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2 News CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010
BANKING
▲
including a potential fine. it of £9.4m for the year. BY PHILIP WALLER an ex-gratia payment of up to £30m quately to ensure they were reason-
to Tanzania and admitted failing to ably accurate and permitted them to
A DEAL between arms group BAE keep accurate records of the pay- remain uncorrected.
Apax nears a deal to take Takko Systems and the Serious Fraud Office
to settle a long-running investigation
into allegations linked to an arms
ment to the agent.
BAE had agreed to plead guilty to
one charge of breach of duty to keep
“The company very much regrets
and accepts full responsibility for
these past shortcomings.”
sale to Tanzania looked in doubt yes- accounting records linked to pay- BAE said it had improved its com-
terday after a judge challenged it. ments “made to a former marketing pliance policies to avoid a repetition
Advent has been readying an initial BAE and the SFO had agreed under adviser in Tanzania” and the judge of such issues.
▲
PRIVATE EQUITY public offering of Takko, which oper- the terms of the deal that BAE would had been expected to sentence the But the judge at a hearing at
PRIVATE equity firm Apax Partners is ates discount clothing shops across not have to admit to allegations that defence company on that basis. Southwark Crown Court said he was
reportedly closing in on a deal to buy Europe, in case a committed buyer it made payments to secure a radar BAE said in February: “In connec- unable to pass sentence without
German clothing retailer Takko from does not emerge. deal with the Tanzanian govern- tion with the sale of a radar system hearing more evidence and said he
US rival Advent International for Last week it emerged that both ment. by the company to Tanzania in 1999, wanted to call witnesses to testify.
about €1.3bn (£1.1bn). Apax and Swedish rival EQT were BAE had acknowledged paying the company made commission pay- He questioned why the payments
Apax has been given until both preparing binding bids for commission money to a Tanzanian ments to a marketing adviser and to the businessman had been made
Thursday to hold exclusive talks with Takko. marketing adviser linked to the failed to accurately record such pay- and also whether some of the pay-
Takko and a deal is likely before the Apax and Advent were unavailable group’s sale of a radar to Tanzania in ments in its accounting records.” ments had been channelled to offi-
deadline, says the Wall Street Journal. for comment last night. 1999, but denies corruption. The firm added: “The company cials in Tanzania.
Business Features Editor Marc Sidwell BY ALISON LOCK Schneiderman, as Cuomo is due to
Lifestyle Editor Zoe Strimpel step down at the end of December to
Sports Editor Frank Dalleres NEW YORK prosecutors are said to be become governor of New York state.
Art Director Craig Gaymer preparing to file a lawsuit against A suit of this kind would be unusu-
Pictures Alex Ridley accountant Ernst & Young for its al, legal experts said yesterday, as it
involvement in Lehman Brothers’ col- has been rare for prosecutors to
Commercial lapse in 2008. charge audit firms directly since
Sales Director Jeremy Slattery The civil case will reportedly auditor Arthur Andersen collapsed
Commercial Director Harry Owen charge Ernst & Young with helping after being sued for its role in the
Head of Distribution Nick Owen Lehman Brothers to mislead investors Enron scandal.
during its time as the bank’s auditor, Ernst & Young is also being investi-
Distribution helpline specifically homing in on the use of a gated by the UK’s Financial Reporting
If you have any comments about the distribution
of City A.M. Please ring 0207 015 1230, or email controversial accounting technique Council and the Accountancy and
distribution@cityam.com called Repo 105. Actuarial Discipline Board over the
The lawsuit may seek fines and allegations, originally published in
Editorial Statement damages from the Big Four account- an report of Lehman’s collapse by
This newspaper adheres to the system of ant if it can prove it failed to spot evi- bankruptcy lawyer Anton Valukas.
self-regulation overseen by the Press Complaints dence that Lehmans’ accounts Valukas said Lehman used Repo
Commission. The PCC takes complaints about the mislead investors, the report in the 105 without telling investors or regu-
editorial content of publications under the Editor’s
Code of Practice, a copy of which can be found at Wall Street Journal said. lators to temporarily remove up to
www.pcc.org.uk The lawsuit would be filed by $50bn (£32.2bn) of risky assets and lia-
Printed by Newsfax International,
Andrew Cuomo, the New York state bilities from its balance sheet in 2008.
Beam Reach 5 Business Park, attorney general, but would be pur- Ernst & Young and the SEC
Marsh Way, Rainham, Essex, RM13 8RS sued by his successor, Democratic declined to comment yesterday. New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo is close to filing the suit Picture: GETTY
Picture: REX
▲
BANKING
BY MARION DAKERS bank last year agreed to pay £2.5bn.
The support package has also “only
THE BAILED-OUT banks were under- been partially successful in encourag-
charged for the toxic asset insurance ing lending to creditworthy borrow-
scheme used to prop them up, accord- ers on the scale originally envisaged”,
ing to the National Audit Office. the report said.
The watchdog criticised the former The NAO accepted the asset protec-
Treasury staff under Labour and said tion scheme coupled with the capital
the department could have charged injections for banks such as RBS and
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in partic- Lloyds since 2008 have helped sustain
ular up to £1.9bn more for the asset financial stability.
Delay could
prove fatal
for Gartmore
£700m during the third quarter of
▲
FUND MANAGEMENT
BY JULIET SAMUEL this year, though overall AUM was
roughly steady at £20bn. However, it is
HENDERSON is unlikely to agree an not known how much more investors
acceptable offer for Gartmore before might have withdrawn since then.
the Christmas break, sources close to Some observers have said that the
Henderson say, raising the risk that deal could also be slowed by the
the embattled fund manager could Financial Services Authority (FSA),
collapse before a deal is done. which is already investigating
Henderson confirmed yesterday it Gartmore over the conduct of one of
is in negotiations to snap up its its former fund managers, Guillaume
stalling rival and is said to have Rambourg.
offered 95p per share for the compa- Gartmore has been in crisis since
ny, whose shares closed yesterday at the departure of its star fund manag-
95.8p. That equates to £346m in total er Roger Guy in early November.
equity, with Gartmore’s latest trading Henderson is being advised on the
update putting net debt at £80m. deal by UBS and Ondra Partners,
But while Gartmore is pushing for a while Gartmore has hired Goldman
quick deal before Christmas, Sachs.
Henderson is in no hurry to complete.
Sources close to Henderson say that ANALYSIS l Gartmore
125 p
the company is keen to include a price
adjustment mechanism in the deal, 120
whereby it can reduce its offer if 95.75
115 20 Dec
Gartmore’s share price plummets dur-
110
ing negotiations.
But if Henderson drags its feet for 105
too long, Gartmore could lose so 100
much of its value as to make the deal
95
pointless. The company’s latest results
showed that its assets under manage-
20 Sep 8 Oct 8 Nov 26 Nov 26 Nov
ment (AUM) had seen outflows of
M&A TRANSPORT
Toronto-Dominion Bank is close to an GATWICK Airport is now partially
agreement to buy Chrysler Financial owned by the Australian govern-
from US private equity firm Cerberus ment after its Future Fund bought a
Capital Management for $6.3bn 17.2 per cent stake from US invest-
(£4.1bn), it was reported last night. ment firm Global Infrastructure
Cerberus, which is led by co- Partners (GIP).
founder Stephen Feinberg, would GIP yesterday said the deal,
retain about $1bn in assets as part of thought to be worth around £150m,
the deal, the Wall Street Journal said. is part of its plan to syndicate owner-
TD spokesman Wojtek Dabrowski ship of the airport.
said the bank does not comment on It has previously sold holdings to
market rumours or speculation. other state-backed investors includ-
Toronto-Dominion is Canada’s sec- ing the Californian retirement fund,
ond-largest bank, and it owns just the South Korean pension plan and
under half of online broker TD Abu Dhabi’s investment authority,
Ameritrade. leaving GIP with a 42 per cent stake.
4 News CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010
BANKING
BY ALISON LOCK tioning whether the bank should has said several times over the past
remain headquartered in London. In three months that the bank, while
JPMORGAN may be moving to the an interview with the Telegraph, preferring to stay in the UK, would
Wharf to stay, but other banks are Geoghegan said investors were consider a move. The bank reviews its
still uncertain whether London increasingly focused on London’s head office location every three years.
remains the ideal home. competitiveness – and costs – relative HSBC sources told CityA.M.: “It is
Faced with the government’s threat to other centres. our preference to stay in London and
of further banking levies, bonus taxes “Shareholders are taking more of we have been crystal clear on that.
and regulation, HSBC investors are an interest and beginning to ask But shareholders are questioning the
reconsidering London’s appeal. ‘What is the cost to HSBC of the bank economic viability of the bank
Former chief executive Michael being located here?’” he said. remaining here in the UK and we are
Geoghegan is the latest to warn that Geoghegan’s words echo incoming considering that.”
Former HSBC boss Goeghegan says the bank is mulling moving its HQ Picture: REUTERS
TECHNOLOGY
sector caused Adobe to warn that rev-
ADOBE Systems issued an earnings enue would fall short of Wall Street
forecast sharply above Wall Street pro- expectations. As a result, investors
jections yesterday, contrasting had been anxious about upcoming
sharply from a pessimistic outlook forecasts. But Adobe turned in a prof-
three months ago when it was con- it, excluding items, of 56 cents per
cerned about the weak economy. share for the fourth quarter, which
The world’s biggest maker of ended 3 December. That beat the aver-
design software marked a sharp con- age forecast of 52 cents. Quarterly rev-
trast to the forecast issued in the last enue of $1bn (£645m) beat the
quarter when problems in key mar- average forecast of $988m.
Bankers could
trade lending
for soft touch
Authority have just rolled out the
▲
BANKING
most stringent bonus regulation in
BY JULIET SAMUEL the world, with bankers no longer
CHIEF executives of all of the UK’s permitted to receive more than 20
major banks will be summoned to a per cent of their bonus in cash up-
meeting with chancellor George front.
Osborne today, with the directors The tough new regulation means
expected to try and sweeten the chan- that there is little more Osborne can
cellor with offers of a multi-million do to regulate bonus payments.
pound lending target. But the agreement could be
The meeting was due to take place thwarted by business secretary Vince
on Monday but was postponed due to Cable, who recently called lack of dis-
Osborne being stranded in New York closure on pay a situation that could
by the snows in Britain. foster a “poisonous fungus”.
It was convened in part to discuss Meanwhile, RBS is in negotiations
increasing transparency measures to over bonuses with its biggest share-
do with bankers’ pay, but the holder: the UK taxpayer as represent-
bankers are expected to offer to ed by the UK Financial Investments
agree to a headline-grabbing target (UKFI).
for lending to small and medium- Sources close to the bank say that
sized businesses. RBS has asked to be able to pay up-
The move would give Osborne a front cash bonuses of up to £50,000 so
way to claim victory while avoiding as to prevent an exodus of talent. For
any further action on bonuses. The the last two years, RBS has been not
EU and the Financial Services permitted to pay any cash bonuses.
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 News 5
2 3 Liverpool
Guildhall Street
City Newgate St
Thameslink
Paternoster Gresham st
square St Pauls
Cheapside
Guided
St Paul’s Walks
Fleet street Ludgate Hill
Strand
New Poultry
Change
Bank
From left: Mayor Boris Johnson;
Grandstands Mansion
JPMorgan head of investment House
Temple
banking Jes Staley; and financial Place 4 Blackfriars Queen Victoria Street
Temple
secretary Mark Hoban Gardens Mansion
House
Pictures: REX/GETTY/REUTERS Upper Thames St Cannon St
JPMorgan
moves its HQ
to the Wharf
offices.
