German companies accuse S&P of profiteering

Deutsche Welle, 23 April 2012

A number of German companies have expressed their indignation at alleged plans by the US Standard and Poor's rating agency to drastically increase fees for assessing the firms' economic performance.

Twelve of Germany's largest companies have sent a joint letter of protest to the Germany head of Standard and Poor's, Torsten Hinrichs, expressing their outrage over alleged plans by the US rating agency to force up prices, the Financial Times Deutschland newspaper reported on Monday.

S & P was expected to double some of its fees for the standard assessment of companies' economic performance; the firms concerned say this would be profiteering.

"Even if S & P has offered to stretch the price hike over three years for exactly the same services, the result would remain unacceptable," said the protest note which was signed by managers from Volkswagen, Daimler, Siemens, Bayer, Eon, RWE, Continental, Lufthansa, Deutsche Post, Henkel, Linde and Bertelsmann.

German companies already paid the US rating agencies about half a million euros annually, the letter said. The three main rating agencies, Standard and Poor's, Moody's and Fitch, have been making most of their profits from the rating of individual companies, and not so much from assessing the performance of whole nations - which for them is more a question of image building.

A case for market watchdogs?

Analysts insist the protest letter is also meant as a signal for German and European anti-trust authorities to step into action. German legal expert Torsten Köber told the Financial Times Deutschland that it's not a problem in itself, if a given provider of services - or a group of providers - dominates the market.

"But things are different, if there's any proof of acquired market domination being misused to the detriment of customers, for instance in a bid to force up prices," Köber said.

The dominant position of the three US rating agencies has long been a thorn in the side of European governments, which have sought to set up an independent agency on their own continent. But the attempts made so far have failed to secure enough financial support from banks across the continent.

Even if a European rating agency were to become a reality, it would take many years to build up the solid reputation it would need before it could become a player among equals.

Author: Hardy Graupner

Editor: Michael Lawton

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Moody’s Fired by Danish Banks as Investors Show Support

Danske Bank A/S’s mortgage unit  Realkredit Danmark A/S,

 the country’s second-largest home-loan provider,  dropped

Moody’s in June. Photographer:  Ulrik Jantzen/Bloomberg

Indonesia’s Bakrie Family Gets Bumi Loan Default Notice, FT Says

Bloomberg, By Erik Larson - Apr 21, 2012

Indonesia’s Bakrie family received a default notice from creditors on a $437 million loan after a drop in the shares of London-listed mining company Bumi Plc (BUMI) that guarantee the facility, the Financial Times reported.

Lenders led by Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN) probably won’t demand repayment even if the family fails to increase collateral, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the deal.

The Bakries and Bumi Chairman Samin Tan together own 47.6 percent of Bumi, and the family’s financial woes contributed to the company’s 60 percent share fall over the past year, the newspaper said.

The shares were also hurt by the ousting last year of Bumi’s co-chairman, Nathaniel Rothschild, the FT said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Erik Larson in London at elarson4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Anthony Aarons at aaarons@bloomberg.net

British financier Nathaniel Rothschild, left, has criticized the
 management and corporate governance at Bumi Resources,
 the Indonesian coal company he is trying to transform into a
 top-tier global miner, the Financial Times reported on
Thursday. (Antara Photo/File)

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Indonesia’s Deputy Energy, Minerals Minister Suffers Heart Attack, Passes Away

Jakarta Globe, April 21, 2012

Widjajono Partowidagdo, center, in this file photo. (Antara)

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Indonesia’s Deputy Energy and Minerals Minister Widjajono Partowidagdo has reportedly died after suffering a suspected heart attack climbing Mount Tambora in West Nusa Tenggara on Saturday.

Officials at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM) were reluctant to comment on Widjajono’s condition, saying that reports of the incident were still unclear from the eastern province.

MetroTV, however, were reporting that the minister had passed away.

Disaster Mitigation Agency official Surono said Widjajono earlier said the minister was in a stable condition and was being evacuated to the nearest hospital.

