Leisure Report articles from April 2007

Leisure Report archives from April 2007

Budget hikes shock gaming sector.
April 1, 2007... The Chancellor surprised the remote gaming industry by deciding to levy the full 15% gross profits tax in what is expected to be his last Budget. The move will mean that operators will almost certainly abandon any plans to move their...

Taxing issues for the leisure sector.(Inside track)
April 1, 2007... If Gordon Brown really wants to gain a reputation as a killjoy, his latest budget is a step in the right direction. If, on the other hand, his attempts to position himself as a friend of UK business are sincere, then why hasn't the Treasury...

GI Partners acquires Park Resorts.(News)
April 1, 2007... GI Partners, the private equity firm, announced it had acquired Park Resorts, the UK caravan park operator, from ABN AMRO Capital for 440m [pounds sterling], as Leisure Report went to press. The transatlantic buyout company said it plans to...

O2 wins tenants despite supercasino loss.(News)
April 1, 2007... Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) is set to open the first phase of its 02 development on schedule in mid-June and has signed up the majority of the tenants for the 30 available units, which will include major restaurant, bar and cinema...

L&G's pre-tax loss widens.(News)
April 1, 2007... Leisure & Gaming, the online gaming company, reported a pre-tax loss of $12.8m (6.53m [pounds sterling]) from continuing operations for the year to 31 December 2006, compared with a $1.6m loss for the 16 months to 31 December 2005, but said it...

X-Leisure fund tops 900m [pounds sterling] with new acquisitions.(News)
April 1, 2007... Capital & Regional announced that the X-Leisure Fund has acquired Xscape Castleford and Xscape Milton Keynes from its partnerships with clients of Rockspring Property Investment Managers. Consequently the Fund has grown to over 900m [pounds...

Urban spa to open at Heathrow.
April 1, 2007... Urban Retreat, the London-based spa operator, is set to open its third UK site at Heathrow airport at the end of March. The new 5,000sq ft spa, which will be located in Terminal 1 and will open between 6.30am and 9.30pm, will offer passengers...

Halabi completes Esporta acquisition.
April 1, 2007... The Halabi family trust has completed the acquisition of Esporta, the health club operator, from Duke Street Capital in a deal thought to value the company at more than 460m [pounds sterling]. The announcement of the completed deal comes three...

Obesity research is blow to children's gyms.
April 1, 2007... A study into childhood obesity, which challenges the government's policy of prevention through increased activity levels, is running out of funding. The EarlyBird Programme in Plymouth follows the development of 300 children and records their...

Runner-power to fuel green gyms?
April 1, 2007... Scientists are working to develop Britain's first green gym where exercise machines turn people's movements into energy that will power TV screens and lighting. A project in Hong Kong already uses energy burned by members to power lights but...

Improvement for David Lloyd could force Whitbread into sale.(News: Health & Fitness)
April 1, 2007... Whitbread reported "good progress" across its David Lloyd Leisure estate, triggering speculation that a sale of the business is imminent. David Lloyd Leisure reported a 6.0% increase in total sales for the 50 weeks to 15 February, and a...

De Vere adds new velocity and vibe to its Village estate.(De Vere Group rebrands under new banner 'Village Hotels with Vibe')(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The De Vere Group, which was acquired last year by AHG Venice, is to rebrand its estate of 17 Village Hotels & Leisure properties under the new banner 'Village Hotels with Vibe'. The company said that the new branding will showcase a...

Fitness First sees revenues climb.(News: Health & Fitness)(Financial report)
April 1, 2007... Fitness First, the world's biggest health club operator, reported a 15.5% increase in revenue to 463.4m [pounds sterling] in the year to 31 October, and announced the opening of its 500th club. The group, which operates 501 sites in total,...

TLDC offers free member profiling service.(News: Health & Fitness)
April 1, 2007... The Leisure Database Company, provider of market intelligence to the leisure sector, is offering health clubs and leisure centres a free membership profiling service. The initiative will help local authorities monitor annual increases in...

Millwall may cease trading without deal.(Millwall Football Club rescue deal)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Millwall Football Club warned that it may be forced to cease trading unless shareholders can come up with a 5m [pounds sterling] rescue deal which would fund a development project around the ground. US finance company Chestnut Hill has...

