So all the groups pay for is Class Law’s fee and the premium

So all the groups pay for is Class Law’s fee and the premium.Alexander did not invent group actions, he has only made them well-known “We are the catalyst and the framework. We don’t offer a guarantee of success, just the opportunity to give it your best shot.”Many in the City hate Class Law But Alexander thinks that will change. Already, firms such as NatWest Stockbrokers have publicly supported Class Law actions. Success in the Independent Insurance case will accelerate this process “We tell the City that we’re on your side,” he says.

“If there is something that has gone wrong, sorting it for the benefit of your customers should be a good thing.”. Even outside the office nine-to-five it seems you just can’t escape from work these days, and the bad news for non-workaholics is that it’s about to get even harder. Even outside the office nine-to-five it seems you just can’t escape from work these days, and the bad news for non-workaholics is that it’s about to get even harder.
Emap, the troubled media group recovering from its American adventure, will this month announce plans to launch a new concept in the crowded men’s magazine market, with a glossy publication focusing on work, career and lifestyle issues.Provisionally dubbed “Project Floyd” the title is expected be Emap’s big launch of the autumn, bringing memories of the group’s previous brave forays into unknown territory, such as Heat and Q. The title has been under consideration since last year, and Emap is known to have sounded out potential advertisers for the would-be launch.Expected to be similar in style to magazines such as Fast Company, Red Herring and Arena, the new title will focus on a variety of work and work-related issues. Plans have yet to be confirmed, but provisional features include profiles of movers and shakers, a look at theories behind big business and more lifestyle features.Development of the project ultimately comes under the auspices of Barry McIlheney, chief executive officer of Emap Elan, Emap’s lifestyle brand business which also houses such well-known magazines as FHM, Empire, New Woman, Elle, Red and More!Sources close to the company suggested that an official announcement about Project Floyd is imminent, possibly as soon as next week.However, while he admitted that the project was “progressing”, Tom Maloney, chief operating officer of Emap, denied that the company was planning to make an announcement in the coming week.Mr Maloney declined to comment on the budget for Project Floyd, but Emap has earmarked around £23m for new launches this year.It has been an unhappy year so far for Emap.

In May the company lost chief executive Kevin Hand who resigned over the group’s ill-fated foray into the US market. He was replaced by Robin Miller, who had stood down from the role two years ago.Earlier this month the company finally offloaded US magazine group Peterson to Primedia for $515m (£360m), a significant markdown on the $1.2bn price it paid for the group in 1999.”Emap is targeting a significant level of launch expenditure – just over £20m for this year. This suggests it is charging ahead with that,” said Simon Baker, a media analyst at SG Securities.. NTL, the troubled cable TV giant, which this week denied it was in talks to restructure its £10bn of debts, is sitting on a loss of over £78.5m as a result of its foray into the top flight of British football. Fact File: NTL’s football investments
Newcastle United:NTL paid: £25mStake now worth: £4.9mLost: £20mAston Villa: NTL paid: £26mStake now worth: £2mLost: £23.9mLeicester City:NTL paid: £11.5mStake now worth: £2.2mLost: £9.3mRangers: NTL paid: £31mStake now worth: £5.8mLost: £25.2mTotal losses: £78.4mNTL, the troubled cable TV giant, which this week denied it was in talks to restructure its £10bn of debts, is sitting on a loss of over £78.5m as a result of its foray into the top flight of British football.At the peak of the soccer investment boom, the US-based company paid at least £93.5m for shares at Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Rangers and Middlesbrough football clubs.Following the collapse of football share prices over the past 18 months, the value of NTL’s stake in the clubs had fallen to just under £15m.In December 1999 the company paid £25m to increase its stake in Newcastle United to 9.9 per cent. The group had already bought a 6.1 per cent stake from Cameron Hall Developments, the company controlled by Douglas Hall, a director of the club, for £25m. Cameron Hall’s accounts record a profit of £5.78m on the deal.On current prices NTL’s shares in Newcastle United are worth just under £5m.In January 2000, the cable group signed a £26m media partnership agreement with Aston Villa whereby it could claim a 9.9 per cent stake in the club after five years A similar stake would now cost only £2.5m.

A June 2000 acquisition of 9.9 per cent of Leicester City has also lost money NTL paid £11.5m for the shares. They are now worth just £2m.In June of the same year the company bought a 9.9 per cent stake in Glasgow Rangers for £31m. The value of the holding is now just under £6m.NTL is also thought to have lost money after buying a 6 per cent stake in Middlesbrough for an undisclosed sum. But the club’s shares are not actively traded.NTL pointed out that the deals were about more than just an investment – they gained internet deals and marketing rights as well. An NTL spokesman said: “On a stake-equity basis, the acquisitions might look overvalued. But we believe there’s a lot of value to unlock in the clubs.”It’s easy to knock the telecoms sector right now, but our investments were strategic and from a straightforward business view they will pay off in the long term.”.