Ex-Ford boss named as the new chairman of BHP Billiton August 4, 2009 BHP Billiton, the world’s largest miner, yesterday said that ex-Ford chief executive Jac Nasser would be its new chairman. Nasser, who has been a non-executive director at BHP since 2006, will step into incumbent Don Argus’ shoes when he steps down next year after a decade at the helm. He beat off competition from John [...]
Wilkinson in, Cipriani out July 7, 2009 ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson has recalled record points scorer Jonny Wilkinson to the 32-man elite player squad in favour of Wasps’ Danny Cipriani. Wilkinson, who left Newcastle for Toulon earlier this summer, and Brive’s Riki Flutey are the only France-based players in the party. Cipriani, 21, started last season as England’s first choice No10 but [...]
Lions pegged back in last gasp drama June 23, 2009 EMERGING SPRINGBOKS (13) vs. BRITISH LIONS (13)BRITISH and Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan blamed atrocious conditions after seeing his side denied victory by a last-minute touchline conversion. The Lions looked to have sewn up the tour match when replacement fly-half James Hook slotted a penalty three minutes from time. That sent them 13-6 ahead, [...]
Braford & Bingley’s bid to defer bond interest could be repeated May 27, 2009 BRADFORD & Bingley (B&B) has said it will not pay interest on £325m of subordinated bonds, fuelling speculation that other nationalised lenders such as Northern Rock might follow suit. The bank said last night that it would not pay interest on three tranches of notes, £150m of floating rate notes due on 30 June, £125m [...]
Profits sizzle at B&Q as barbecue sales rocket June 2, 2009 WARM barbecue weather boosted sales at DIY chain B&Q in the first quarter, helping parent group Kingfisher report a 40 per cent jump in profits yesterday. The retailer said that profits in the 13 weeks to May 2 were £128m, smashing analyst expectations, which were around £34m lower. Chief executive Ian Cheshire said the group [...]
Profits sizzle at B&Q as barbecue sales rocket June 2, 2009 WARM barbecue weather boosted sales at DIY chain B&Q in the first quarter, helping parent group Kingfisher report a 40 per cent jump in profits yesterday. The retailer said that profits in the 13 weeks to May 2 were £128m, smashing analyst expectations, which were around £34m lower. Chief executive Ian Cheshire said the group [...]
BSkyB and ESPN set to carve up Premier League Setanta rights June 21, 2009 BROADCASTERS were last night putting the final touches to bids to acquire the live media rights to the English Premier League which have been revoked from troubled firm Setanta. BskyB and Disney-owned ESPN are expected to carve up the 46 football matches between them after Setanta’s board failed to find a last-ditch solution, putting it [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING May 31, 2009 THE SUNDAYSTHE SUNDAY TIMES SKY SAYS NO TO SETANTASports organisations including the Scottish Premier League may be forced to stomach deeper-than-expected cuts to their TV income after shareholders in Setanta failed to stump up enough cash to keep the broadcaster alive. Setanta’s financial position was so parlous this weekend that it asked arch-rival BSkyB for [...]
WHERE TO DRINK CHAMPAGNE IN THE CITY July 22, 2009 VERTIGOTower 42, EC2NShowy and high glam, this is a devoted champagne bar with the best views in town – perched right at the top of Tower 42 (pictured right). There is a fantastic choice of bubbly, including Veuve Delaroy Brut (£46), Georges Vesselle Bouzy Grand Cru (£66), two Bollies, a Krug (£385) and several Laurent [...]
Times are tough, but lawyers aren’t giving up their wine cellars quite yet July 14, 2009 JUST after the collapse of Lehman Brothers last year, at a lavish Clifford Chance party held at Goldsmith’s Hall, a French lawyer told me glumly: “London used to be such a good place to make money.” The champagne and canapes might have been flowing at the time, but the words did capture the feeling that [...]