Goals aiming to double new site rollout rate after 78% profit surge.(News: Sports)(Goals Soccer Centres)(Financial report)
April 1, 2007... Goals Soccer Centres, the AIM-listed operator of outdoor small-sided soccer centres, reported a 78% increase in pre-tax profit to 4.7m [pounds sterling] for the year to 31 December 2006, and unveiled ambitious plans to accelerate its future...

Powerleague scores 21% profit rise.(News: Sports)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Powerleague, the UK's largest operator of five-a-side football centres, has reported a 21% increase in pre-tax profit to 1.7m [pounds sterling] for the six months to 30 December 2006, driven by a 15% rise in sales, and new openings. The...

Lloyds named as first 2012 sponsor.(News: Sports)
April 1, 2007... London 2012 organising committee (LOCOG) has named Lloyds TSB as the first official London Olympic sponsor. Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of LOCOG announced the sponsorship agreement with Lloyds TSB, which is believed to be in the region of 80m...

Sponsorship firms team up.(News: Sports)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Sports Marketing Surveys and SponsorMetrix are combining their sponsorship, media data and research capabilities to provide more robust sponsorship valuations. The partnership will allow additional independent media and research data to be...

BWin makes move for Sportingbet after Paradise owner sees Q2 profit.(News: Betting & Gaming)(Financial report)
April 1, 2007... BWIN Interactive Entertainment, the Austrian online betting company, said it is in "very preliminary" talks which "may or may not lead to an offer" to buy Sportingbet. BWIN said it is not ruling out a capital increase to raise funds needed...

PartyGaming profits slide.(News: Betting & Gaming)(Financial report)
April 1, 2007... PartyGaming, the online gaming group, has reported a 5.7% drop in underlying profit for the year to 31 December 2006. However, the company, which is recovering from last year's US crackdown on internet gambling, said that it had experienced...

Rank says full-year figures badly affected by Scottish smoking ban.(News: Betting & Gaming)
April 1, 2007... Rank Group reported a 12% decline in pre-tax profit in its continuing operations for the year to 31 December 2006. The company said that revenue from its continuing operations was up from 529.8m [pounds sterling] in 2005 to 549.6m [pounds...

Adverse sporting results put the squeeze on 32Red's full-year figures.(News: Betting & Gaming)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... 32Red, the casino, poker and sportsbook operator, reported a pre-tax loss of 3.74m [pounds sterling] for the year to 31 December 2006, compared with a profit of 1.3m [pounds sterling] the previous year. The company said that unfavourable...

Bingo firms fight UK government.(News: Betting & Gaming)(Bingo Association launches petition to oppose policy on Bingo clubs)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The Bingo Association has launched a UK-wide petition, as part of a campaign it hopes will force government to rethink its treatment of the industry. The petition, aimed at bingo players, is part of a national campaign called "Stop...

Upbeat Playtech increases its Chinese presence.(News: Betting & Gaming)
April 1, 2007... Playtech, the designer, developer and licensor of software for the gaming industry, has announced it has signed an agreement to act as the exclusive software provider to the China Mahjong Association (CMA). The deal is part of a three-year...

Poker series on cards for London.(News: Betting & Gaming)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The World Series of Poker, dubbed the ultimate poker tournament, is coming to London. The inaugural WSOP Europe will launch at three casinos owned by London Clubs International in September this year. A two-day 5,000 [pounds sterling]...

Bingo offering in the stars for probability.(Russell Grant endorses mobile bingo service )(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Probability, the AIM-quoted mobile phone gambling specialist, has signed an exclusive one-year endorsement contract with Russell Grant, the astrologer, to market a range of cash games for mobile phone users. The headline service, Russell Grant...

Gambling ad rules relaxed.
April 1, 2007... Adverts for casinos, betting shops and online gambling sites will be allowed back on TV and radio from September. Adverts will be required to be socially responsible, and gambling cannot be promoted as a solution to financial problems or as...

US online gaming ban could be repealed.
April 1, 2007... A powerful US lawmaker has implied the current ban on online gaming activities might be repealed, reports the Financial Times. Barney Frank, the Democrat chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, called the Unlawful Enforcement...