▲
BANKING
BY ALISON LOCK The move will relieve policymakers,
who reportedly met with Dimon to
JPMORGAN confirmed yesterday it discuss JP Morgan’s concerns over poli-
will base its European headquarters cies such as the bank levy and bonus
at the former Lehman Brothers tower tax. Mayor of London Boris Johnson
in Canary Wharf from 2012. said it was “a tremendous coup for
The decision is a major vote of con- London and for the UK, which rightly
fidence in London as one of the reflects the prevailing confidence in
world’s top finance hubs and follows the capital.”
concerns that the government was “Banking is one of the few global
not supportive enough of the bank- industries in which we truly excel,” he
ing sector. JPMorgan will not build a said. “JPMorgan’s commitment to
new block for its use as had been London will help ensure the capital
hoped, instead paying £495m for the retains its position as a banking power-
31-floor block at 25 Bank house.”
Street. The move also pleased the Treasury,
“This acquisition is a which received £550m from
long-term investment and JPMorgan from last year’s
represents part of our con- bonus tax alone.
tinued commitment to Mark Hoban, financial secre-
London as one of the tary to the Treasury, said the
world’s most important decision would “help to
financial centres,” said ensure the City’s position as
Jamie Dimon, the the pre-eminent global finan-
bank’s chairman and cial centre.” “This is excellent
chief executive. news for the City of London,
The towering steel and indeed the UK,” he said.
and glass block will The bank had planned to
host JP Morgan’s build a £1.5bn complex on
entire 8,000-strong the Riverside South site
investment bank- but will now just manage
ing division, which the development and pay
is currently spread £74.5m to exit the con-
between four tract.
ENERGY
and switch electricity generation The National Grid said usage was
BY MARION DAKERS from gas to other fuels in an effort to likely to be slightly less today and for
THE NATIONAL Grid has reassured keep a constant power supply. the rest of the week, as companies
customers that gas and electricity This is the first such alert to be start to close down for Christmas.
supplies are more than enough to issued as early in the winter as “A gas balancing alert is a routine
meet demand, despite record usage December. market tool and should not be a
yesterday forcing it to issue a supply Demand for gas is thought to have cause for concern,” said network
alert. passed 468m cubic metres (mcm), operations director Chris Train.
The utility issued a gas balancing slightly above forecasts on Sunday of Utility firms Centrica and National
alert for yesterday and today, which 465.8mcm and well above the previ- Grid helped push the FTSE 100 up 0.3
allows its to redirect power from ous record of 465.5mcm seen in per cent yesterday to 5,891.61.
BA shares hit
as Heathrow
chaos drags on
was too early to calculate the costs.
▲
TRANSPORT
BY MARION DAKERS “Our priority is to fly as many cus-
tomers as we can before Christmas,” he
SHARES in British Airways plummeted said.
yesterday thanks to the major disrup- Transport secretary Philip
tion to its flights from Heathrow. Hammond told Parliament yesterday
The firm, which is Heathrow’s that the late night flying rules would
biggest operator, cancelled 70 of its be relaxed to ease congestion.
130 flights out of the airport yesterday, Eurostar is also expected to be hit
leaving thousands stranded. hard by the weather.
BA is currently losing up to £10m a Thousands of passengers queued
day, according to analyst estimates – outside St Pancras station yesterday to
close to the losses suffered when all get a train to Europe after cancella-
flights were grounded during the tions at the weekend.
Icelandic volcanic eruption in April. BA shares closed down 1.85 per cent
“We have BA down to deliver rev- at 265.2p yesterday.
enues of around £27m a day in this
quarter so assuming some 70 per cent ANALYSIS l BA
of that is fixed cost it is probably losing 290 p
265.20
about £8m a day of profit,” said Davy 280 20 Dec
Stockbrokers analyst Stephen Furlong,
adding that the majority of BA’s profit 270
comes from its Heathrow operations. 260
“It depends on the percentage of
longhaul flights BA have operated but 250
I think they are probably losing
240
around £10m a day,” said Oddo
Securities analyst Yan Derocles.
20 Sep 8 Oct 28 Oct 17 Nov 7 Dec
A spokesperson for the airline said it
ANALYSIS l WEATHER FORECAST | LONDON AND THE SOUTH EAST
EUROZONE CRISIS
BY JULIET SAMUEL auction of short-dated Spanish debt, the ECB will probably be forced to
with Spain selling less than expected ramp up its bond purchases again
THE European Central Bank (ECB) and paying more for its money. early next year.”
slowed its rate of sovereign bond The slowdown in special bond pur- Goldman Sachs has estimated
purchases significantly last week, chases in part reflects a market that, between them, Spain, Belgium,
figures out yesterday showed. wind-down before Christmas, but Italy and Portugal will need to refi-
The ECB bought €600m’s (£507m) could also signal a concession to its nance €707bn’s worth of debt next
worth of gilts in the week to last board’s more hawkish German year.
Friday, marking a sharp downward membership. With yields skyrocketing, it is like-
shift from its purchases of €2.7bn, However, the lighter intervention ly that the ECB will be pressured to
€2bn and €1.3bn in the previous is likely to be temporary. ING Bank’s intervene in secondary markets to
three weeks respectively. Martin van Vliet said: “With the temper borrowing costs.
Spain’s unemployment rate has hit 18 per cent leading to public protests at cuts Picture: REUTERS
OECD: Spain
needs reform
shift more of the burden onto con-
▲
EUROZONE CRISIS
BY JULIET SAMUEL sumption and property and away
from employment. It also emphasis-
SPAIN is in urgent need of far-reach- es the need to de-regulate so as to
ing labour market and tax reform, make hiring people less onerous,
according to an economic survey including measures to reduce sever-
released yesterday by the ance pay and make it easier for com-
Organisation for Economic panies and employees to opt out of
Cooperation and Development collective sector agreements.
(OECD). In addition, the organisation said
The report also said that efforts to that water management and regula-
curb the country’s budget deficit – tion requires urgent reform so that
which it predicts will hit 11 per cent its cost reflects its scarcity.
this year – and improve the econo- But sweeping reform could prove
my’s competitiveness need to be difficult: Spain’s government is
“broadened and deepened”. already struggling to maintain order
In particular, the country needs after introducing a raft of measures
far-reaching reform to address its 18 to address its deficit, including an
per cent unemployment rate – a rate increase in VAT, income tax and a
higher than that of Ireland or five per cent cut in public sector
Portugal: “Labour market reform is wages.
the cornerstone to rebalance the The country is still in a state of
economy,” the report said. emergency imposed after a strike by
In order to do so, the OECD sug- air traffic controllers shut down the
gests reforming the tax system to country earlier this month.
EUROZONE CRISIS
tion’s liquidity operations in the Euro
EUROPEAN Central Bank head Jean- zone.
Claude Trichet said yesterday Asked if he was concerned about
Eurozone countries must do more the health of Irish banks, Trichet said:
individually and collectively to com- “The Irish [bailout] plan is designed
bat the bloc’s debt crisis, and Ireland for Ireland to face up to its own par-
must stick “rigorously” to its bailout ticular problems, which have mostly
plan. to do with its banking system.”
In a position paper published on its “We consider it necessary [for
website, the ECB earlier expressed Ireland] to complete this plan rigor-
“serious concerns” that Ireland’s res- ously,” he added.
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 News 9
O
NE of the biggest popular mis- and price discovery to markets, and tutional investors like pension funds two-thirds (and rising) of all assets hedge funds provide actually helps
conceptions about the hedge that is all true. who make up the majority of assets being managed by the hedge fund reduce systemic risk and thus prevents
fund industry is that it is unreg- But the industry actually has an managed, the industry has an impor- industry. These institutional investors financial instability. Andrew Baker is
ulated and wishes to stay that important social role and provides tant social role as the guardian of peo- do extensive due diligence on the chief executive of the Alternative Investment
way. Not only are managers vigorously value to the broader economy, beyond ple’s pensions, of university hedge fund managers they appoint. If Management Association.
Bundesbank:
CDS did not
cause crisis
for the likes of Greece.
▲
EUROZONE CRISIS
BY ALISON LOCK The report, published earlier this
month, found “no conclusive evi-
GERMANY’S central bank said yester- dence” that developments in the CDS
day that speculative trading in sover- market affected the cost of state bor-
eign credit default swaps (CDS) was not rowing.
to blame for the Eurozone debt crisis. It praised the “efficiency of CDS
In its December report, the markets in sovereign debt” and said
Bundesbank said that a spike in the they had little influence on bond
cost of insuring sovereign debt using yields even where governments faced
CDS was not down to excessive specu- funding difficulties.
lation by traders. “CDS spreads for the more troubled
Instead, movements in CDS prices countries seem to be low relative to
for peripheral Eurozone economies – the corresponding bond yield spreads,
like Greece, Spain and Ireland – was which implies that CDS spreads can
due to specific problems in those hardly be considered to cause high
countries, the Bundesbank said. bond yields for these countries,” said
It added that the CDS market had the report, which was commissioned
responded well to important informa- by European finance ministers in
tion about the financial strength of March.
these countries, such as credit rating The findings come hot on the heels
agency downgrades. of tough new European Commission
The Bundesbank also found that proposals published in September,
suggestions speculative traders which aim to tighten rules on short
pushed up the price of CDS to make a selling and restrict trading of CDS on
quick profit was “not confirmed by sovereign debt, where investors effec-
empirical data”. tively take a short position on EU gov-
The report backs up a similar inves- ernment bonds.
tigation by the European But Syed Kamall, a UK member of
Commission, which also found that the European Parliament, has warned
trading in sovereign CDS was not to the crackdown could actually lead to
blame for a spike in borrowing costs higher sovereign borrowing costs.
The Capitalist
10 CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010
EDITED BY
JULIET SAMUEL
GOT A STORY? EMAIL
thecapitalist@cityam.com
NERDS’ BUSINESS
Rumours abound of a possible tie-up
between Facebook and Chinese
search engine Baidu.
But these new media types have a
The City A.M. awards: a good party year funny way of denying market whis-
pers. Not for them the bland, “We do
agers said that trading was better, 32 not comment on speculation”.
per cent said it was much the Instead, a spokesman told The
same, with only 20 per cent Guardian: “It was just two nerds
saying it was worse. comparing notes. Keep the
And unlike in 2009, speculation in check.”
party venues are report- Nice to inspire such
ing less reliance on respect from your own
one-time spending press goons, eh?
events like
Christmas.
Just 30 per cent
said that the fes-
DOUBLE SPEAK
Labour leader Ed
tivities account- Miliband is clamping
ed for 11 to 25 down on loose language,
per cent of according to reports.
annual turnover, In a memo to his Shadow
versus more than Cabinet recently, he
half in 2009. informed them that the
The EU might be use of the descriptive
doing its best to phrase “coalition govern-
stamp on City exu- ment” is no longer au fait. It
berance with new sounds much too friendly,
bonus rules out apparently.
recently, but it just So what sanctioned lan-
goes to show that guage will the new Party
you can’t keep a machinery accept?
banker away from “Conservative-led govern-
her gin and tonic ment” is A-OK.
for long. A curious prohibition,
you might think, given
that the Tories currently
WHIPPED poll around 37 per cent,
It might not be the versus their friendly coali-
season for icecream, tion partners’ recent low of
but the City of London 11.
Corporation never stops Is it possible that Ed has
thinking about the regu- spun himself into a frenzied
lation of our summer re-imagining of the 90s?
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 News 11
Picture:
GETTY
▲
TECHNOLOGY
BY HARRY BANKS earlier this month.
The Chicago-based company’s viral
GROUPON has brought in a former couponing concept has been a hit,
Amazon executive as its new chief with annual revenue said to range
financial officer, the discount coupon from $500m to $2bn. It sends mem-
provider said yesterday. bers daily e-mails with a variety of dis-
Jason Child, a former vice president counts. The deals are activated when a
of finance for Amazon’s international minimum number of people agree to
business, took on the new role with make a purchase.
Groupon yesterday. Child spent 12 years at Amazon
Groupon turned down a $6bn after seven years at Arthur Andersen.
