Carphone Agrees Pounds 370m AOL Deal

Carphone Warehouse has agreed to buy the UK arm of internet provider AOL from Time Warner for pounds 370m.

The deal will give Carphone around two million broadband customers and make it the third largest provider of high-speed internet in the UK.

It came as the mobile phone retailer revealed losses from offering “free” broadband to 625,000 of its Talk Talk customers will hit pounds 70m this year.

BT in bid to cut use of energy

BT has announced plans for a major campaign to reduce energy in a bid to cut costs by pounds 110m.

The so-called BIG Switch Off will last for four years and involve almost 100,000 workers in a series of projects aimed at cutting back energy consumption.

The firm will urge its staff to switch off photocopiers, faxes, computer monitors and other non-essential equipment when not in use.

Pilots snap up shares in airline

AER Lingus pilots have snapped up almost pounds 20.2m of shares in the airline.

In a move that could help block Ryanair’s plans for a takeover of Aer Lingus, the Irish Airline Pilots Pension has bought almost 10 million shares at 205p, building a stake of 2.12% in the airline. Ryanair currently has 19.2% of Aer Lingus after shocking the industry last week with plans to buy its rival Irish carrier for pounds 1bn.

Alarming rise in arson attacks

ARSON attacks against offices and other business premises have increased at an “alarming” rate in the past few months, say new figures.

Insurance firm Axa said arson claim settlements had jumped by 12%, while malicious damage claims such as graffiti and smashed windows had gone up by 11%.

Firms were urged to be extra vigilant, especially ahead of fireworks night and because of the darker evenings. There were more than 2,200 arson incidents and dozens of injuries caused by attacks on businesses and public buildings.

Demand boosts Burberry sales

FASHION house Burberry has posted a 10% rise in sales after it benefited from “extraordinary” demand for its new range of luxury handbags. The company said total sales were up from pounds 355m to pounds 392m in the first half of the year.

Burberry, famous for its camel, red and black check, said it was also boosted by the clamour surrounding its 150th anniversary.

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