“The evacuation route is close to the main street and they’re en route to hospital. Widjajono’s still recovering from shock,” he said.

The deputy minister was a key policy maker in the government’s drive to tighten mining regulations.

Widjajono Partowidagdo is a central player in a government decision expected soon on whether to impose a 25 percent tax on mining exports this year and a 50 percent tax in 2013.

A series of mining and minerals regulations announced this year have rattled investors in the country, which is the world’s top exporter of thermal coal and refined tin and has a big minerals sector.

The regulations include a plan under which some foreign mining companies must divest 51 percent within 10 years and a proposed ban on the export of some unprocessed metals by 2014.

JG/Reuters

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Corrupt Canadian Banking System (Video presentation by an 12 year old Canadian Girl)

This is my (12 year old) daughter. She gave this speech at a business meeting in front of 600 people. Her eyes have been opened to a scam that is being perpetrated upon Canadians and the rest of the world.

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More info at: http://www.thrivemovement.com/

THRIVE is an unconventional documentary that lifts the veil on what's REALLY going on in our world by following the money upstream -- uncovering the global consolidation of power in nearly every aspect of our lives. Weaving together breakthroughs in science, consciousness and activism, THRIVE offers real solutions, empowering us with unprecedented and bold strategies for reclaiming our lives and our future.

The Large Families that rule the world

How Wealth Reduces Compassion

"Recalibration of Free Choice"–  Mar 3, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Caroll) - (Subjects: (Old) Souls, Midpoint on 21-12-2012, Shift of Human Consciousness, Black & White vs. Color, 1 - Spirituality (Religions) shifting, Lose a Pope “soon”, 2 - Humans will change react to drama, 3 - Civilizations/Population on Earth,  4 - Alternate energy sources (Geothermal, Tidal (Pedal wheels), Wind), 5 – Financials Institutes/concepts will change (Integrity – Ethical) , 6 - News/Media/TV to change, 7 – Big Pharmaceutical company will collapse “soon”, (Keep people sick), (Integrity – Ethical)  8 – Wars will be over on Earth, Global Unity, … etc.)  - New ! 

How Wealth Reduces Compassion

As riches grow, empathy for others seems to decline

Scientific American, by Daisy Grewal, April 10, 2012 

Money shifts the emotionsImage: iStock / pagadesign 

Who is more likely to lie, cheat, and steal—the poor person or the rich one? It’s temping to think that the wealthier you are, the more likely you are to act fairly. After all, if you already have enough for yourself, it’s easier to think about what others may need. But research suggests the opposite is true: as people climb the social ladder, their compassionate feelings towards other people decline.

Berkeley psychologists Paul Piff and Dacher Keltner ran several studies looking at whether social class (as measured by wealth, occupational prestige, and education) influences how much we care about the feelings of others. In one study, Piff and his colleagues discreetly observed the behavior of drivers at a busy four-way intersection. They found that luxury car drivers were more likely to cut off other motorists instead of waiting for their turn at the intersection. This was true for both men and women upper-class drivers, regardless of the time of day or the amount of traffic at the intersection. In a different study they found that luxury car drivers were also more likely to speed past a pedestrian trying to use a crosswalk, even after making eye contact with the pedestrian.

In order to figure out whether selfishness leads to wealth (rather than vice versa), Piff and his colleagues ran a study where they manipulated people’s class feelings. The researchers asked participants to spend a few minutes comparing themselves either to people better off or worse off than themselves financially. Afterwards, participants were shown a jar of candy and told that they could take home as much as they wanted. They were also told that the leftover candy would be given to children in a nearby laboratory. Those participants who had spent time thinking about how much better off they were compared to others ended up taking significantly more candy for themselves--leaving less behind for the children.

A related set of studies published by Keltner and his colleagues last year looked at how social class influences feelings of compassion towards people who are suffering. In one study, they found that less affluent individuals are more likely to report feeling compassion towards others on a regular basis. For example, they are more likely to agree with statements such as, “I often notice people who need help,” and “It’s important to take care of people who are vulnerable.” This was true even after controlling for other factors that we know affect compassionate feelings, such as gender, ethnicity, and spiritual beliefs.

