitte’s enterprise risk service practice, a 1,000-strong team of professionals in the UK dedicated to helping businesses solve complex risk and control issues. Sobers joins Deloitte from Aviva, where he was the audit director with global responsibility for technology and project audit. During this time, [...]
FTSE edges up as Lloyds gains May 1, 2012 The FTSE 100 clawed back some lost ground in early trading with Lloyds among the top gainers after quarterly results that matched forecasts. London’s blue-chip index ended April in negative territory yesterday – its second consecutive monthly loss – as concerns rose over Spain’s economy and political tensions in Europe took their toll. Meanwhile UK [...]
Shareholders are on the money in scrutinising pay May 7, 2012 AS LITTLE as a decade ago, few City-watchers would have cared all that much about the April AGM deluge, but not any more. In rising markets, short-term investors and speculators could ignore the niceties of shareholder democracy and vote with their feet. Several crashes later and investor uncertainty is manifesting itself through the ballot box, [...]
Direct Line Group set to name Biggs as chairman March 20, 2012 ROYAL Bank of Scotland (RBS) has offered the role of chairman at Direct Line Group, its insurance unit, to Mike Biggs, a former finance director at Aviva. It is understood that Biggs has not yet formally accepted the job but he will be tempted by the chance to lead a firm that is set to [...]
Chris Woodhouse to head RAC February 26, 2012 Private equity firm Carlyle Group has hired Chris Woodhouse, the former finance director of Debenhams, to run RAC, the roadside assistance business it bought last June from Aviva. The move will see Woodhouse reunited with Rob Templeman, who became chairman of RAC last year and was previously chief executive of Debenhams. The two are well [...]