WEALTH MANAGEMENT
BY HARRY BANKS industry but investors said KKR will
likely remain in the market for other
AUSTRALIAN wealth manager Australian wealth management
Perpetual has called off talks with pri- assets.
vate equity firm Kohlberg Kravis KKR’s offer valued Perpetual at
Roberts over a $1.7bn (£1.09bn) about 22 times forward earnings com-
takeover saying the approach under- pared to 18 times for AMP’s offer for
valued the company, knocking its the Australia and New Zealand assets
shares down by nearly 15 per cent. of AXA Asia Pacific.
KKR made an indicative bid of A$38 “The takeover premium is gone out
to A$40 per Perpetual share in of the share price and no other bid-
October, eyeing a slice of the $1.2 tril- ders are likely to come in,” said Simon
lion Australian wealth management Burge, fund manager at ATI Asset
sector. It was only willing to raise that Management.
slightly after looking at limited data. “Add to that uncertainty over the
The Australian wealth manage- new chief executive. Only when a new
ment industry is among the few grow- head is appointed will we know the
ing parts of the country’s financial direction of the firm.”
services sector, thanks to compulsory
private pension schemes. ANALYSIS l Perpetual
There have been several deals in the 38 A$
sector, including the $13bn takeover
36
offer of AXA Asia Pacific by AMP.
Perpetual, which is currently 34
searching for a new chief executive,
said the the initial offer was too low 31.54
32 20 Dec
and said it would now end all discus-
sions with KKR after it failed to get an
acceptable price. 30
A successful offer could have led to
8 Oct 28 Oct 17 Nov 7 Dec
further consolidation in the world’s
” ”
States Department of Justice, which rep- holders may question if it is backing the
resents a potential poison pill. right horse.
“ Clearly a significant opportunity for the combined business lies in cost reduction. A significant element of
”
Ladbrokes’ cost base is from licensing software from Microgaming. 888 has developed its own proprietary technology
which could be used across the combined group when Ladbrokes’ current agreement with Microgaming expires.
Picture: REX
Ladbrokes to
Power
The
Hundred
bid for online
TELL US YOUR TOP 3 CHOICES
FOR THE POWER HUNDRED 2011
2011 gaming firm
WIN ONE OF 7 PAIRS OF FLIGHTS 58p yesterday, while Ladbrokes stock
▲
LEISURE
closed down 1.2 per cent to 126p.
TO ANY CITYJET DESTINATION* BY PHILIP WALLER
BETTING firm Ladbrokes is in talks
Ladbrokes said: “There can be no
certainty that these discussions will
The Power Hundred 2011, published on Two years ago, the Power Hundred was with 888 about a potential £240m ultimately lead to an offer being
takeover bid that sent shares in the made for 888. Further announce-
22 December in City A.M., will highlight all dominated by those involved in rescuing the online gambling group soaring. ments will be made as appropriate.”
those who will be calling the shots in the City in banks. This year's list will have a different Britain’s biggest bookmaker and The move by Ladbrokes, which has
888 both confirmed weekend media 2,700 betting shops, would represent
2011, whether they be bankers, lawyers, chief complexion, with dealmakers and successful speculation about the possible tie-up, the latest move towards consolida-
executives or hedge fund managers. business leaders in the ascendancy. saying they were in “very preliminary tion of the gaming industry after
discussions”, although they declined PartyGaming and bwin announced
to give details. their merger in August.
Ladbrokes, led by chief executive Ladbrokes and 888 held talks four
FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN, SIMPLY TELL US YOUR TOP 3 CHOICES FOR THE POWER HUNDRED. A NEW WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN EACH DAY. Richard Glynn, is thought to be keen years ago but aborted them due to
on expanding its online operations, Ladbrokes’ concerns over the threat
WHO WILL TOP OUR EXCLUSIVE CLUB THIS YEAR? which while being successful are not
believed to have grown as much as
of possible retrospective legal action
linked to 888’s activities in the US
Go to www.CityJet.com/cityam the bookmaker would have liked.
In August, 888 scrapped its divi-
prior to the industry being outlawed
in 2006.
dend, preferring to keep cash after a Unlike rivals PartyGaming and
to submit your entries and for full weak economy and competition from
soccer’s World Cup sapped appetite
Sportingbet, 888 has yet to strike a
deal with US authorities to give it
terms and conditions. for poker and hit its first-half profit.
Shares in 888 rose 18 per cent to
immunity from prosecution, which
one broker said could scupper a bid.
Don’t forget to pick up City A.M. on 22 December to check out who's up, who's down, which banker is
pulling the best deals, who has entered our exclusive club and who has dropped out of it. GARRY LEVIN division, a role he formally took up
in April 2010.
*from London City Airport, excluding Milan Linate. Terms and conditions apply EVOLUTION Before working for KBC Peel
Hunt, he was joint chief executive
SECURITIES of broker Altium Capital between
2002 and 2007, having started his
career as a solicitor.
To celebrate this year’s list, CityJet, City A.M.’s partner for the Power Andrew Burnett, who also acts as
Hundred 2011, is giving away one pair of flights each day for 7 days in the run GARRY Levin at Evolution Securities
a broker for 888, is an executive
director at Panmure Gordon & Co.
up to the list. CityJet is a subsidiary of one of the largest airlines in the world and Andrew Burnett at Panmure
Gordon are joint brokers for 888
He was previously head of mergers
& acquisitions at Empire Online,
and offers a choice of over 480 flights a week to 14 major European and UK while Deutsche Bank and Greenhill director of corporate finance at
advise Ladbrokes. Numis Securities, research director
business centres from London City Airport. With just a 15 minute check-in Garry Levin left his role as man- at Merrill Lynch International, assis-
time - the shortest of any UK airport - CityJet are the smartest choice for aging director in corporate finance
at KBC Peel Hunt earlier this year to
tant director at Charterhouse
Tilney and research analyst at
time-conscious business and leisure passengers in London. join rival Evolution Securities as
head of its equity corporate finance
County Natwest. He studied at the
University of St Andrews.
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 News 13
Coalition rejigs
high speed line
along the preferred route may suffer
▲
TRANSPORT
BY PHILIP WALLER AND DAVID CROW falls in the value of their homes and
said the government was considering
THE government has caved in to pres- compensation.
sure from Conservative backbenchers Hammond said engineers would
by changing the planned route of the reduce the environmental impact of
UK’s new high speed rail line from the railway line by running it through
London to Birmingham. tunnels and cuttings.
Transport secretary Philip The coalition has changed about half
Hammond said the changes would the plan originally put forward by the
“significantly mitigate” the impact of body charged with designing it, HS2
the 250mph trains on towns and vil- Ltd.
lages bordering the railway. A line between London and
The proposed line passes through Birmingham and a connection to the
the constituencies of several Tory MPs, Channel Tunnel rail link – known as
including those of Welsh Secretary HS1 – will be built first, with a y-shaped
Cheryl Gillan and Andrea Leadsom, MP network stretching to Manchester and
for South Northamptonshire, who Leeds to be built later, as well as a
questioned whether the proposals rep- branch to Heathrow Airport.
resented value for money. Track and station operator Network
Leadsom said: “My overriding belief Rail said the new line was needed to
is this is wrong. The UK is simply too relieve congestion on the existing West
small, hilly and contoured to cope with Coast main line and provide extra
a 250mph juggernaut.” space for passenger and freight trains.
Hammond insisted the scheme The Confederation of British
would bring parts of the country closer Industry said it backed the route cho-
together by reducing journey times to sen by ministers because it would bring
and from London. more benefits for the economy and bet-
But he acknowledged that some ter connections for big cities.
Philip Hammond is spearheading the rail project Picture: Micha Theiner/City A.M.
14 News CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010
▲
FINANCIAL SERVICES
yesterday. Sweden’s Wallenberg family.
BY HARRY BANKS Nasdaq OMX said it agreed to a After the transactions with Nasdaq
EXCHANGE operator Nasdaq OMX price of $21.82 per share for the buy- OMX and Investor AB, Borse Dubai’s
kicked its buyback plan into high back, below its closing price of $22.53 holdings in Nasdaq OMX will total
gear with a deal to repurchase 11.5 on Wednesday. about 30m shares.
per cent of its outstanding shares The deal will help Borse Dubai The plan “allows us to be oppor-
from Borse Dubai for $497m meet its debt obligations, Nasdaq tunistic and accelerate our share
(£320.4m) yesterday. OMX said. repurchase plans,” Nasdaq OMX chief
The repurchase of 22.8m shares It said Borse Dubai would also sell executive Robert Greifeld said in a
Nasdaq OMX chief Robert Greifeld said the buyback was “opportunistic” Picture: REUTERS will be funded by a proposed $370m about 8m Nasdaq OMX shares to statement.
Cash: 20719.24
Margin: 560.00
13:05
Markets
Unrealised P&L: 92.70
Total Position: 20092.70
$1.9bn in deal
List One Long name... List Three
Sell Buy Change Status
UK 100 Rolling Spread
>
▲
▲
PHARMACEUTICALS TELECOMS
Trade
4917.0 4919.0 +45.2
Wall Street Rolling Spread
Trade
>
BY HARRY BANKS 9599 9605
US SP 500 Rolling Spread
+24
BY HARRY BANKS
Trade
1034.6 1035.2 +4.8 >
GENZYME which is fighting off a hos- Trade
US Tech 100 Rolling Spread
1644.4
884.8 1647.4
885.2 +6.6
-15.0 > AT&T plans to buy wireless spectrum
tile $18.5bn (£11.2bn) bid from Sanofi- Trade
Germany 30 Rolling Spread
5538.5 5540.5 +67.0 > from Qualcomm for $1.93bn
Aventis, is taking another stab at Trade
US Crude Oil Oct 09 Spread
1644.4
884.8 1647.4
885.2 +6.6
-15.0 > (£1.24bn) and boost its 4G network,
persuading investors that its experi- Trade
GP/USD Rolling Spread
>
aiming to counter criticism over
16346 16350 +61
mental multiple sclerosis drug is 5
iPhone service quality and a threat
worth more than Sanofi’s projec- from rivals like Verizon Wireless.
tions. AT&T is the sole US carrier for
Genzyme, a US-based biotech com- Apple’s iPhone, but smaller rivals like
pany that makes drugs for rare dis- Sprint Nextel and Clearwire have
eases, maintains that its Campath been adopting 4G, a new wireless
drug could generate peak annual standard that enables better Internet
SPREAD
sales of $3.5bn. access including video.
France’s Sanofi sees peak annual It is the sort of wireless bandwidth
sales closer to $700m. The discrepan- AT&T desires – and will go with yes-
cy is central to Genzyme’s argument terday’s deal – given the strain iPhone
that it is worth more than the $69 a has put on its existing network. At
share being offered by Sanofi. times, customers in cities like New
To break the deadlock, Genzyme York and San Francisco have com-
and Sanofi advisers have discussed
using contingent value rights (CVR) in
a potential deal structure. The rights
would give Genzyme investors an
extra payout if the drug reached cer-
tain targets.
BET N W plained of dropped calls and slow
Web connections.
AT&T's move also comes as Verizon
Wireless, the venture of Verizon
Communications and Vodafone
Group, has also adopted 4G service
“I think that’s the way it’s going to and is widely expected to gain rights
go,” said William Tanner, an analyst Get Spread Betting on your iPhone™ to sell the iPhone in 2011.
at Lazard Capital Markets. “I imagine now from just 10p per point* The 700 megahertz (MHz) airwaves
there will be a figure in the low $70s are considered valuable because they
with an earn-out based on how this travel long distances and can pene-
drug actually does.” trate thick walls. The license covers
Sanofi’s hostile tender offer expires more than 300m people in the United
on 21 January. Sanofi had extended
Spread betting can result in losses States, the companies said in a joint
that deadline earlier this month to that exceed your initial deposit. statement.
buy time for an agreement, though it In 2007, AT&T bought wireless air-
has not ruled out more aggressive wave licenses in the 700 MHz frequen-
options, including a proxy battle for cy band from privately held Aloha
Genzyme. * 10p offer available to new account holders for first 8 weeks. Partners LP for about $2.5bn.
