Here’s why Goldman Sachs think the US is on the verge of a beer renaissance April 22, 2014 The US could be on the cusp of a beer renaissance, according to leading investment bank Goldman Sachs. An improving employment market combined with improved innovation and marketing, could see US beer volumes enjoy a substantial recovery. Over the past 15 years, wine and spirits have been making most of the running when it comes [...]
Insurers could demand info on fracking sites February 3, 2014 INSURERS could begin requesting information from homeowners about their proximity to fracking exploration sites if it looks likely that the process could cause damage to property. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said the industry is monitoring fracking exploration and data around any related disturbances but stressed that there is currently very little evidence to [...]
I know what you’ll like next summer: How trend forecasting keeps the biggest brands on top September 23, 2014 Will you be gripped by a desire to own a pair of Birkenstocks at some point over the next 12 months? Need a mindfulness holiday retreat in 2016? What about a fridge that connects to the internet, maybe some time in the 2020s? Who knows, right? Well, someone probably does. An entire industry has grown [...]
Insurers count the cost of recent floods as bill tops £400 million January 28, 2014 THE INSURANCE industry looks set to pay out millions of pounds worth of claims after the country was hit by bad weather and flooding over the Christmas period. Figures released by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) put the estimated insured cost of the damage at £426m. The figure is the result of 174,000 claims between [...]
Punch Taverns shelves £2.3bn debt rescue plan February 12, 2014 PUNCH Taverns will shelve its controversial plans to restructure its £2.3bn debt mountain in the face of opposition from bondholders with blocking stakes in the pub chain. Last week Punch warned that rejection of its plan to reduce its debt to £1.8bn would: “have a material negative impact on the business”. Yesterday the firm said [...]
Insurance could cost less in 2015 January 9, 2014 A NEW online system of DVLA records could see insurance premiums fall by around £15 per year, the industry is predicting. By mid-2015 all driving records will be held online and anyone will be able to access them. Currently motorists must submit their paper counter-part licence which holds details of speeding points and motoring offences. The [...]
Do not think twice about calling in military, says PM February 11, 2014 DAVID Cameron has urged flood-hit communities not to think twice about calling on the armed forces for help as severe weather warnings remain in place across the south east. Water levels are set to rise further today as heavy rain falls on saturated ground. The Prime Minister said he wants local council leaders to make [...]
Punch lenders reject a £2.3bn restructure plan January 27, 2014 PUNCH Taverns has hit another stumbling block in its efforts to resolve its £2.3bn debt-pile after creditors said yesterday that they would not support its revised restructuring plans. The pub group, which has over 4,000 pubs in the UK, warned on 15 January that it could be unable to continue trading unless a deal can [...]
Bottom Line: The pub group’s grim warnings failed to land a knockout blow January 15, 2014 THAT’S not the way to do it. Punch Taverns was well aware of the problem some of its lenders had with its restructuring plan as set out in December last year. Yesterday, it tried to bludgeon the opposition, announcing proposals it called final, the result of 14 months of engagement. Setting out certain concessions, it [...]
Insurers lash out at City watchdog’s blunder April 8, 2014 SLOPPY changes to insurance rules could undermine the government’s effort to boost savings, industry leaders warned yesterday, as the City watchdog revealed details of its probe into a bungled announcement of a market investigation. The Financial Conduct Authority has hired Simon Davis, partner at law firm Clifford Chance, to find out what went wrong in [...]