Nectar card at Gala Bingo.
April 1, 2007... Gala Bingo will become a partner in the Nectar loyalty-card scheme, to encourage customers to keep playing regularly after the smoking ban comes into force.

Football World Cup winnings help Ladbrokes score 670m [pounds sterling] profit.(News: Betting & Gaming)(Financial report)
April 1, 2007... Ladbrokes, the UK bookmaker, has reported that pre-tax profit rose to 669.8m [pounds sterling] for the year to 31 December 2006, from 394m [pounds sterling] the year before, helped by the sale of Hilton International and bumper winnings from...

Northern bets on 100m [pounds sterling] sale.(News: Betting & Gaming)
April 1, 2007... Northern Racing, which owns Chepstow and eight other racecourses, is reportedly putting itself up for sale in a deal worth up to 100m [pounds sterling]. Icelandic bank Kaupthing is thought to be the mystery suitor who made a preliminary...

FL gambles 15m [pounds sterling] on inspired.(News: Betting & Gaming)
April 1, 2007... Inspired Gaming Group, the leading player in the open server-based gaming market, said international investment company FL Group has invested 15.3m [pounds sterling] in the company through a subscription for 6.37 million shares at 240.5p each,...

Arena records 11% rise in turnover.(News: Betting & Gaming)(Arena Leisure)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Arena Leisure, the UK's largest operator of horseracing fixtures, has reported a 29.6% rise in full-year pretax profit to 5.8m [pounds sterling]. Turnover increased by 11.1% to 45.3m [pounds sterling]. The group said profit from its...

William Hill unveils 34.8% profit hike.(News: Betting & Gaming)(William Hill Organization Ltd.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... William Hill has reported a 34.8% increase in pre-tax profit for the year to 26 December 2006. Gross win was up 15% to 931.3m [pounds sterling], while pre-tax profit before exceptionals and finance charges increased by 19% to 292.2m...

Betinternet raises cash through convertible loan note.(News: Betting & Gaming)
April 1, 2007... Betinternet.com, the online gaming group, said it had entered into a convertible loan note with its major shareholder, Burnbrae, raising a total of 300,000 [pounds sterling] before costs. Burnbrae is entitled to convert that aggregate amount at...

Georgica pockets rise in full-year pre-tax profit.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)(Financial report)
April 1, 2007... Georgica, the UK leisure group, said full-year pre-tax profits had increased by 4.3m [pounds sterling] to 6.7m [pounds sterling]. However, the company said that underlying trading during the year to 31 December 2006 was lower than the...

Ultimate sees slump in profits as lack of investment hits.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)(Ultimate Leisure)(Financial report)
April 1, 2007... Ultimate Leisure, the Newcastle-based late-night operator, has reported a pretax profit of 2,000 [pounds sterling] for the six months to 31 December 2006, compared with 1.642m [pounds sterling] during the same period in the previous year. ...

Bouyant Luminar trading in line with expectations.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)(Luminar Leisure)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Luminar, the late-night operator, has reported that trading for the year to 1 March 2007 was in line with expectations and its strategy for the creation of a high-quality branded destination venue business remains on track. In a pre-close...

Mama Group to pay 1m [pounds sterling] for Kentish Town Forum.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Mama Group, the listed music and media firm, said it had agreed to buy the Forum Venue, in Kentish Town, north London, from Mean Fiddler Holdings, for a basic price of 1m [pounds sterling], to be settled in cash. It also said it expects...

New 50m [pounds sterling] trust for pop festivals.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)
April 1, 2007... A new venture capital trust has been set up to invest solely in pop festivals and rock gigs. Media investment company Ingenious hopes to raise 50m [pounds sterling] from investors and is already backing the inaugural Knowsley Hall Music...

Tourists want to be greener.
April 1, 2007... Nine out of 10 travellers want hotels to operate in a more environmentally friendly manner, according to new research. However, Travelodge's Green Holiday Survey found that despite good intentions, only a quarter admit to thinking about the...