In a second study, participants were asked to watch two videos while having their heart rate monitored. One video showed somebody explaining how to build a patio. The other showed children who were suffering from cancer. After watching the videos, participants indicated how much compassion they felt while watching either video. Social class was measured by asking participants questions about their family’s level of income and education. The results of the study showed that participants on the lower end of the spectrum, with less income and education, were more likely to report feeling compassion while watching the video of the cancer patients. In addition, their heart rates slowed down while watching the cancer video—a response that is associated with paying greater attention to the feelings and motivations of others.

These findings build upon previous research showing how upper class individuals are worse at recognizing the emotions of others and less likely to pay attention to people they are interacting with (e.g. by checking their cell phones or doodling).

But why would wealth and status decrease our feelings of compassion for others? After all, it seems more likely that having few resources would lead to selfishness. Piff and his colleagues suspect that the answer may have something to do with how wealth and abundance give us a sense of freedom and independence from others. The less we have to rely on others, the less we may care about their feelings. This leads us towards being more self-focused. Another reason has to do with our attitudes towards greed. Like Gordon Gekko, upper-class people may be more likely to endorse the idea that “greed is good.” Piff and his colleagues found that wealthier people are more likely to agree with statements that greed is justified, beneficial, and morally defensible. These attitudes ended up predicting participants’ likelihood of engaging in unethical behavior.

Given the growing income inequality in the United States, the relationship between wealth and compassion has important implications. Those who hold most of the power in this country, political and otherwise, tend to come from privileged backgrounds. If social class influences how much we care about others, then the most powerful among us may be the least likely to make decisions that help the needy and the poor. They may also be the most likely to engage in unethical behavior. Keltner and Piff recently speculated in the New York Times about how their research helps explain why Goldman Sachs and other high-powered financial corporations are breeding grounds for greedy behavior. Although greed is a universal human emotion, it may have the strongest pull over those of who already have the most.

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Greg Braden "If we are honest, truthful, considerate, caring and compassionate, if we live this each day, we have already prepared for whatever could possibly come on 2012 or any other day, any other year, any time in our future."


Christ Consciousness Is The Energy of The New World - Mar 7, 2012 - (Kryon channelled by David Brown)

“… The days have gone where the elders, those who were whole and conscious, led their tribe. There is no respect anymore for those who are whole and conscious. The consciousness of this planet has been driven to the lowest levels and the consciousness is going no lower. There will be a polar shift on the 21st of December 2012. The polar shift will be on an individual basis; you’ll be shifting from negative to positive, and the love will begin to flow. There will even be love for your politicians and bankers. Everything is going to begin to change….”

Indonesia not to sell resources after 2014: minister

English.news.cn   2012-04-11       

        

JAKARTA, April 11 (Xinhua) - An Indonesian minister said that the country will not export raw natural resources after 2014 and that it will renegotiate contracts with private companies processing the country's commodities, a local media reported on Wednesday.

Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Radjasa said that all natural resources in Indonesia should be processed domestically.

"This is our commitment toward our natural resource endowment and environment and we have to be consistent," Hatta said on Tuesday during the inauguration of technology-based economy Technopolitan in Pangkalan Kerinci, Pelalawan, Riau.

He said that the export of natural resources had disadvantaged Indonesia and had hampered the development of downstream domestic industry.

"We have lost a lot of jobs and work hours," Hatta said, citing that the government had disseminated the plan to investors and had asked them to submit their road maps regarding the establishment of downstream business units in their operational areas.

"For those who fail to submit their plans, we will stop their operations or we will reduce their capacity here," he was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.

The government will provide incentives, including tax allowances and holidays for investors who establish downstream businesses, Hatta said.

"We respect investors and their contracts. We only want changes so that our people can create something more and produce valuable products made from our natural resources," he said.

