Weekly round-up of news and views from within our industry, week commencing 08 March 2010

‘Our world’ of Corporate Information Solutions – latest innovations, trends and contract wins

St Ives slams 'sub-economic prices' following IPC loss
St Ives has said that it will "not chase volumes at sub-economic prices" following the loss of its IPC contract to web offset rival Wyndeham Press Group.
http://www.printweek.com/News/MostRead/987980/St-Ives-slams-sub-economic-prices-following-IPC-loss/

HP wins six DIMA awards
HP today announced that its retail publishing solutions and Indigo digital presses received six Digital Imaging Marketing Association honors at the PMA 2010 International Convention and Trade Show, including three DIMA Printer Shoot-Out Awards and three DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards
http://members.whattheythink.com/news/index.cfm?id=42481 

Xerox eases move to electronic health records
Healthcare organizations making the switch to digital can take the lead from White Memorial Medical Center
http://members.whattheythink.com/news/index.cfm?id=42460 

Universal Millennium acquires Acme Printing
Universal Millennium, a portfolio company of Calvert Street Capital Partners, acquired the assets of Wilmington, MA.-based Acme Printing Company, LLC, from the Matlet Group.
http://members.whattheythink.com/news/index.cfm?id=42413 

Government print management clients win GPO print jobs
From February 24 to March 2, 2010, the U.S. Government Printing Office awarded 114 one-time print jobs to 36 print supplier clients of Government Print Management.
http://members.whattheythink.com/news/index.cfm?id=42512 

Pitney Bowes elects Patrick Brand a corporate officer
Pitney Bowes Inc. announced today that its Board of Directors has elected Patrick Brand to the office of Vice President and President, U.S. Mailing.
http://members.whattheythink.com/news/index.cfm?id=42534 


Outsourcing/offshoring

Romania becomes outsourcing haven
High language and IT skills, coupled with low costs, makes Romania a new haven for outsourcing, such as call centres, help desks, IT and payroll, says The Diplomat.
http://www.sourcingmag.com/offsite.asp?A=Fr&Url=http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30921:romania-becomes-outsourcing-haven&catid=208:outsourcing 

Swedish appetite for outsourcing doubles
The number of IT outsourcing contracts signed by Swedish firms in 2009 has soared, according to Pierre Audoin Consultants
http://www.sourcingmag.com/offsite.asp?A=Fr&Url=http://www.watersnews.com/public/showPage.html?page=873596

Outsourcing prices still headed down in 2010
Two major trends led to l ower prices for outsourced IT services last year—the global economic downturn and the uptick in remote infrastructure management adoption.
http://www.sourcingmag.com/offsite.asp?A=Fr&Url=http://www.cio.com/article/564413/Outsourcing_Prices_Still_Headed_Down_in_2010


Sector spotlight - Banking and Financial Services

AIG’s top-earning executives may get bigger salaries
American International Group Inc., the bailed-out insurer, may be allowed by the U.S. paymaster to boost salaries for some of its highest-compensated executives, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aFeOHrlc34ik 

Sberbank eyes 15-20 pct retail deposit growth in 2010
Russia's top lender, Sberbank is targeting 15 percent to 20 percent growth in retail deposits this year and expects deposit rates to fall further, a bank official said on Wednesday.
http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idINLDE6221GQ20100303

Wells Fargo CEO '09 compensation more than doubles
Wells Fargo & Co, the fourth-largest U.S. bank by assets, paid Chief Executive John Stumpf compensation worth $21.3 million for 2009, a package that likely makes him the highest-paid U.S. bank CEO, according to materials filed with U.S. regulators.
http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idINN0311083920100303

Max Capital to merge with Harbor Point
Max Capital Group Ltd and privately held reinsurer Harbor Point Ltd agreed to merge, in a deal that would give Harbor shareholders a 52 percent stake in the combined company.
http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idINSGE6220KJ20100303

OTP gives no outlook for 2010, eyes acquisitions
Hungary's OTP Bank OTPB.BU would not give an outlook for 2010 because it said the cost of any negative swings in the economy were too hard to predict but it is ready to make acquisitions should conditions improve.
http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idINLDE6210YE20100302

American Express, Capital One lift card rates
American Express, Capital One Financial and Citigroup raised the interest rates of some popular credit cards before the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act took effect on Feb. 22.
http://www.thestreet.com/story/10692235/1/american-express-capital-one-lift-card-rates.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEFI 

Bank of Spain says lack of reform will hit banks
Spanish banks will suffer if reforms to labour and pension laws are delayed, Bank of Spain Gov. Miguel Angel Fernandez Ordonez said on Tuesday.
http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/
idINLDE61M0KL20100223 


Sector spotlight – Legal

Slaughters takes headline role for Prudential on $35bn AIG Asia buyout
Slaughter and May and Debevoise & Plimpton have scored advisory roles on Prudential's high-profile plans to purchase the Asian assets of American International Group for more than $35billion.
http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/1594079/slaughters-takes-lead-role-prudential-usd35bn-aig-buyout 