UK tourism bounces back to 2000 levels.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Tourism in Britain has bounced back from the downturn following September 11, 2001, with spending on holidays and day trips back to levels of the previous year. Visit Britain has now launched an ambitious bid to increase revenue to 100bn...

London Eye concept to roll out overseas?
April 1, 2007... The firm behind the London Eye has been approached to manage similar projects in several other major world cities. A new Imax-type centre, perhaps based at nearby County Hall, which could take visitors on a virtual tour of Britain, is also...

100m [pounds sterling] earmarked to refurbish .(Blackstone Group invest in Center Parcs)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Blackstone Group announced it is to spend nearly 100m [pounds sterling] refurbishing the restaurants and holiday homes at its four Center Parcs sites Following recent criticism, Center Parcs chief executive Martin Dalby admitted the company's...

Attractions vie for Lottery funding.(News: Tourism & Attractions)(Big Lottery Fund's "Living Landmarks: The People's Millions competition")
April 1, 2007... Six community-oriented attractions schemes are set to compete for a development grant of between 25m [pounds sterling] and 50m [pounds sterling]. The winning idea will be decided by a public vote on a national television programme. The...

Blackstone to merge Merlin with 1bn [pounds sterling] Tussauds Group.(News: Tourism & Attractions)
April 1, 2007... Blackstone, the US private equity firm, has agreed to acquire The Tussauds Group from Dubai International Capital (DIC) for 1.028bn [pounds sterling]. The deal will see Blackstone's Merlin Entertainments Group combined with The Tussauds...

UK attractions see visitor rise.(News: Tourism & Attractions)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The number of visitors to UK attractions rose in 2006 after a troubled 2005, according to research by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA). Visitor numbers to UK attractions fell in 2005, especially in the second half of the...

Greggs cooks up dip in profits.(News: Food & Drink)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Greggs, the high street sandwich chain, has reported a 19.8% drop in pre-tax profit to 40.2m [pounds sterling] for the year to 30 December 2006, a period it described as "the most demanding for over a decade". The company said that high...

McDonald's hoping to supersize its UK store opening hours.(News: Food & Drink)
April 1, 2007... McDonald's, the global fast food chain, has submitted a number of licensing applications to councils across the UK in a bid to increase late-night opening hours at a number of its restaurants in key towns on Friday and Saturday nights. The...

Delek acquires RoadChef for 375m [pounds sterling].(News: Food & Drink)
April 1, 2007... Nikko Principal Investments Limited (NPIL) has announced it has sold RoadChef, the motorway service station operator, to Delek Real Estate, the Israeli property company, for 375m [pounds sterling] including debt. NPIL said the deal implied...

Famous Brands acquires Wimpy UK.(News: Food & Drink)
April 1, 2007... Famous Brands, the South African fast food company, has acquired a 75% stake in Wimpy UK, the country's first fast-casual dining chain, for 3m [pounds sterling], valuing the company at 13m [pounds sterling] including debt. The company has...

Coffee Republic in Turkey deal.(News: Food & Drink)(Ada Kahve Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret )(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Coffee Republic has signed a franchise agreement which will see the brand launched in Turkey. The first site is due to be opened under the group's deli brand in Instanbul in July. Further sites are expected to be opened in the near future under...

Green retreat for Ayrshire.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... An environmentally-friendly tourism centre including a hotel and luxury holiday lodges, is set to open in Ayrshire, Scotland in 2009. The Allseasons at the Meadows development, near Galston, will feature a 40-bedroom hotel, 100 luxury holiday...

Centre Point convention centre plan.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Firms in London's West end could get a boost from Mayor Ken Livingstone's plans to turn the listed Centre Point in New Oxford Street into a luxury hotel, surrounded by a world-class 5,000-seat purpose-built international convention centre. He...

MacDonald to open Cheshire site.
April 1, 2007... MacDonald Hotels has announced it will open its second new property this year in July, after jointly investing in the 11.8m [pounds sterling] transformation of a golf venue in Cheshire into a luxury hotel and spa. The company has teamed up with...

Travelodge to open at Newcastle United ground.
April 1, 2007... Travelodge, the budget hotel chain, has announced it will open a hotel next to Newcastle United Football Club's St James' Park stadium. The company will invest some 12m [pounds sterling] in the new 167-room property, which is expected to open...

