Close Brothers Share Discussion Threads

[safman] 01/4/2008 15:22

K mid-market private equity firm Close Brothers Private Equity has backed the £142m MBO of Aberdeen-based Energy Cranes International from its parent, London-based investment firm LMS Capital. CBPE has invested £60m alongside the company's management team led by Energy Cranes CEO John Jordan.
Aberdeen, Scotland-based Energy Crane supplies crane and lifting equipment maintenance to the offshore oil and gas sector. The company, with a presence in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, South America, Caspian Sea, West Africa and Asia/Pacific regions, recorded annual revenues of £114m in 2007.

Simon Wildig, partner, CBPE, said 'We have been following the fortunes of Energy Cranes for the past 12 months, so it is very pleasing to be able to conclude this transaction working closely with the management team.'

This transaction represents CBPE's 11th investment from Fund VII. CBPE has funds under management of £400m.

saffy...

[safman] 01/4/2008 15:07

very strong performances across the banking sector today..

Banks drive up FTSE 100 as world markets cheered by US regulation reform
By Leonora Walters

The FTSE 100 is up 34.7 points at 5,736.3 with financials making gains following rises in the US and Asia.


US markets increased last night following details of a US Treasury plan to overhaul financial regulation, and a rise in US business activity. Financials helped the Dow Jones to close up 46.49 points at 12,262.89 and the NASDAQ Composite up 17.92 points at 2,279.1.

In Asia the Nikkei closed up 130.88 points at 12,656.42 despite business confidence hitting a four year low. Pharmaceutical stocks rose and investors were encouraged by increased business activity in the US.

The Hang Seng is up 149.34 points at 22,998.54 also due to better sentiment over the US.

On the FTSE 100 banks lead the way encouraged by news of financial regulation reform in the US, with Barclays up 3.73% or 17p at 470p; Royal Bank of Scotland up 3% at 347.5p and Alliance & Leicester up 2.7% at 532.5p.

Household goods manufacturer Unilever is up 2.38% at 1,739.5p after Deutsche Bank upgraded it from "Hold" to "Buy." Retailer Next is up 2.42% at 1,929.5p, perhaps encouraged by a 25% rise in profits yesterday for Inditex, Europe's largest clothing retailer.

Miners and oil producers dominate the fallers today because copper and aluminium prices have fallen, and the oil price has decreased to US$100.14 a barrel as US inventories rise. Lonmin is down 3.61% or 111p at 2,960p; Anglo American is down 3.22% at 2,930.5p; Kazakhmys is down 2.57% at 1,556p; Xstrata is down 2.75% at 3,430p and Vedanta Resources is down 2.67% at 2,040p.

Also falling is BHP Billiton down 2.24% at 1,461.5p; RioTinto down 2.79% at 5,087p and new FTSE 100 entrant ENRC down 0.23% at 982.75p.

The FTSE 250 is up 120.5 points at 10,133.4 led by Mapeley, which has recently rejected a takeover offer, up 7.24% or 102.5p at 1,517.5p.


saffy..

[safman] 01/4/2008 13:14

650p.. here we come..eh

saffy.

[safman] 01/4/2008 12:54

yep, perhaps time for a leg up!..

saffy..

[safman] 01/4/2008 09:21

morning guys..a v blue day for banks..so far today... inclusive of CBG.. a way to go yet..

saffy..

[safman] 01/4/2008 09:15

6.50-7.00 first target eh..

saffy..

[roidstermuthafukk] 01/4/2008 09:13

thats a bit better...627 as i write!...up now 22p per share eh Tipsy!

[roidstermuthafukk] 01/4/2008 08:03

QUE???????????????????? 624 asking!!?

[roidstermuthafukk] 01/4/2008 07:59

heres looking at a "good day" hopefully!?? Banks look like they are gonna take a fall tho!

[tipsytoad] 31/3/2008 16:32

bit of a non-event day really!
there's always tomorrow...

[tipsytoad] 31/3/2008 11:49

wow - there has to be someone buying in the background
these last few days we have had the upward trend
going against the rest of the banking sector

[safman] 31/3/2008 11:46

banks going blue..with the exception of RBS, BARC..

Saffy..

[roidstermuthafukk] 31/3/2008 11:30

yummy tick tick!

[roidstermuthafukk] 31/3/2008 09:49

morning Saffy.....interesting again today.....Tipsy...see it wasnt that bad was it!?? Are any of you guys on face book?? I am...be good to put faces to the names!

[safman] 31/3/2008 09:40

morning..

saffy..

[tipsytoad] 31/3/2008 09:35

lol - allright here goes - building society manager - worked up from cashier -
no qualifications - very poor upbringing - only on job training [apart from several seperate weeks training in Leicester], those were the days when managers made the mtge decisions - my mtge mandate of 200k - allowed me up to 95% LTV - took early retirement when decision making moved to HQ !!

[roidstermuthafukk] 31/3/2008 08:55

No.......Nothing wrong in asking what you do though is there.....??

I used to work as a scientist....then property development - and have recently got my MBA........see its not that bad!

holding up well! considering!

[tipsytoad] 31/3/2008 08:24

you never give up do you - lol

have a nice day toooooooo

[roidstermuthafukk] 31/3/2008 08:17

just means by the look it will go down early (which it has) to 599 bid...then the offer drops to 601...which is bought up to 611.5 etc......I think as long as US holds OK ish we should be ok mate!

Have a nice day Tipsy...Ps what do you do for a living??

Rich

[tipsytoad] 31/3/2008 08:14

bid619/offer584 - just before opening -

this is going to be a topsy turvy day
all banks falling - can we oppose the trend - yes we can