Few analysts believe that Campath, For San Diego-based chipmaker
which is already sold as a cancer treat- Qualcomm, the sale will mark the
ment and known generically as alem- end of its FLO TV business, its mobile
tuzumab, will generate the kind of 020 7150 0499 television service that never took off.
sales projected by Genzyme. www.finspreads.com It had said in July that it would
Independent market research group examine its strategic options for the
BioMedTracker has forecast Campath business, and announced in October
iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.
sales of about $1.6bn in 2019. that it was suspending sales. It was
Genzyme first presented its argu- trying to sell the spectrum and was in
ment for a higher value at an investor talks with wireless operators includ-
event in New York two months ago. ing Verizon Wireless.
Fiat in crucial week of Italian union talks Google delays its TV sets
to build top-range SUVs if unions time unions were split, with some TV products at the Consumer
▲
AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY
BY HARRY BANKS agreed to more flexible shifts. ready to sign the deal, some asking Electronics Show in Las Vegas in early
The plan was part of chief execu- for more time and the left-leaning GOOGLE has asked manufacturers to January.
ITALIAN carmaker Fiat has entered tive Sergio Marchionne’s “Fabbrica Fiom union against it. delay the launch of TV sets based on Google did not immediately reply
a crucial week of talks over the Italia” project under which Fiat may “We are not against a separate the internet company’s software. to an email seeking comment.
future of its historic Mirafiori plant invest €20bn in loss-making Italian contract for the car sector,” said Google sent out word to some hard- TVs with Google’s software let
ahead of a self-imposed Christmas plants to boost productivity. Luigi Angeletti, secretary general of ware makers last week asking them viewers surf the Web directly from TV
deadline to decide whether to stick However, talks between Italy’s top moderate trade union Uil said yes- not to announce additional products sets. Apple has a competing device,
to planned investments. industrial group and unions over a terday. yet, saying the delay may allow the Apple TV, which allows users to watch
Fiat unveiled a plan at the end of plan to relaunch Mirafiori stalled “But drafting takes time and we company to improve its software. their iTunes collection on TV.
November to invest more than €1bn over a labour contract dispute. need to reach a deal on Mirafiori by However, Samsung Electronics will The initial Google TV devices are
(£840m) in its Turin Mirafiori plant Union representatives said at the the end of the week.” go ahead with its launch of Google offered by Sony and Logitech.
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 Economics 15
slumps to lowest
London’s retailers could be severely
affected by tube strikes on Boxing Day,
the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has
warned. Almost one fifth of retail spend-
ing takes place in the capital, providing
▲
BY JULIAN HARRIS he said. Prior to the credit crunch, cause,” said the BRC’s Stephen Robertson.
lending reached £363bn in 2007.
MORTGAGE lending has sunk to its The Bank of England has shown Hungary Bank continues its feud
lowest level since 2000 for five consec- mortgage approvals levelling down at The central bank of Hungary raised
utive months, it was revealed yester- around 45,000 per month, for interest rates by a quarter of a per cent
day. September to November. Nationwide yesterday, bringing the rate to 5.75 per
Demand for mortgages and supply of credit remain constrained In November lending dropped by and the Halifax both showed slight cent. The hike was attributed to above
five per cent to £11.1bn compared to falls in house prices for November. target consumer price index (CPI) infla-
ANALYSIS l Mortgage lending over the decade the previous month, according to the “House prices will not crash but will tion, which hit 4.2 per cent in November.
Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). trend down gradually to lose around Yet analysts say the rise signals an
400 £bn A huge 10 per cent drop from last 10 per cent from their peak 2010 levels increase in tensions between the Bank
350 year’s November figures is partly by the end of 2011,” said Howard and the government, which continues
300 accounted for by a rush to seal proper- Archer of IHS Global Insight. with exceptionally high taxes and
250 ty deals in November 2009 before Tight credit continues to hold back “unsustainable” fiscal policies.
200
stamp duty concessions expired. the housing market, and some com-
150
Along with seasonal factors, the mentators fear a rise in interest rates UK state to learn from industry
stamp duty changes make the drop could further deter buyers. Up to £30bn can be saved from govern-
100 appear worse than it is – yet the news But low rates, low prices and high ment spending on infrastructure, the
50
Source: The Council of Mortgage Lenders
still “reinforces the picture of a contin- rental yields make the market “a great Treasury announced today. “By working
0 uing flat market,” said CML economist opportunity for anyone who is able to with industry we can identify ways to
2001 2003 2005 2007 2009
Year
Bob Pannell. secure a mortgage,” said David save money for them and the taxpayer,”
Gross mortgage lending for next Whittaker of Mortgages for Business. said chief secretary Danny Alexander.
BY JULIAN HARRIS businesses say “the needs of big Yet British manufacturing was
business are taken into account the seventh largest in the world in
BRITAIN’S manufacturers are when the government is creating 2009.
being held back from lucrative regulation,” harming their own Output, productivity and value
export markets, the British prospects. have increased since the 1980s,
Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said And tax credits to encourage despite a fall in employment in the
yesterday. research and development (R&D) sector.
More than one in four manufac- are unnecessarily complex and too The UK has “a strong interna-
turers does not export at all, and 82 prescriptive, also deterring small, tional position in many higher
per cent of industry respondents innovative companies, the BCC value areas such as pharmaceuti-
identified export controls as a bar- found. cals and aerospace,” the BCC said.
rier to trading overseas. The UK spends half a per cent And manufacturing has become
“Overly zealous export control less of its GDP on R&D compared to the economy’s success story this
NEW
rules can stand in the way of rea- peer countries. year. In the third quarter the sector
sonable trade,” the report states. The education system is also fail- was 5.8 per cent up on the same YOUR TICKET INCLUDES:
It calls on Vince Cable to deliver ing to provide young people with time in 2009, the government
YEAR’S
• Entry to The Club from 8pm
his pledge to reduce “onerous busi- the necessary skills, the report revealed this month.
ness taxes, red tape which suffo- found. Yet the industry still “needs to • A mini bottle of Moët
cates small firms, and a slow And banks should be “more rediscover its trading spirit,” said Champagne
E VE
oppressive planning regime.” adept at serving the specialised the BCC’s David Frost. • A selection of
complimentary cocktails,
2010
drinks from the bar and
Telenor blocks
Russia tycoon Vimpelcom’s
creates new Weather bid
potash giant
TELECOMS
▲
VIMPELCOM’S $6.6bn (£4.24bn) bid
for telecoms assets owned by Weather
Investments is hanging by a thread
after Norwegian shareholder Telenor
said yesterday it would not back the
deal.
▲
MINING the deal valued Silvinit at a 35 per Telenor’s opposition to the deal --
BY HARRY BANKS cent discount to Uralkali. They said it which would see Vimpelcom taking a
was far from a merger of equals. controlling stake in Egypt’s Orascom
A RUSSIAN billionaire moved yester- “They [the terms] don’t look very Novartis boss Joe Jimenez wants to expand into emerging markets Picture: REUTERS Telecom and all of Italy’s Wind --
day to create the world’s second- good for Silvinit, it values the busi- means that all three independent
factory in St Petersburg
tively controlled by Russian mining- “They are buying a similar asset at Number Two mobile phone operator
to-banking tycoon Suleiman Kerimov, a significant discount, which is very the world’s fifth largest.
offered to buy rival Silvinit for cash attractive [for Uralkali]. There are Analysts said the move undermines
and shares. some operational synergies, which the long-term stability of Vimpelcom
Uralkali’s offer for 20 per cent of are in line with our estimates. Those by once again pitting Telenor against
Silvinit, or 1.57m ordinary shares is at are the main benefits.” its other major shareholder Altimo --
$894.5 per share, which compares Uralkali said the deal had already PHARMACEUTICALS focus on local manufacturing, R&D the telecoms arm of Russia’s Alfa
▲
with the $940 price on Moscow’s dol- gained the support of 53 per cent of BY HARRY BANKS partnerships and public health devel- Group run by billionaire Mikhail
lar-denominated RTS exchange. The its ordinary shareholders and from opment, Novartis said. Fridman.
total cash price would be $1.4bn, both 67 per cent of Silvinit’s. NOVARTIS will invest $500m (£322m) “The ongoing partnership with The two owners fought protracted
firms said. in Russia over the next five years, Russia enables us to expand our com- board and courtroom battles over
The merger of the two companies FAST FACTS | URALAKI / SILVINIT strengthening its position in the mercial presence in a key emerging strategy for years before a 2009 resolu-
will then be completed through a country as it joins rivals looking to market,” Novartis chief executive tion.
share swap. ● The new company will be one of the largest get around tough rules on imported Joe Jimenez said in a statement yester- Telenor spokesman Dag Melgaard
Shares in Silvinit fell nine per cent potash makers in the world, second only to medicines. day. said the deal did not make “strategic
in Moscow on the news, while Canada’s Potash The Swiss drugmaker plans to Emerging markets, such as Russia, or financial sense” for shareholders.
Uralkali stock added around two per ● The new company will have a market capital- build a new pharmaceutical manu- are the new battleground for phar- Telenor has 36 per cent of voting
cent. isation of around $24bn (£15.5bn) facturing plant in St Petersburg as maceutical companies as sales stall in rights in Vimpelcom and three of the
Analysts at Uralsib estimated that part of a partnership, which will Western markets. nine Vimpelcom board members.
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 News 17
a winter of
discontent?
YES workers, you have to question the
intentions and the value of meet-
ings like this one.
If Cameron’s government will not
agree to meaningful negotiations,
then all the cordiality and the fine
words are for nothing, and have the
effect of inviting industrial and
legal action.
The key issue for us has always
been, what must be done to oppose
the government’s cuts and how to
MARK SERWOTKA, PCS unite not just trade unions but
other campaigners and communi-
A
T yesterday’s meeting with ties.
David Cameron, I raised the The Unite union’s general secre-
issue of public sector pen- tary Len McCluskey called it right
sions. Mr Cameron said he when he said the cuts are politically
was “happy” to look at a process for motivated and we have to oppose
future discussion, but on the specif- them all. We can not and will not
ic issue of the change from the RPI allow ourselves to be drawn into
to CPI index for public sector pen- accepting cuts to welfare, attacks on
sions he said flatly it was non-nego- public services, mass job losses, and
tiable. cuts to pay and pensions, with the
It is always worth unions talking occasional promise of tea and a cosy
to the government of the day – for chat in Downing Street.
my union, representing civil ser- The coming year will undoubted-
vants, it is a necessity because the ly see more protests on our streets
government is our employer. and PCS is committed to playing its
Our first choice is always to nego- part to help build on what is
tiate and come to an agreement. already a promising movement
But faced with a refusal to talk on against the cuts.
an issue that represents a massive Mark Serwotka is general secretary of
cut in the value of pensions and is the Public and Commercial Services
of major concern to public sector Union
T
HE annual reference to a win- of the law, what are they left with?
ter of discontent is being rolled Protest? All well and good and possi-
out again, but this year it bly quite effective, but workers are
appears to be gaining some simply not as flexible as students
traction. According to Len McCluskey when it comes to organising the time
the newly appointed leader of the to do so. Neither do students suffer
UK's largest union, Unite, protesting deductions in pay and disruption to
students can act as a role model for benefits as a consequence of their
workers fearing the consequences of actions. Employers will be well
government cuts to the public purse. advised to communicate with work-
Recent surveys, including one of ers their policy relating to time off
over 500 employers by DLA Piper, sug- and absence if there is a groundswell
gest there is a concern about the level of threatened protest and action.