Quays aims to set the bar for sustainable waterside regeneration.(News: Property & Development)
April 1, 2007... British Waterways and Peel Holdings have exchanged contracts for their 50:50 joint venture to regenerate Gloucester Quays. The formalisation of the partnership is the latest step in the 60-acre, 400m [pounds sterling] mixed-use development...

Invista to enhance leisure offer at 21m [pounds sterling] Galaxy.(News: Property & Development)(Invista Real Estate)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Invista Real Estate, the largest listed property investment manager in the UK, has acquired The Galaxy in Luton town centre for 21m [pounds sterling], on behalf of its client Invista Foundation Property Trust. The Galaxy is Luton's premier...

Arena wins permission for Doncaster Racecourse build.(News: Property & Development)(Arena Leisure)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Arena Leisure has received planning permission for its combined hotel and residential development at Doncaster Racecourse. The 120-room four-star hotel will feature an associated restaurant and bar, plus 34 residential apartments. The...

Go-ahead for 40m [pounds sterling] Dudley Zoo project.(News: Property & Development)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The planned 40m [pounds sterling] redevelopment of Dudley Zoo and Castle, the Black Country's biggest-ever regeneration leisure project, has been granted outline planning permission. Following three years of consultations and negotiations,...

NMW increase due in October.(News: Industry)(national minimum wage)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The government has announced that the National Minimum Wage (NMW) will increase by 17p to 5.52 [pounds sterling] an hour from October 2007. NMW for workers aged 18 to 21 will rise by 15p to 4.60 [pounds sterling] an hour, while workers aged 16...

Leisure firms getting greener.(News: Industry)
April 1, 2007... A new report says that hospitality businesses are making an effort to be more environmentally friendly, with 52% undertaking energy saving measures and two-thirds recycling waste. Hotels are the most energy efficient, with 54% having made...

National Skills Strategy launched as staffing issues continue to weigh.(People 1st launches education and training program for employees in hospitality sector)
April 1, 2007... People 1st has launched the National Skills Strategy for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector. The Raising the Bar initiative, which was introduced as an industry response to help reap the benefits from the Olympic Games,...

Prepare for new sexual harassment rights.(News: Industry)
April 1, 2007... Businesses are being warned to urgently prepare for new sexual harassment rights following a key High Court ruling. Law firm Mace & Jones (M&J) said the ruling meant that women or men subjected to sexual humiliation or harassment by members...

Government to relax rules on MSAs.(News: Industry)
April 1, 2007... The government is set to relax rules governing motorway service stations after completing a public consultation. Some of the more bizarre rules include a ban on meetings of more than 12 people and restrictions on what can appear on motorway...

Vitality statistics: the link between investment and participation is showing itself to be a winning combination for the UK fitness industry.(Insight)(Industry overview)
April 1, 2007... It probably true to say that as an industry we're pushing at an open 'political' door. A large number of politicians, of all persuasions and at all levels, take their personal fitness and health more seriously than ever. We know our prime...

Bay city high rollers: Ian Jarrett reports from Singapore, where the development of "a necklace of attractions" will see growth in supply for both the luxury hotel market and international gaming conglomerates.(Sector Update: Singapore)
April 1, 2007... Across the bay from the Merlion, Singapore's most enduring tourism icon, work that will transform downtown Singapore goes on day and night. On one side of Marina Bay, a new business and financial district is emerging. On the other, the Las...

Collaborative consumption: Oxygen Consulting's Ray Algar says consumers are growing ever-more aware of their collaborative power ... is your business ready to meet their demands?(Insight: Consumer buying power)(Company overview)
April 1, 2007... Spare a moment for those poor retailers who still insist on putting 'things' in windows, accompanied by a fixed price tag. How quaint. In bygone times when asymmetrical information flourished (when the retailer knew far more than us), this...

All Reit on the night: Nicola Westbrook, tax director, real estate advisers, KPMG and Jude Chin, head of hospitality, transaction services, KPMG, assess the launch of Real Estate Investment Trusts in the UK.(Business Sense: Reits)
April 1, 2007... Early 2007 saw the launch of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Reits) in the UK, the new tax-favoured vehicle for investment in property. Other Reit regimes around the world, particularly in the US, have demonstrated that Reits can he an...

