Skype founders plan to sue eBay September 16, 2009 The founders of Skype are suing eBay and the consortium that recently agreed to buy the internet phone service. The lawsuit from Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis is over theft of peer-to-peer technology. The case comes after a consortium, including venture firm Index Ventures, agreed to pay $1.9bn (£1.2bn) to eBay for a 65 per [...]
Candidates emerge for BoA top job October 1, 2009 BANK of America (BoA) said yesterday that six internal candidates are in the running to take over from chief executive Kenneth Lewis, who shocked the industry yesterday by announcing his intention to retire at the end of the year. The most likely candidates on the shortlist are believed to be chief risk officer Gregory Curl, [...]
Candidates emerge for BoA top job October 1, 2009 BANK of America (BoA) said yesterday that six internal candidates are in the running to take over from chief executive Kenneth Lewis, who shocked the industry yesterday by announcing his intention to retire at the end of the year. The most likely candidates on the shortlist are believed to be chief risk officer Gregory Curl, [...]
The long arm of US litigation is reaching over the Atlantic October 27, 2009 A COURT case launched in New York this month by shareholders from England, France and the Netherlands against French media company Vivendi, alleging fraud, has struck fear into European executives worried that they too might find themselves on the receiving end of US litigation. It is rare for the American courts to allow foreign shareholders [...]
Bear Stearns pair face criminal case October 11, 2009 THE first of an expected slew of high-profile court cases arising from the credit crunch begins tomorrow, with two former Bear Stearns employees accused of misleading investors over the health of sub-prime mortgage securities. The case will hinge on whether one of the bank’s former hedge fund managers, Matthew Tannin, knew that the sub-prime arena [...]
Buffett sees third quarter profits triple November 8, 2009 THE world’s second-richest man, Warren Buffett, has seen profits for his investment vehicle Berkshire Hathaway almost triple in the third quarter to $3.2bn (£1.9bn). Strong markets and derivatives gains in the three months to September, up from $1.1bn for the same period last year, have caused the improvement. It marks a strong recovery from a [...]
State St reserves running dry August 10, 2009 State Street, one of the world’s biggest institutional investors, said yesterday that it may not have set aside enough money to cover fees and penalties linked to lawsuits and investigations by regulators into risky investments. Two years ago State Street set aside $625m (£379m) to cover costs stemming from lawsuits by clients charging that the [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 29, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMESHRE CHIEF BACKS HARSH CONDITIONS FOR SUPPORTThe chief executive of Hypo Real Estate says that a German government plan to enforce a controversial “squeeze-out” of minority shareholders next week is the only option for the troubled bank. Axel Wieandt said the move – which will deprive shareholders of a chance to recover further value [...]
BoNY nears Russian deal September 14, 2009 THE RUSSIAN government is set to bring its $22.5bn (£13.6bn) lawsuit against Bank of New York Mellon (BoNY) to an end after the bank agreed to provide credit to Moscow-based banks, sources told City A.M last night. An out-of-court settlement is being discussed that will see the USbanking giant restart trade-finance lending to banks nominated [...]
Court battle for Deutsche in New York September 23, 2009 DEUTSCHE Bank and a banking unit of Saudi Arabia’s Algosaibi family battled in court yesterday over whether to throw out a $74.2m (£45.3m) claim by the German bank, part of a flurry of lawsuits involving billions of dollars and allegations of fraud. New York State Supreme Court Justice Bernard Fried said he expects to rule [...]