of disruption in the next 12 months The second key issue to bear in
but what we are seeing here is a call mind is that public sector disputes
to arms at a political level and across are often incapable of being resolved
a number of different employers. This between trade union and employee
may be easier said than done. on one side and the employer on the
The first thing to keep in mind is other. Why? Because the employer is
the vast difference between “protest” subject to a funding decision and
and “strike” action. Strikes are a process that is different from the pri-
breach of contract for employees and vate sector. The “real” dispute is with
a civil wrong by trade unions, both of the funder: the government. The
which could lead to serious employ- unions cannot negotiate with the
ment and financial consequence real decision makers. This brings us
unless excused by regulations around back to the distinction between
balloting and notification. protest and lawful and protected
The premise for any form of indus- industrial action and the truth is that
trial action is that it arises from a gen- one is far easier to organise than the
uine trade dispute. To gain exemption other, and with far fewer conse-
from legal action any union(s) seek- quences for all those involved.
ing to co-ordinate strikes across vari- David Bradley is a partner and head of
ous employers will have to show employment law at DLA Piper LLP
18 News CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010
Desire presses
Lloyds sells BEST OF THE BROKERS
ANALYSIS l Lloyds banking group
80 p
LLOYDS BANKING GROUP
RBS rates the bank “buy” but has reduced on with drilling
salt group to
its target price to 105p from 120p, after
75
70
66.87
20 Dec
Lloyds last week revealed a larger than
expected impairment to its portfolio in
in Falkland Isles
Ireland. The broker adds that the bank’s
65 underlying earnings power generation
▲
60
graded some profit estimates up to 2012 FALKLAND Islands oil explorer Desire
because of the exposure to Ireland. Petroleum has started drilling a new
20 sep 8 Oct 28 Oct 17 Nov 7 Dec
well after suffering disappointment
with its last attempt to strike oil in
ANALYSIS l Supergroup SUPERGROUP the South Atlantic.
1,700 p Execution Noble maintains its “sell” rating Desire has begun drilling its
INDUSTRIALS ations in Durban in South Africa and Dawn/Jacinta 25/5-1 well in the North
▲
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS Edited by Juliet Samuel in association with
To appear in CITYMOVES please email your career +44 (0)20 7557 7245
updates and pictures to citymoves@cityam.com SPECIALISTS IN GLOBAL PROFESSIONAL RECRUITMENT morganmckinley.com
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Markets&Investment 19
3i Group 330.75 2.25 330.75 250 COBHAM 203.25 4.50 276 192.25 John Wood Group 538.50 -3 541.50 293 Royal Bank of Scot 38.50 0.75 58 28.50
3i Infrastructure 118 -2 121.50 99.25 Colt Telecom 131 0.50 142.50 109 Johnson Matthey 2048 11 2048 1446 RSA Insurance Grp 124.75 0.50 136.50 114.75
A.B. Foods 1128 -5 1139 816 Compass Group 582.50 3.50 588.50 425 Jupiter Fund Man 305 2 310 180.25 SABMiller 2251 7.50 2251 1650
Aberdeen Asset.Man. 203 3 205 112.75 Cookson Group 639.50 0 640 367.50 Kazakhmys 1578 -5 1630 965 Sage Group 275 -0.75 289 220
Admiral Group 1561 10 1693 1114 Croda International 1577 8 1610 751 Kesa Electricals 164 -2.50 174 99.25 Sainsbury (J) 373.25 1 395 313
Aegis Group 139.50 -1.25 145.50 103.50 Daily Mail & Gen 561.50 3 567.50 414.25 Kingfisher 257 1.50 259 198.50 Schroders 1831 48 1831 1116
Afren 140 1 143.25 79 Davis Service 426.25 4.25 435 360.25 Ladbrokes 126 -1.50 162.75 123.50 Schroders NV 1440 42 1440 929.50
African Barrick Gold 593 0 670 503 De La Rue 849.50 0.50 1005 549.50 Lancashire 540.50 -1.50 647 424 Scot.& Sth. Energy 1200 15 1200 1010
Aggreko 1570 36 1685 882 Debenhams 70.75 -1.25 81 53 Land Securities 655 -2 696.50 545 Scottish Mortgage 702 0.50 705 475
Alliance Trust 374 2 374 293.50 Derwent London 1543 4 1605 1208 Legal & General 99 -0.25 106.25 69.75 SEGRO 295.25 0.75 352 250.25
Amec 1159 4 1159 733.50 Diageo 1196 16 1196 1000 Lloyds Banking Grp 66.75 0.25 77.50 46.50
Serco Group 587.50 -1.50 651 494.25
Amlin 396 -2 433 357.25 Dixons Retail 22.75 -1.50 38 22.75 Logica 128.25 0.75 148 101.75
Severn Trent 1452 16 1468 1072
Anglo American 3141.50 -8.50 3150 2254 Domino’s Pizza 560.50 5.50 560.50 293.25 London & Stamford Property Ltd. 130 -2 132
Antofagasta 1547 17 1560 761 Drax Group 370.50 11.25 444 326.25 110.25 Shaftesbury 445.75 -4.50 460 349.25
Aquarius Platinum 338.50 1 458 227 DS Smith 203.25 -1.25 210 104 London Stock Ex. 838.50 15.50 838.50 544 Shire 1516 -14 1567 1191
ARM Holdings 392 -2 414.50 172.75 Dunelm 528 -22 550 325.25 Lonmin 1889 16 2157 1355 SIG 123 0.25 137.75 90.75
Ashmore Group 345 2.50 383.75 218 easyJet 427.25 -7 496.50 348.50 Man Group 296.50 2.50 327.50 202 Smith & Nephew 656.50 1 696.50 537.50
Ashtead Group 164.50 -2 166.50 72 Edin.Inv.Tst. 446.75 -1.50 464.25 355.50 Marks & Spencer 373 -2.50 427.50 323.50 Smiths Group 1251 16 1285 975
AstraZeneca 2937.50 -3.50 3385 2732 Electrocomponents 268.50 0.50 279.50 161.75 Meggitt 369.75 4.75 369.75 251 Soco International 362 5.25 484.25 292
Atkins (WS) 712.50 -5 792.50 556.50 Enquest 138.50 4 146.50 89.25 Melrose 305.75 0.75 305.75 162 Spectris 1296 16 1296 705
Autonomy 1520 -23 1975 1271 Essar Energy 582 4.50 586 383 Mercantile Inv Tst 1074 8 1074 828 Spirax-Sarco 1960 -27 1987 1170
Aveva Group 1588 -12 1600 980.50 Eurasian Nat Res 999.50 7 1266 818 Michael Page 556.50 9.50 556.50 346.50 Spirent 150 -2 160.25 97.25
Aviva 390 4 423.50 294.25 Euromoney Inst. 689.50 -0.50 727 424.25 Micro Focus 406 -9 546.50 276 Sports Direct 154 1.25 154 92.25
AZ Electronic Materials SA (WI)298 2.25 301 249 Experian Group 813 -0.50 813.50 572 Millennium & Cop. 558 7 570 358.75 St James’s Place 268.50 -4.50 292 204.25
Babcock International 560 6.50 635 492.75 Ferrexpo 396.75 7.25 396.75 184 Misys 314.25 5 314.25 201.50 Stagecoach Group 208 -5.75 224 160.75
BAE Systems 327.50 2.50 388.75 294.75 FirstGroup 395.25 2.25 426 336 Mitchells & Butlers 350.50 -4.50 360 247.50 Standard Chartered 1752.50 18.50 1950 1351.75
Balfour Beatty 313.75 -0.50 314.25 229.75 For.&Col.Inv.Tst 305 -0.50 305.75 251.50 Mitie Group 232 -0.50 241 188.75 Standard Life 210.25 0.25 236 173
Barclays 261 1.25 383.25 255.25 Fresnillo 1547 9 1605 669.50 Mondi 485 1.50 557.50 323.75 Supergroup 1334 -27 1638 535
Barratt Development 85 0.50 142 70 G4S 252.50 -0.25 283.50 237.75 Monks Inv.tst. 356 -1.50 363 271 TalkTalk 168.25 2 168.25 108.50
BBA Aviation 215.25 0.75 217.25 156 Genesis E.m.f. 537 -0.50 542.50 399 Morrison (Wm) 264.50 0 306.25 257.50 Talvivaara Mining 560 4 581 342.50
Bellway 622 -9 826 511 GKN 217.25 0.50 217.25 102 Murray Int.Tst 944 5 944 720 Tate & Lyle 535.50 -1.50 544.50 388.75
Berkeley Grp Hldgs 886 -13.50 932.50 742 GlaxoSmithKline 1263 -2.50 1339.50 1095 National Express 242.50 -0.25 259.50 188 Taylor Wimpey 29.50 1.25 44 22.25
Betfair Group 975 -64 1550 975 Great Portland Est. 354 -0.50 364 279 National Grid 563 11 613.25 484.25 Telecity Group 480.50 -13.25 532.50 360
BG Group 1331.50 7 1333.50 984 Greene King 482.50 -9 491.50 376.25 Next 1968 -17 2344 1817
Templeton Emrg. 651 -2.50 685 471.50
BHP Billiton 2512 12 2524.50 1684.50 Halfords Group 450 -2 550 372.75 Northumbrian Water 335 2.75 361.50 252.75
BlackRock Mining 780 8.50 799 492 Halma 359 -0.75 366.50 223 Ocado Group 160 -0.75 170 123.50 Tesco 430 -3.25 454.50 377.50
BlueCrest AllBlue 171 1 174.50 153.75 Hammerson 421.50 2 434.50 336.25 Old Mutual 120 0 145.25 97.25 Thomas Cook Group 184.25 0.50 272 171.75
Booker Group 59 0.75 60.25 38.75 Hargreaves Lansdown 570.50 10 570.50 276.50 PartyGaming 212 -4.50 334.50 206 Travis Perkins 1013 -4 1017 664.50
BP 469 2 655.50 303 Hays 127.75 1.50 127.75 88.50 Pearson 1016 -1 1051 855 TUI Travel 237.25 -1.25 308.50 190
Brit Insurance 1040 2 1045 728 Henderson Group 130.50 0 151.75 112.75 Pennon Group 641 7 641 483 Tullett Prebon 375.75 1.75 417.25 262
British Airways 265.25 -5 286 184.25 Heritage Oil 425 1 581 296.75 Persimmon 409 -3.75 507.50 336.50 Tullow Oil 1251 16 1369 991.50
British Amer.Tob 2463 8 2464.50 1949.50 Hikma 816.50 -13 829.50 510 Petrofac 1551 38 1551 876.50 UK Commercial Prop 83.50 -1.50 85 72.75
British Empire Tst 484.50 -5.50 498.50 396.50 Hiscox 371.75 1 373.50 308.50 Petropavlovsk 1100 1 1365 852 Ultra Electronics 1672 16 1895 1265
British Land 525 9 525 418.25 Hochschild Mining 611.50 -3 658 234 Phoenix Group Hldgs 609.50 -12.50 758 557.50 Unilever 1969 -3 2015 1688
Britvic 488 3.50 518 381.50 Home Retail Group 192 -4.75 295.50 192 Premier Farnell 289 -2 304.50 171.50 United Utilities 586 0.50 628.50 488.25
Brown (N.) Group 296 -1.25 301.75 206.50 Homeserve 454.25 0.50 487.50 326.25 Premier Oil 1959 4 1959 1017 Utd Business Media 679 2.50 682.50 409.75
BSkyB 733.50 5.50 736 524.50 HSBC Holdings 656.75 1.25 740.50 596.25 Provident Financial 860 -5.50 974 728.50 Vedanta 2395 -27 2934 1839
BT Group 187 4.75 187 110 Hunting 710 -7.50 724 439.50 Prudential 671.50 1 671.50 487.50 Victrex 1512 -10 1522 796
Bunzl 728 4.50 777 616.50 ICAP 538 1 539.50 294 PZ Cussons 392 -1 409 234.75 Vodafone Group 170.25 0.25 175 129.50
Burberry Group 1132 2 1156 581 IG Group 513 -1 553 362.50 QinetiQ Group 132 1.50 167 96.75 Weir Group 1811 21 1861 695
C&W Comms 51 -0.50 63.75 44.25 Imagination Tech 377.50 1 441.75 215 Randgold Res 5600 -15 6655 4209 Wellstream Holdings 788 -5 793 436
C&W Worlwide 69.50 1 100 60.50 IMI 939.50 1 948 513.50 RDS ‘A’ 2069.50 -1.50 2100.50 1624 WH Smith 502 -5.50 523 398.25
Cairn Energy 420.25 1.50 493.25 318.25 Imperial Tobacco 1955 14 2154 1753 RDS ‘B’ 2065.50 -4 2081.50 1554 Whitbread 1801 -4 1812 1266
Caledonia Inv. 1880 -26 1906 1512 Inchcape 350.75 -0.25 368 237 Reckitt Benckiser 3599 22 3655 3037 William Hill 165.25 1 216.50 155.50
Capita Group 702.50 2 826 635.50 Informa 413.50 4.75 448 304.50 Reed Elsevier 528 0 563 460.50 Witan Inv Trust 508.50 3 508.50 410
Capital & Counties 147 0.50 157 100 Inmarsat 686.50 1.50 821 606.50 Regus 82.50 0.50 120 66
WOLSELEY 1968 9 1968 1205
Capital Shop Centre 420 2.25 420 301 InterContinental Htl 1249 15 1249 887 Renishaw 1306 32 1306 545
Carillion 371.50 1.25 371.50 273 Intermediate Cap.Grp 329.25 3.50 351 240.50 Rentokil Initial 98.25 0.25 138.50 87.75 WPP Group 786.50 3.50 786.50 572.50
Carnival 2801 37 2920 2037 International Pers Fin 361.50 6 362.75 183.25 Resolution 235 2 349 211.25 Xstrata 1455 5.50 1461.50 845.75
Catlin Group 364.50 -1.50 393 320 International Power 439 4 439 284.50 Rexam 331.75 5.75 346.75 276.50
Centamin Egypt 166.25 2.50 197 106.75 Intertek Group 1879 12 2000 1150 Rightmove 801 10.50 810 477.50 LONDON TOP 250 BY MARKET CAPITALISATION
Centrica 335.25 4.75 346 264 Invensys 351.75 0.50 351.75 230.25 Rio Tinto 4422 4 4505 2812
Charter 829 17 848.50 567 Investec 508.50 2.50 562 417.75 RIT Capital Partners 1228 24 1228 971.50 POWERED BY
Chemring Group 2859 -12 3663 2598 ITV 71.50 -0.50 74.25 48.25 Rolls-Royce Group 637 7 654.50 473.50
Close Brothers 852.50 2.50 861.50 664 Jardine Lloyd 603 1 609.50 459 Rotork 1802 41 1895 1158
www.digitallook.com
REPORT REPORT
the country. cent lower, while Dixons Retail However, American Express tum-
Oil majors were higher as temper- dropped 6.2 per cent as traders bled 3.4 per cent to $42.50 after Stifel
atures in Europe and the US feared the weather would hit sales of Nicolaus downgraded the stock to
Northeast looked set to remain its big ticket items, which were “hold” from “buy.”
