Shell poised to sign $800m deal for Ukrainian shale gas August 31, 2011 ROYAL DUTCH Shell, the world’s largest oil producer, is poised to sign an $800m (£492m) deal to explore and develop shale gas fields in the Ukraine, a presidential official told journalists yesterday. President Viktor Yanukovich’s chief of staff said Shell and Naftogaz, the Ukrainian state-run gas and oil company, intend to sign a deal today [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 29, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES INVESTMENT BANKING FEES FALL TO TWO-YEAR LOW Investment banking fees from mergers and acquisitions and capital raising have slumped in the third quarter to lows not seen since the aftermath of the Lehman Brothers collapse. Market volatility and worries about European sovereign debt prompted a third consecutive quarterly decline in M&A activity, while [...]
Focused Murray ready to go up a gear September 1, 2011 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray accepts he must improve if he is to avoid becoming the first high-profile casualty at the US Open when he faces Dutchman Robin Haase in their second round clash today. Murray got off to a sluggish start in his victory over India’s Somdev Devvarma on Tuesday and will need to raise [...]
Focused Murray ready to go up a gear September 1, 2011 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray accepts he must improve if he is to avoid becoming the first high-profile casualty at the US Open when he faces Dutchman Robin Haase in their second round clash today. Murray got off to a sluggish start in his victory over India’s Somdev Devvarma on Tuesday and will need to raise [...]
New UK laws tougher on libel tourism March 15, 2011 CHANGES to the UK’s libel laws will make it more difficult for overseas claimants to pursue a case in the UK courts, in an effort to clamp down on so-called libel tourism. The new Defamation Bill, released in draft form by justice secretary Kenneth Clarke (pictured) yesterday, will require claimants to prove “substantial harm”, and [...]
US probes more Swiss banks on secret accounts August 7, 2011 US PROSECUTORS investigating whether Swiss bankers helped high-worth Americans avoid paying tax have extended their probe to at least six more Swiss banks and one Liechtenstein private bank. Court documents reveal the banks, which have not been named, allegedly opened accounts for UBS clients after the Swiss bank closed its US business in 2008 because [...]
Share issue nets London fire engine owner £16m March 3, 2011 THE OWNER of London’s fire engines, AssetCo, has successfully raised £16m through a new share placement in order to tackle its debt problems. The outsourcing firm, which maintains the capital’s fire engines, was facing serious financial problems and a High Court winding-up petition. However, the new placement of 160m ordinary shares, underwritten by Arden Partners, [...]
Councils bring court case over HS2 plans April 2, 2012 FIFTEEN local councils yesterday launched a judicial appeal against the government’s £33bn High Speed Two rail expansion plans. A group of councils under the name 51m have lodged the legal challenge because they claim residents from London Euston to the Midlands have not been consulted over the scheme. The rail link, which in its current [...]
Councils bring court case over HS2 plans April 2, 2012 FIFTEEN local councils yesterday launched a judicial appeal against the government’s £33bn High Speed Two rail expansion plans. A group of councils under the name 51m have lodged the legal challenge because they claim residents from London Euston to the Midlands have not been consulted over the scheme. The rail link, which in its current [...]
Fraser concerned for the condition of county game April 7, 2011 FROM Mumbai to Middlesex; the contrast couldn’t be any greater as cricket’s focus switches from the glitz of a World Cup and start of the IPL to the more mundane matters of the county season, which commences today. While the state of the international game appears to be in a happier place following a successfully [...]