2005 DEALS OF THE YEAR

0 Comments | Sunday Herald, The, Dec 18, 2005

GOOD YEAR

MARTIN Gilbert proves to be the Lazarus of the investment world after turning Aberdeen Asset Management around after the split capital trust scandal. The takeover of Deutsche Bank's UK funds business came a year after paying pounds-78 million compensation to small investors.

JULIE, above, and Steve Pankhurst pocket a cool pounds-30 million after selling Friends Reunited to ITV. Started only five years ago in the couple's spare bedroom, the internet service provider sold for pounds-120m, with a further pounds-55m promised for shareholders if it meets future milestones.

BAD YEAR

Jon Asgeir Johannesson, the charismatic boss of Baugur found himself deep in a controversy that scuppered a major UK deal for the second time. On the eve of a bid for Somerfield by a consortium he was a part of, Icelandic police charged him with fraud. The most serious charges were thrown out of court eventually, but too late to save his place at the deal table.

BILL Allan, the chief executive of Thus, saw a last-minute bid for rival telecoms firm Energis pipped at the post by arch rival Cable and Wireless. The defeat will have smarted doubly for Allan who worked at C&W for 26 years and now sees the number two grow even bigger than his own company.