U U
TILITY stocks helped push below freezing this week boosting expected to pick up ahead of the VAT S stocks tacked on further gains Boeing also kept gains in check.
Britain’s top shares higher yes- heating fuel demand. rise in January. to push the S&P 500 to a two- The stock was down 2.7 per cent to
terday, as the UK’s near-Arctic Oils services firm Petrofac gained Back on the upside, Diageo rose year high yesterday, continuing $63.27 after the Seattle Times news-
conditions boosted demand 2.5 per cent, while temporary power 1.4 per cent as investors bet on stocks a steady upward march paper said a delivery delay could be
for energy, but British Airways toiled supplier Aggreko added 2.4 per cent. perceived as better able to endure investors believe will continue in announced for the plane maker’s 787
as the big freeze disrupted airline The snow and sub-zero tempera- harsh economic conditions, and as 2011. Dreamliner aircraft.
services. tures grounded flights across north- UniCredit lifted its rating on the Volume was light, as is expected The Dow Jones industrial average
The FTSE 100 closed up 19.86 ern Europe yesterday. drinks company to “buy” from through the rest of 2010. Investors dipped 13.78 points, or 0.12 per cent,
points, or 0.3 per cent, at 5,891.61. British Airways fell 1.9 per cent as “hold”. stayed with sectors that have led a to 11,478.13. The Standard & Poor’s
Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 closed the airline cancelled all short-haul Positive broker sentiment also sharp December rally, including 500 Index added 3.17 points, or 0.25
up 6.33 points at 11,433.11. flights out of Heathrow. buoyed InterContinental Hotels, up financials, energy and materials per cent, to 1,247.08. The Nasdaq
It touched a fresh intra-day year Mid cap peer EasyJet was off 1.6 1.2 per cent, with Numis Securities stocks. The S&P 500 is up 5.7 per cent Composite Index rose 6.59 points, or
high of 5,913.83 before falling away, per cent. upgrading its rating for the stock to for the month and 11.8 per cent for 0.25 per cent, to 2,649.56.
although trade was light as the mar- Retailers, which rely heavily on “buy” from “add”. the year. Energy shares led the way up as the
ket wound down for the Christmas the foot-fall in the lead up to “We have seen this year-end rally price of oil rose nearly one per cent in
holiday at the end of the week. Christmas, were trampled lower, ANALYSIS l FTSE refuse to give up any ground,” said choppy trading. Chevron added 0.4
5891.61
“If this winter wonderland contin- with Next and Marks & Spencer off 5,900 20 Dec Bucky Hellwig, senior vice president per cent to $88.88.
ues it’s not only good news for Santa, 0.9 per cent and 0.7 per cent respec- at BB&T Wealth Management in Amazon.com helped boost the
but an early Christmas present for tively, and Tesco down 0.8 per cent. 5,800
Birmingham, Alabama. Nasdaq on optimism the company
the utility companies too,” said Next was also hit by a downbeat The combination of improving eco- will benefit from improved holiday
Jimmy Yates, head of equities at CMC note from H20 Market, which repeat- nomic data, additional stimulus from spending. According to research firm
5,700
Markets. ed its “sell” rating. the Federal Reserve and the extension comScore, US online sales are up 12
Utility firms Centrica and “Our view is that the shares are of tax cuts was keeping equities in per cent to $27.5bn so far this season
National Grid were up 1.4 and 2.0 likely to suffer a continuing down- 5,600 demand, Hellwig said. compared with a year ago.
per cent respectively, as the freezing ward correction in the run up to the The financial sector, which has Shares of Amazon gained 3.2 per-
temperatures boosted demand for Christmas trading statement on 5 lagged the broader market, was up cent to $183.29.
20 Sep 8 Oct 28 Oct 17Nov 7 Dec
20 Markets & Investment | Contracts for Difference CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010
GOOD TIMES
FOR EQUITIES Silicon valley is
MAY NOT LAST
DAVID MORRISON
being flooded
through by a
CFD MARKET STRATEGIST, GFT
D
ESPITE a couple of nasty dips earlier this
year, 2010 is ending on a high note for
equity investors. Worries over the
European debt crisis, concerns about
stubbornly high US unemployment and a crip-
pled housing market, and growing fears of infla-
tion in emerging markets have failed to inflict
serious damage to the upward trend. As we
head into the home straight, the bulls continue
to trample on the bears, and most investment
torrent of cash
houses are calling for further gains in 2011.
But just how good has 2010 been for equi-
America’s tech firms may be about to start
ties? In a crude overview of the past twelve
months, the US came out top. The Nasdaq is spending their reserves, says Daniel Knowles
up 18 per cent, while the Dow and S&P have
both risen around 10 per cent. The tech-heavy
C
Nasdaq outperformed as corporations pre- ALIFORNIA itself may be on the per cent of the company’s market capitali-
ferred to invest in IT upgrades rather than brink of bankruptcy, but its most sation, pushing its share price up by about
take on new staff. The German Dax 30 also famous Silicon Valley firms very 26 per cent. Though neither Apple or
did well, rising 16 per cent thanks to its strong much are not. By one estimate, the Google looks likely to start paying divi-
manufacturing base and high productivity. The top 15 most capitalised technology firms dends, they may splash around some
UK’s FTSE 100 tacked on a respectable 7 per have $316bn (£203.6bn) of cash and short money on acquisitions.
cent, benefiting from the heavy weighting of term investments racked up. According to Rogoff, it would make
multinationals within the index – and it would Apple, now the world’s second largest sense for Apple to buy Adobe, a software
have done better were it not for BP’s disas- company by market capitalisation, has company. Google, for its part, has already
trous performance. But other European about $50bn in the bank. Google has been opening its wallet. Last month, it
indices fared less well. The French CAC 40 $33bn and Microsoft has $43bn. That is
looks likely to end the year down. The Italian fuelling a wave of optimism about the pos-
MIB has fallen 14 per cent and Spain’s Ibex is sibility of share price boosting dividends, ANALYSIS l Total cash & short-term investments of tech companies
off 18 per cent. Investors remain concerned share buybacks, as well as expectations of a
about the unresolved debt issues in the euro flurry of mergers and acquisitions. Is it 40 $bn
zone. time CFD traders joined in?
Surprisingly, given how bullish many bro- Certainly, it looks like an exciting time
kers have been on the region, the major Asian- for the technology sector. Ben Rogoff, fund
Pacific indices failed to shine this year. The manager of the Polar Capital technology
Hang Seng is flat; the Japanese Nikkei is down trust, reckons that 2011 should see contin-
3 per cent while China’s Shanghai Composite ued volatility among technology stocks. “It 30
has fallen 11 per cent. For China and other is quite telling which firms have the cash
developing economies, the US Fed’s stimulus piles” he says, “it’s an indicator of how Microsoft
has added fuel to their overheating markets. with it a firm is”.
A pick-up in inflation has led to fears that the Rogoff reckons that firms which have Apple
Chinese authorities will soon tighten rates spent a large amount on acquisitions like Google
sharply. With GDP in developed economies still IBM and Hewlett Packard, have been 20
pointing to a pathetically weak recovery, forced to do so to deal with a rapidly
investors may be relying too much on China. If changing industry, whereas firms like
so, then investors in the US, UK and Europe’s Google and Apple have succeeded in gener-
core could be overestimating the upside for ating innovation themselves, and so have
equities in 2011. been able to hoard money. Traders might
10
want to stick with the wealthy companies Intel
then
HUGE BUYBACKS
That may be at an end now, however, as all
firms branch out. Texas Instruments Source: Capital IQ
announced a huge $7.5bn buyback of Mar 07 Jun 07 Sep 07 Dec 07 Mar 08 Jun 08 Sep 08 Dec 08 Mar 09 Jun 09 Sep 09 Dec 09
shares in September, or approximately 25
T
HE US drugstore chain Walgreen reports yesterday of bid talks by Ladbrokes and a fur-
its first quarter 2011 earnings on ther 20 per cent jump to seven month highs of
Wednesday with the stock trying to break 58p. Although figures of 70p a share have
through the $38 resistance level to new been mentioned, the shares did stall at an old
12-month highs. Walgreen has surged on strong support/resistance line and the 200 day mov-
volume over the last three weeks and it does ing average, which may hold it for now. A
look like only a matter of time before it breaks break of this level though should see it close
higher. There is large call-option open interest the gap to 65p left on 28 May. Spread Co
on the $40 strike level, so that should be our offers a spread on 888 Holdings of
target if it breaks through $38. Spread Co 57.96p–58.29p and Ladbrokes of
offers a spread on Walgreen of $37.49-$37.56. 126.8p–127.5p.
