THE DAILY BRIEFING
CROOKS’ CRACKDOWN Suspected criminals’ assets were frozen eight times by the Serious Fraud
Office in the last financial year. This is double the number of times these powers were used in the previous 12 months, according to analysis by law firm Pinsent Masons.
It is part of an effort to stop crooks who are under investigation from hiding away their ill-gotten gains.
COINING IT Tech investor Index Ventures would consider pumping cash into firms raising money by issuing digital currency, bosses have said. The controversial practice of initial coin offerings sees businesses sell online money to investors in exchange for real cash.
EXTRACTING VALUE Miner Rio Tinto has appointed Simon Trott, 42, to the new role of chief commercial officer. Chief executive Jean- Sebastien Jacques said the position had been created to make sure the firm gets the best value out of its products. Trott, 42, will join the executive committee and work from Singapore.
LIST PLANS Israel-focused minerals firm Shefa Yamim is planning to list on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. The company has one exploration permit and two prospecting permits and expects to produce sapphires, rubies and diamonds. SHIPS AHOY Engineer RollsRoyce has struck a deal with Abu Dhabi Ship Building to build, repair and refit ships across the Gulf.
RAIL DEAL Embattled builder Carillion and its joint venture with Powerlines Group, Carillion Powerlines, have been hired by Network Rail to upgrade and electrify rail between London and Corby. The contracts should bring in about £322m of revenue in total. PLANE STAKE Gulf carrier Qatar Airways is buying a 9.6pc stake worth £506m in Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific as it seeks to bolster its operations in Asia.
TOP PAYERS Low-price grocer Lidl is set to become the highestpaying supermarket in the UK after hiking up wages for 16,000 employees. Entry-level wages will increase from £8.45 to £8.75 per hour outside of London and from £9.75 to £10.20 within the M25. LOADING UP Budget airline EasyJet carried 7.5m passengers last month, which is up 10pc on the year before.