The Carolina Hurricanes came out on the wrong end of the NHL trade deadline in the eyes of many. After swinging a huge trade to acquire star winger Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche late in January, the Hurricanes traded the Fin to the Dallas Stars on deadline day. The second deal stemmed from Rantanen’s […]
The post Hurricanes GM gets real on Mikko Rantanen trade after failed stint appeared first on ClutchPoints.
THE future of Boots is again uncertain following a £7.8billion takeover of its US owner by a private equity firm.
Pharmacy giant Walgreens Boots Alliance announced late on Thursday it had been acquired by Sycamore Partners at $11.45 (£8.85) a share.
The price demonstrates a 90 per cent collapse in market value since the merger between Boots and Walgreens a decade ago.
It is understood Sycamore wants to keep the US retail business and sell or spin off the Boots international arm, including its No7 beauty brand.
Walgreens executive chairman Stefano Pessina, who engineered the Walgreens Boots Alliance creation, is rolling over his 17 per cent stake and investing more cash to maintain a minority stake.
It is thought Mr Pessina will spearhead a break-up of the company, which could see Boots listed on the stock market or owned separately with him still involved.
Walgreens has twice tried to sell Boots in the last three years.
Most recently it was placed with a £6billion price tag, but an auction was axed after bidders balked at the price.
Russ Mould, of analysts AJ Bell, said: “Sycamore is unlikely to keep Boots once the takeover completes.”
Boots has around 1,800 shops and more than 50,000 employees, all of whom will now face an uncertain period.
LLOYDS has warned 6,000 UK staff in its IT department their jobs are at risk — while it plans to create an IT hub in India with 4,000 workers.
The bank is restructuring so the employees have to reapply for their jobs.
Lloyds did not say how many redundancies there would be, but said its plans include 1,200 highly skilled IT jobs in the UK.
HOUSE prices unexpectedly fell 0.1 per cent in February after a 0.6 per cent rise in January, Halifax said.
Analysts expected an increase as mortgage rates are stabilising.
Halifax said the fall was because a rush to complete purchases before stamp duty changes in April was fading.
Average prices rose 2.9 per cent annually, to £298,602 in February.
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.
THE Football Review Committee are seeking to axe the 12-v-11 scenarios which have caused much debate since the introduction of the game’s new rules.
The group, led by Jim Gavin, has recommended six modest adjustments to be voted on by the GAA’s Central Council on Monday.
But the most significant relates to the three-up rule, which will continue to require at least three players remaining in the opposing half.
However, should the changes be approved, it will be necessary for teams to keep four players in their own half – which can include the goalkeeper.
The proposed modification comes on the back of criticism of the scope for a keeper to come forward and give his side a numerical advantage beyond the halfway line.
Keepers will still be allowed to join the play in opposition territory once four team-mates stay back in their own half.
There is to be an easing of the enforcement of the rule in the case of players who ‘unintentionally’ cause a breach.
And there would be no punishment for players who are within four metres of the halfway line, are not gaining an advantage, or who are not interfering with play or an opponent.
The FRC are also proposing that a player who takes a kick-out mark can play on immediately without being challenged by an opponent for four metres.
If he is challenged within the four metres, a free will be advanced 50 metres from where the offence was committed.
But other divisive rules – such as the two-point free, handing back the ball to an opponent after committing a foul, and kick-outs being required to cross the 40-metre arc – have not been amended.
If given the green light, the changes will be implemented for the remainder of the National League.
President Donald Trump denied reports of a clash between Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio over sweeping government cuts during a Cabinet meeting Thursday at the White House, insisting to reporters they get...
The post Trump insists there was ‘no clash’ between Elon Musk and Marco Rubio over DOGE cuts (Video) appeared first on Social News XYZ.