The aluminium producer, Alcoa Inc, is at an Daniel Knowles
reportedly offered $6bn for Groupon, a confidence. “After Lehman fell, lots of peo- A mountain of cash is ANALYSIS l Apple's share price over the last year
“social purchasing” site. It was refused, ple thought that companies would take building up in
partly due to the anti-trust concerns which advantage, but that didn’t happen – actu- California 350
$
have intensified around Google of late. ally, activity fell.” With confidence now
Microsoft is another large firm which picking up again, many firms may feel Picture: GETTY
may embark on a spending spree. Over the forced to start running down their cash
last year, the technology giant has seen its balances – as appeared likely in January
share price slip back by 8.26 per cent, suf- 2010, before the Greek sovereign debt crisis
fering from its dependence on relatively depressed confidence again. 300
stagnant business software revenues. It So how should traders react to this?
may choose to make some spectacular Unfortunately, it’s far from clear. Part of
acquisitions so as to reinvent itself and the reason why companies like Apple and
find new revenue streams. Google have accumulated such dramatic
cash hoards is because they have been con-
PARADIGM SHIFT sidered growth companies. Many investors
According to Sean Murphy, a partner at might not take kindly to large acquisitions.
Norton Rose who specialises in the tech- In that case, it might make sense to go 250
nology sector, the IT industry is undergo- short on the wealthiest firms, while buy-
ing a paradigm shift. ing up the firms likely to be acquired.
“Sections of the technology sector are Alternatively, given the potential cash
converging and it’s all becoming increas- about to be flashed, it might make sense to
ingly competitive” he says. As a result, go long on the Nasdaq, in anticipation of a
firms that have been exceptionally conser- round of price boosting deals.
vatively managed since the late 1990s are One thing seems relatively certain, how-
now being forced to spend so as not to miss ever. One way or another, the technology
out on consumer trends. sector is likely to excite more than most in
According to Murphy, the main reason 2011. Traders should keep watching their
Dec 09 Feb 10 Apr 10 Jun 10 Aug 10 Oct 10 Dec 10
acquisitions haven’t already happened is screens.
I
T’S not looking good for those of us Right, lap up the
planning to head away for Christmas, festive atmosphere in FITNESS & DIET EXPERT
which means it could be time to the Donovan Bar at
N
rethink things. Option one: wallow at Brown’s Hotel. o longer seen as old-style fat farms,
home, rueing the fact that your plans have weightloss retreats are perfect for those
been scuppered and the shops have sold looking to shift a Christmas-pud tum and
out of turkey; option two: book into a hotel, locate long-forgotten waistlines.
relax and enjoy a stress-free Christmas for FOR THE PURIST: Covering everything from
once. If you’re stranded in London it’s a no- Neuro Linguistic Programming – through to Raw
brainer, and there’s plenty of availability. Food Training and colonic irrigation, the team at
Here are our picks. Anamachara Detox maintain they can get your
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If your idea of heaven is raw food, smoothies and
THE BERKELEY, KNIGHTSBRIDGE BROWN’S HOTEL, MAYFAIR FLEMINGS, MAYFAIR lots of yoga in the Somerset countryside, this is
the one for you. www.anamcharadetox.com
FOR THE COMFORT EATER: At NuBeginnings,
you don’t just receive exercise and nutrition
know-how, you get hypnotherapy too –
NuBeginnings want you to change for good and
keep up the good work on returning home.
NuBeginnings claim to be “a boutique weight
loss camp like no other” – their customers cer-
tainly seem to think so. www.nubeginnings.co.uk
FOR GUYS ONLY: New Men-Only Boot Camp
from market leaders New You Boot Camp is an
extreme, seven day residential course run by mil-
itary PTIs. A typical day may be broken up into
The roof terrace of the Berkeley’s spa has been trans- London’s oldest hotel is a discreetly luxurious Mayfair insti- One of Mayfair’s less showy boutique hotels – on the out- hourly sessions on-site, or spent on exhilarating
formed into a mini outdoor cinema, hidden between the tution. Paul Smith has designed this year’s festive decora- side, anyway – has gone through a major refurbishment full-day expeditions on the beach or in the
trees of a makeshift pine forest. It’s showing winter clas- tions, including a tree decked with Smith’s hand-painted recently and emerged a thing of chic, quirky fabulousness. woods. Run through military-style drills and bust
problem areas through activities like abseiling,
sics while hot chocolate, warm blankets, fluffy cushions baubles. Rooms are available between December 23-29, The interior design sits somewhere between Moulin gorge walking, and zip wires for the fearless.
and furry hot water bottles (plus heating lamps and huge and there are a number of packages, such as the Family Rouge and Alice in Wonderland, while the newly-invigor- www.newyoubootcamp.com
down feather jackets) keep viewers cosy. If you’re staying Festive Celebrations package (from £565 per night), in ated cocktail bar & tea room (the afternoon teas are high- FOR GIRLS ONLY: Situated on Exmoor in the
for Christmas, a horse-drawn carriage ride through which you get a deluxe room with another interconnect- ly recommended) has been picking up plaudits from those Peak District, FitFarms run separate male and
female camps recognising that men and women
Belgravia, four course Christmas lunch at Koffmann’s, a ing room for the kids. Small kids get a 50 per cent reduc- in the know. For staying over Christmas, the Cupcake and have very different needs when it comes to diet
Santa’s grotto in the Blue Bar and Christmas stockings are tion on food and drink, and on Christmas Eve Santa will be Champagne package is available from £185 per room per and exercise. The aim is to make sure you receive
all included in the £550 per person Christmas package. visiting to deliver goodie-filled stockings. Albemarle St, night, staying in a classic double or twin. 7-12 Half Moon as much individual attention as possible (which
you can then continue at home with ongoing
Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL. www.the-berkeley.co.uk W1S 4BP. www.roccofortecollection.com St, W1J 7BH . www.flemings-mayfair.co.uk long-distance help from your designated coach).
www.fitfarms.co.uk
CLARIDGES, MAYFAIR LANDMARK LONDON, THE HOXTON HOTEL SOFITEL ST JAMES, PALL MALL SOHO HOTEL
MARYLEBONE
As last year, Ineffably For some- Sofitel St Beloved by
fashion grand and thing a bit James is a fashion-
designer aptly named, more afford- place of istas and
John Galliano the able – and beautiful, the media
has designed Landmark extremely old-fash- crowd, the
a Christmas London – comfortable ioned opu- Soho Hotel
tree for famous for – head to lence in the is as styl-
Claridge’s Art its huge cov- the heart of heart of Pall ishly, dis-
Deco lobby, ered court- hipsterville Mall. The St cretely
this year coming up with what resembles yard housing the Winter Garden for a stay at the ever-so-groovy Hoxton James bar has launched a special comfortable as it is cool. Being on the
a vast piece of pink coral, surrounded by restaurant – has a Home for Christmas hotel. The hotel, which has garnered Christmas cocktail – involving a double doorstep of the Soho film industry, it
oceanic life. It’s perfectly extravagant, as package (£570 per room based on two a reputation for selling five rooms each cognac shot and a frozen shooter – which comes equipped with its own, ultra-luxe
is a Claridge’s Christmas, which can sharing) which includes mince pies and night for just £1 (released periodically you can enjoy while gazing at the screening room (complete with cowhide
include a horse-drawn carriage ride Champagne served while you unwrap a throughout the year) is an eclectic mix- Christmas tree adorned with 200 minia- chairs) which will be showing the
through Mayfair, a seven course Christmas mystery gift, a complimentary day pass ture of urban cool and creature comforts, ture, handmade Baccarat bottles of Louis acclaimed George Clooney movie The
Day lunch, a visit from Father Christmas for two for the hotel’s rather special spa with exposed brick walls and polished XIII cognac. Bear in mind that the American to aide the Boxing Day come-
for kids, an overnight stocking delivery, and £100 credit for the restaurant. Or concrete next to huge, old leather arm- Brasserie Roux restaurant is fully booked down on the afternoon of December 26.
and breakfast on Christmas day and choose the All I want for Christmas deal, chairs and roaring log fires. There are for Christmas lunch, but you’re hardly short A Christmas stay also includes English
Boxing day. That’s part of the Timeless which includes a £100 voucher for rooms available between Christmas and of places to head for a festive feast round breakfast and a festive gift from the
Claridge’s Christmas package, which is for Hamleys, Selfridges or M&S. A five-course New Year, and while they may not be here. The spa is running a selection of spe- hotel, while rates are from £260 for a
two nights (24-26 December) and costs Christmas day lunch is £170 per person. £1, they’re a relative snip at just £69. 81 cial Christmas treatments. From £258 per Superior room (excluding VAT). 4
£680. 29 Brook Street, W1K 4HR. 222 Marylebone Rd, NW1 6JQ. Great Eastern St, EC2A 3HU. www.hox- room per night. 6 Waterloo Place, SW1Y Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH. www.firm-
www.claridges.co.uk www.landmarklondon.com tonhotels.com 4AN. www.sofitelstjames.com dalehotels.com
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 WORDS BY
ZOE STRIMPEL
Lifestyle | Restaurants 23
T
HE website of Cassis, Marlon Abela’s
new venture, says proudly that the
interior matches its cuisine. The cui-
sine, though, is Provencal, an inher-
ently rustic sort of food, with snails and
hunks of meat and tomatoey vegetable
dishes, meant to be eaten under trees or in
red-tiled kitchens among flagons of wine.
Marseille, Aix, Avignon.
Or, in this case, South Kensington, and So, far from Provence – the Roman Cassis’s distinctly clams and several types of white fish (the we had a pink one modeled on strawberry
the matching interior is one of sleek sur- aqueducts and fields of lavender non-rustic interior. contents changes daily) placed in front of cheesecake and a tiramisu one that was,
faces, Julian Opie portraits and large win- exchanged for the smart kitchen shops me before a gallon-sized pot, or so it frankly, garish.
dows. This is, one can only conclude, a and bars of Brompton Road – we settled seemed, of that famous viscous brown But Abela knows what he’s doing and
very SW3 type of Provence. down for our meal. fish soup was poured atop. Now, looking most things are as they should be. You can
I’m not sure if the rusticity of the food To go with an aperitif of blueberry carefully at the menu it appears the dish count on great ingredients that are well-
concept and the sleekness of the restau- Royale, we had a few “petites bouches” – was for two people – why did nobody stop sourced, cooked well and a stonking, even
rant work when put together. Abela – the some parcels of fried tortellini stuffed me? Anyway, I didn’t make great headway flustering, wine list to go with it all. The
catering heir and Rich Lister – is an expert alternatively with spinach, foie gras and because I was struggling – I found the only thing missing, oddly, is that flavour
in providing luxurious, global and thus cheese; snails in pastry, and some fried soup too severe – stern and fibrous and of Provence, some spilled red wine per-
perhaps occasionally bland “dining experi- whitebait. The parcels may have been without any forgiving buttery sweetness. haps, or a portly grandmother at the next
ences”. Though nobody could call his faithful to Provence, and artfully done too, The seafood portion was so industrial- table, to take the shiny edges off what
Greenhouse, with its vast wine list and but they tasted like undistinguished party sized that I blanched and desisted before feels like a global product.
Michelin-starred food, or Umu, his Kyoto- snacks all the same (that said, the ones doing justice to what I’m certain others
style place in Mayfair bland, those sorts of with foie gras inside were impressive). The would have called a magnificent dish. I
comments have been made in relation to
A Voce, his Manhattan Italian.
whitebait was just fishy (I never like the
things, but if you do, these are probably
will confidently say, however, that I’ve had
better rouille, which was served on the
FOOD & BOOZE
I fear Cassis may have caught a little
sniff of what some say A Voce suffers.
quite good) but the snails – now, these
were excellent. Earthy, silky jewels
side with gruyere and croutons.