No smoke without ire: Mark Tyler and Jessica Burt at CMS Cameron McKenna assess the implications of England's smoking ban for hotels and other enclosed public spaces as the 1 July deadline approaches.(Legal: Smoking ban)
April 1, 2007... All enclosed public places and workplaces in England will become smokefree from 1 July 2007. Who is affected? The implementation of the smoke-free elements of the Health Act 2006 will mean that virtually all enclosed public places and...

Act in haste, repent at leisure: Nick Hawkins, former Shadow Gambling Minister, says although the Gambling Act will be enacted this year, the repercussions could last much longer.(Opinion: UK Gaming sector)
April 1, 2007... It was undoubtedly a shock to many when, at the end of January, the Casino Advisory Panel recommended Manchester, rather than the 'ante-post favourites' the Dome or Blackpool, as the preferred site for the one new Regional Casino under the 2005...

LA Fitness.(People on the move)
April 1, 2007... LA Fitness, the UK health and fitness club operator, has announced the promotion of Stuart Broster, its current chief operating officer, to the position of chief executive. Broster's elevation follows the promotion of Fred Turek, the group's...

Institute for Sport, Parks & Leisure (ISPAL).(People on the move)
April 1, 2007... Peter Mann, founder and executive chair of PMP, the sport, leisure and culture consultancy, has been appointed as the first chair of the Institute for Sport, Parks & Leisure (ISPAL). Mann will hold the post at the ISPAL, which was formed by a...

London Organising Committee.(People on the move)(appointment of Matt Keatley)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Matt Keatley has been appointed procurement manager, London 2012 Olympic Games, for the London Organising Committee. He leaves his current job at Fitness First to start his new role, based at the LOCOG head office in Canary Wharf, in mid-April....

Silverman Sherliker LLP.(People on the move)(appointment of William Chamberlain)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... City law firm Silverman Sherliker LLP has appointed specialist lawyer William Chamberlain to launch its sports and media unit. The practice, founded in 1981, has doubled over recent years by identifying and expanding into specialist areas...

People 1st.(People on the move)
April 1, 2007... People 1st made a number of changes to its board ahead of the launch of its National Skills Strategy. The association has for the second time appointed Don Davenport as its chairman, to replace Nick Basing, who held the post for three months....

Luminar.(People on the move)
April 1, 2007... Luminar, the quoted nightclub group, has announced it has appointed John Jackson as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Jackson is currently a senior non-executive director of The Restaurant Group, and executive chairman of Victory...

London Capital Group.(People on the move)
April 1, 2007... London Capital Group, the financial services and online spread betting company, has unveiled the appointment of Jack Inglis as non-executive director. Inglis spent 15 years at Morgan Stanley, most recently as managing director and co-head of...

Ladbrokes.(People on the move)
April 1, 2007... Brian Wallace, the former finance director and deputy chief executive of Hilton Group, has been appointed group finance director of Ladbrokes. Wallace replaces Rosemary Thorne, who will leave the company in April to pursue new challenges. ...

Nexum Leisure.(People on the move)
April 1, 2007... Paul Kinsey, chief executive of nightclub operator Nexum Leisure, announced the appointment of Tony Marshall as the company's managing director, with effect from mid-April. Kinsey said: "We are delighted that Tony has agreed to join us. His...

DC Leisure.(People on the move)
April 1, 2007... DC Leisure said Steve Little has been appointed as Regional Fitness Manager, covering the Southern region. Little joined the company at the start of January from LA Fitness. He spent eight years with Dragons, prior to its acquisition by LA...

Southampton Leisure Holdings.(People on the move)
April 1, 2007... Southampton Leisure Holdings has accepted the resignation of Michael Wilde as a director with effect from 28 February. Wilde will cease to be non-executive vice chairman of SLH and non-executive chairman of Southampton Football Club.

Paddy Power.(People on the move)
April 1, 2007... Paddy Power, the bookmaker, announced the resignation of Nuala Hunt as company secretary, and the subsequent appointment of David Johnston to the position.