Eversheds overhauls bonus system to reward strong performers
Three-pronged bonus structure rewards performance over hours.Eversheds is overhauling its associate bonus structure, moving towards a broader system that recognises team performance and client skills.
http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/1594590/eversheds-overhauls-bonus-reward-strong-performers 

GTM brought in 15 new partners in 2009, leading US firm hires in the City
Survey reveals US firm hiring trends in 2009 with GTM responsible for a quarter of hires
http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/1594598/gtm-brought-partners-2009-leading-us-firm-hires-city 

Garrigues tops 2009 Spanish results as revenues rise by 13% to €300m
Spanish law firms continue to grow throughout tough economy but Cuatrecasas hit harder
Spain's leading independent law firms have posted strong results for 2009, with only Cuatrecasas Goncalves Pereira bucking the trend and announcing a dip in revenues.
http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/1594601/garrigues-tops-2009-spanish-results-revenues-rise-eur300m 

Field Fisher wins SRA litigation role as regulator names five on panel
Field Fisher Waterhouse and Bevan Brittan have both won spots on the Solicitors Regulation Authority's first-ever litigation panel.
http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/1594543/ffw-wins-sra-litigation-role-regulator-names-panel 

Simmons set to launch environment practice with Travers partner hire
Simmons & Simmons is to launch a dedicated environment practice with the hire of Travers Smith's head of environment and planning Steven McNab.
http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/1594723/simmons-set-launch-environment-practice-travers-partner-hire


Sector Spotlight – Retail

Phillips-Van Heusen in talks to buy Hilfiger, N.Y. Post
Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. is in exclusive talks to acquire Tommy Hilfiger from Apax Partners LLP for as much as $4 billion, the New York Post reported, citing unidentified persons.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601205&sid=aqeGYHHi82Xk 

Slovakia’s retail sales Slump Eased to Annual 2.9% in January
Slovak retail sales dropped an annual 2.9 percent in January, compared with a 9.2 percent decline in the previous month, the statistics office said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aOm9E8s1q7mQ 

Snow may have slowed Feb. U.S. retail sales
Record snow along the U.S. East Coast and other regions likely muted retail sales in February, limiting increases in what was expected to be an easy month for retailers who report sales this week to show big gains over last year.
http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idINN0219371120100302 

Supermarket sales growth stalls as shoppers remain cautious
Sales performances in the grocery sector remain sluggish for a second month as shopper caution continues, according to market research company Nielsen.
http://www.talkingretail.com/news/industry-news/14463-supermarket-sales-growth-stalls-as-shoppers-remain-cautious.html 

UK's recovery is 'false dawn'
Head of John Lewis retail chain warns that optimism after strong reading in key PMI service-sector survey may prove short-lived
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/mar/03/services-bounce-warning-uk-recovery 

U.S. teen retailers shine in February
U.S. teen apparel retailers posted a surprise increase in February same-store sales, with even industry laggard Abercrombie & Fitch overcoming low expectations.
http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idINN0413414920100304 


DP DHL News

Deutsche Post DHL to use BT's MPLS network
Logistics group Deutsche Post DHL is set to benefit from BT's multi-protocol label switching network through a new communications services agreement.
http://networking.onestopclick.com/technology_news/deutsche-post-dhl-to-use-bts-mpls-network_19647881.htm 

DHL Supply Chain expands in Hong Kong
THE growing move by manufacturers to outsource logistics and light industrial operations has led DHL Supply Chain to spend HK 360 Million to expand its logistics operations in Hong Kong.
http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/news/dhl-supply-chain-expands-in-hong-kong/20017755325.htm;.5d25bd3d240cca6cbbee6afc8c3b5655190f397f 

DHL completes sale of UK domestic parcel business to Home Delivery Network
DHL, the world's leading logistics provider, today completes the sale of its UK domestic parcel business to Home Delivery Network , as announced on 5 January 2010.
http://www.dhl.co.uk/publish/gb/en/press/release/2009/010310.high.html

£30-million deal to deliver new jobs
SCORES of new jobs will be created thanks to a £30-million investment by DHL, the new distributor for convenience giant Nisa-Today's.
http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/news/163-30-million-deal-deliver-new-jobs/article-1880016-detail/article.html 

DHL Global Mail announces appointment of new chairman
DHL Global Mail is pleased to announce the appointment of S. David Fineman as Chairman of its Board of Directors for the Americas region.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dhl-global-mail-announces-appointment-of-new-chairman-85978377.html 

Deutsche Post introduces “Internet Letter”
Many people prefer to dash off a quick e-mail these days rather than writing a traditional letter.
http://postandparcel.info/31989/features-innovation-in-depth/deutsche-post-introduces-internet-letter-brief-im-internet/