My companion had lamb about which
NEWS
Although everything is attractively put encased in moreish pastry and herby he was pretty over the moon. Lamb’s not ZOE STRIMPEL
together, it all feels a bit sterile, like you sauce. Phew. my favourite but the bit of his rack that I
might come here with your beautiful hus- Starters were very strong indeed. The tried had a good, deep flavour. It wasn’t as NEW YEAR’S AT PARAMOUNT
band or wife or partner and talk soup I had contained squash and chest- hot, or even as warm, as I was expecting For a decadent New Year’s Eve with the best
about…nothing. Or sit there wishing you nuts with a dollop of cream. The broth but maybe lamb cools faster than other possible views of London, head to Paramount,
were somewhere else. It feels a million was savoury and smooth, the chestnuts meat. It’s worth pointing out that the rata- the former members’ club at the top of Centre
miles from the sort of place in the sun rich and sweet and then, the indulgent touille that accompanied all this was one Point. A champagne reception, five-course meal
where you’d hunker down with fish soup whorl of cold cream just to make you of the nicest dishes: vegetables wallowing and a DJ from 11pm should ensure a stylish way
and large hunks of baguette. But maybe swoon. I loved this soup and hated to in their own aromas, helped along by to ring in 2011. £160 per person. Top of Centre
that’s the point. We are on Brompton share it with my companion, who was any- home-made tomato sauce. I confess I filled Point, 101-103 New Oxford Street. To book, call
Road and there’s nothing to be gained by way preoccupied with his extremely gen- up on it rather, perhaps denting my abili- 020 7420 2900.
pretending otherwise. It would be kitsch. erous board of good country terrines ty to wrestle with the fish.
Indeed, our fellow diners were the beau- (including hare) served with chutneys and Pudding was jolly nice. The Grand CONNAUGHT’S COOL COBURG EXTENDED
tiful Sloane crowd – and there were a good toasts. Marnier and orange soufflé is a source of One of London’s finest and smartest drinking
few elderly denizens of the area there too. For mains, I decided to get into the spir- great pride, and I found it impressive venues has just got bigger and even smarter.
Dressed ever so slightly scruffily we felt a it of things and order the bouillabaisse though very sweet a bit too goopy (it came The speakeasy-cool Coburg bar at Mayfair’s
bit (ok, very) out of place – but were not even though it’s a dish that scares and out surprisingly quickly for a soufflé). Connaught hotel – a huge hit since its opening a
made to feel in the slightest bit uncom- impresses me in equal measure. This one Chocolate tart with pine nuts was lovely. couple of years ago – has been extended, with
fortable by the excellent staff. terrified me: it was an enormous bowl of Dessert cocktails may be best left alone: the addition of a beautiful new veranda section
housing what will be some of the most desirable
seating for cocktails to be found in London.
THREE OTHER FRENCH RESTAURANTS IN SOUTH KENSINGTON Carlos Place, W1K, 020 7499 7070.
ZOE STRIMPEL NEW YEAR’S AT PARAMOUNT
Quo Vadis, the
private
members’
club on Dean
Street, will intro-
duce a new bar on
the ground floor in
January. Behind the
attractive copper-topped
bar will lurk an impressive
assortment of cocktails
made in one-off silver shak-
L’ETRANGER BIBENDUM RACINE ers, along with snacks such
French with a – hang on a minute – Japanese twist, A classic Conran outpost, this top-flight French restau- Considered a jewel of Kensington, this is one of London’s as smoked trealy ham toast-
you’re unlikely to find a dining experience quite like this rant is a stone’s throw from Cassis and is housed in the very best French restaurants. It proudly boasts lapin à la ed sandwich and salt cod
elsewhere in London. Tofu and ginger sit alongside pan- resplendent Michelin building. There’s an oyster bar for moutarde, tête de veau and soupe de poisson. Salads of fritters with tartare sauce.
fried foie gras and fillet steak Rossini. Less usual dishes something more laid-back, but for some very pricey mountain goat's cheeses and herbs, and “proper Dover Opens 5 Jan. 26-29
include quail and lychee salad with chicken liver choco- French seafood dining, head to the first floor. A prix fixe soles that cover the plate” are also to be expected. A Dean Street. 020
late and miso-grilled aubergine with ponzu caviar. 36 menu softens some of the prices. Michelin House, 81 wine list is carefully chosen and the interior is elegant. 7437 9585.
Gloucester Road, SW7 4QT, 020 7584 1118. Fulham Road, SW3 6RD, 020 7581 5817. 239 Brompton Road, SW3 2EP, 020 7584 4477.
24 Lifestyle | TV& Games CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010
SKY SPORTS 1 Time 4am-6am Premiership 4.40am Boston Legal 5.30am- Brian 3.40am Being Erica DISCOVERY HOME &
SATELLITE & CABLE
COFFEE BREAK
Copyright Puzzle Press Ltd, www.puzzlepress.co.uk
QUICK CROSSWORD
SUDOKU KAKURO
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from 1 to 9 to solve this tricky Sudoku puzzle. adds up to the total in the box 9 22
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WORDWHEEL T R
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embarrassed (5)
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ten minutes to find as many words as possible,
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LAST ISSUE’S or more, all must contain the central letter and
letters can only be used once in every word. There
S N 13 Follow as a result (5)
6 Cheap novel (9)
FEBRUARY OCTOBER
l WINTER OLYMPICS: l FOOTBALL: Boston
Amy Williams wins Red Sox owner John
gold for Great Britain Henry sees off High
in the skeleton bob; Montgomerie led Court legal challenges
FOOTBALL: Man Utd Europe to victory to complete a £220m
win Carling Cup; John in the Ryder Cup, buyout of Liverpool;
Terry is stripped of the while Spain GOLF: Captain Colin
England captaincy amid (below) won the Montgomerie leads
rumours about his pri- World Cup Europe to Ryder Cup
vate life; Portsmouth become the first top Picture: PA glory at Celtic Manor; Lee Westwood
flight club to go into administration; dethrones Tiger Woods as world No1;
GOLF: England’s Ian Poulter wins the RUGBY UNION: Saracens sign Gavin
WGC Match Play in Arizona. Henson, a move revealed by City A.M.
intimidated
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IL>9PLE@FE IAN BELL: Ran out of partners in both the PAUL COLLINGWOOD: Averaging just
Adelaide and Perth Tests. Surely due a pro- 16.50 but is still worth a place on the
▲
RUGBY UNION believe they will be. I think it’s ing his time by performing on reali-
BY JAMES GOLDMAN going to be fun. ty TV shows Strictly Come Dancing
“Hopefully I can get up to and 71 Degrees North.
SARACENS newboy Gavin Henson speed as soon as possible because Henson feels appearing Seasiders also had to call off a home
▲
FOOTBALL
claims he’s back in rugby for good obviously I’d love to get in that on those shows has been BY FRANK DALLERES game against Manchester United
and hopes to cap his comeback to the Welsh Six Nations squad, and good for his personal because of a frozen pitch earlier this
sport by being part of Wales’ 2011 Six then obviously the World development but is so PREMIER LEAGUE chiefs have moved month, meaning a backlog is threat-
Nations campaign. Cup. happy to be back in a to ease fears of a fixture pile-up as ening to build up.
Henson, 28, is set to make his first “I’ve missed out on the World rugby environment that extreme weather threatens to wipe Champions League sides are short
appearance for his new club in the Cup the last couple of times. he can see himself out further fixtures. of dates on which rearranged fixtures
Premiership Boxing Day clash against That’s a huge thing missing on extending his career well Heavy snowfall claimed seven of can be scheduled. United also have to
Wasps at Wembley, 21 months on my CV so I’ll do everything in into his 30s. the nine top flight games at the week- set a new date for their trip to
from his last competitive outing. my power to get in. It’s all really “I do look after my self end, while some of the Boxing Day Chelsea, which was postponed at the
Wales coach Warren Gatland has exciting. and I’m hoping I can play schedule is already under threat. weekend. There are fewer free dates
warned Henson a return the interna- “I’ve not heard anything for another eight years. Blackpool, who postponed their available this season because the
tional fold is far from guaranteed, but directly from the Wales man- I’m in it for the long run,” clash with Tottenham on Sunday, are Champions League last 16 round is
the two-time Grand Slam winner agement. I’ve heard he’s he said. “I think those already considering calling off the taking place over four weeks, and the
believes he is capable of the sort of [Gatland] been speaking about me so two shows have been visit of Liverpool on 26 December. Premier League has an agreement
performances that will make his obviously he remembers me a little good for me but I’d really “We can almost certainly guaran- not to play on those nights.
claims hard to ignore. bit.” like to be taken seriously as tee the pitch will be playable but it is A Premier League spokesperson
He said: “The bigger picture for me International recall or not, a rugby player. the prevailing conditions once the said: “Our football department will
is the Six Nations and hopefully I can Henson (right) is simply happy “I want to get back to the top of the covers have been removed and already have contingency dates in
get in that Welsh squad. Hopefully to be back doing what he game and win honours in rugby. whether the pitch will freeze before mind and will work closely with the
the game hasn’t changed too much loves best after turning his That’s what I’ve missed, especially the end of the game taking place,” affected clubs to get new dates agreed
and my skill levels are still there. I back on the sport and occupy- playing for my country.” said chairman Karl Oyston. The as quickly as possible.”
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 Sport 27
THE ALL-ROUNDER |
ALL THE GOSSIP FROM DOWN UNDER
FOOTBALL
Aussie batting coach Langer said: “At BY JAMES GOLDMAN the campaign. the game when Victor Anichebe was that lie ahead.”
one-all, Boxing Day Test, a chance to win “Tim Cahill epitomised what we’re sent off on the hour for two yellow Manager Roberto Mancini
the Ashes, he will definitely be there. It is A BATTLING display from 10-man about here,” said Moyes. “Tim’s ener- card offences, and a grand stand fin- added: “I am pleased we are now
just a matter of time before he makes Everton prevented Manchester City gy levels were back to the old days. I ish was ensured when Jagielka able to focus on pure football mat-
runs. He’s definitely due a big one.” from topping the table at Christmas thought they dipped a bit recently. deflected Yaya Toure’s shot past a flat- ters and able to look forward to
for the first time since 1929. “We needed him to do it tonight, footed Howard. Carlos continuing to play a signifi-
SYDNEY WEATHERWATCH Roberto Mancini’s side were boost- especially when we went down to 10 But a mixture of fine goalkeeping cant role in the club’s progress.”
The Boxing Day Test could be Australia’s ed prior to kick-off by the news of men but his energy levels were also and stout defending meant City, who
last chance to regain the Ashes if Carlos Tevez’s transfer request u-turn, great when we had 11.” lost Kolo Toure to a red card in the
Sydney’s long-range weather forecasts
prove correct. According to weather-
but that was as good as it got on a
night of missed opportunities.
Everton were rampant early on,
while City’s general malaise was epit-
last minute, were to be frustrated.
Mancini said: “We have missed a TOP FOUR
zone.com.au, there is a greater than 75 City fought back admirably after a omised by the concession of a fourth big opportunity to go top and I think TEAM PLD W D L F A PTS
per cent chance of rain in Sydney on days trademark Tim Cahill header and a minute goal. we are disappointed. Man Utd 16 9 7 0 36 16 34
three to five of the fifth Test and a “low”' sumptuous Leighton Baines effort With Pablo Zabaleta off the field “Football is unbelievable but the Arsenal 17 10 2 5 34 19 32
risk, 25 to 50 per cent likelihood, of rain had put the visitors into an early 2-0 receiving treatment, Baines made season is long and we must now start
on the opening two days. lead, but a string of fine saves from progress down the left, his deep cross again. There are three more games Man City 18 9 5 4 25 15 32
Tim Howard meant the home side fell to Seamus Coleman whose dink this month.” Chelsea 17 9 4 4 31 12 31