Editor: Chen Zhi

Indonesia wins tobacco dispute with US

The Jakarta Post, by Linda Yulisman, Jakarta, Sat, 04/07/2012

Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of clove cigarettes, has won a tobacco dispute with the United States after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled in its favor, saying that the US ban on clove cigarettes was discriminatory as the country still allowed sales of similarly flavored cigarettes.

clove cigarettes

The Trade Ministry’s international trade cooperation head, Iman Pambagyo, welcomed the ruling, saying that Indonesia’s winning the case would be important not only for Indonesia, but also other countries in terms of respecting the institution’s ruling. The government would continue in its commitment to international agreements under the WTO, especially regarding the technical barriers to trade (TBT) agreement, he said.

“All countries must respect it [the agreement]. With this ruling, we expect other countries will not follow the US’ move,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

The WTO’s appellate body ruled on Wednesday that the US had been discriminatory in its ban on sales of clove cigarettes as it continued to allow sales of “like-products”, particularly menthol-flavored cigarettes. The US government has expressed its disappointment over the outcome of the dispute.

“The ban on cigarettes with flavors is part of landmark US legislation to combat the public health crisis caused by tobacco products,” Nkenge Harmon, spokeswoman for the US Trade Representative’s Office, said as quoted by Reuters. The office was examining its options in complying with the ruling, she added.

US compliance through barring sales of menthol cigarettes will affect its local cigarette makers, including Lorillard Inc, the Philip Morris USA unit of Altria Group, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. of Reynolds American Inc., and Liggett Vector Brands LLC.

It can also comply with the WTO ruling by creating new trade concessions with Indonesia, as it has already done in a few other disputes where the US Congress was unwilling to change the law.

However, if the US maintains its ban, Indonesia can impose retaliatory duties on US exports to an amount similar to the value it has lost due to the ban.

The tobacco dispute began when the US Food and Drug Administration banned cigarettes containing fruit, confectionery or clove flavors through a new law — the US Family Smoking Prevention Tobacco Control Act of 2009 — slated to curb smoking among youths with the argument that flavored cigarettes were especially attractive to children.

The ban affected local clove cigarette producers, which supplied around 99 percent of clove cigarettes sold in the US, with annual exports estimated at US$200 million.

Indonesian authorities considered the ban discriminatory as the US still allowed sales of menthol cigarettes, widely produced by its domestic cigarette makers and consumed by more than 19 million Americans. It then filed a formal petition to the world trade governing body on April 7, 2010, arguing that the ban was not only discriminatory but also incapable of preventing young people from smoking.

The WTO’s dispute settlement body ruled on Sept. 2, 2011, saying that Indonesia’s claim about the discriminatory nature of the law was true and that, therefore, the US had breached international trade rules, especially the TBT agreement, by favoring locally made menthol cigarettes. However, it did find resonance in the ban in trying to prevent youngsters from smoking.

Indonesian exports of tobacco and tobacco substitutes were valued at $591 million last year, up 25.8 percent from a year earlier.

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(Official Movie) THRIVE: What On Earth Will It Take?

More info at: http://www.thrivemovement.com/

THRIVE is an unconventional documentary that lifts the veil on what's REALLY going on in our world by following the money upstream -- uncovering the global consolidation of power in nearly every aspect of our lives. Weaving together breakthroughs in science, consciousness and activism, THRIVE offers real solutions, empowering us with unprecedented and bold strategies for reclaiming our lives and our future.

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Bakries Want Rothschild to Leave the Board of Bumi Plc

British financier Nathaniel Rothschild, left, has criticized the
 management and corporate governance at Bumi Resources,
 the Indonesian coal company he is trying to transform into a
 top-tier global miner, the Financial Times reported on
Thursday. (Antara Photo/File)

The Large Families that rule the world

"Recalibration of Free Choice"–  Mar 3, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Caroll) - (Subjects: (Old) Souls, Midpoint on 21-12-2012, Shift of Human Consciousness, Black & White vs. Color, 1 - Spirituality (Religions) shifting, Lose a Pope “soon”, 2 - Humans will change react to drama, 3 - Civilizations/Population on Earth,  4 - Alternate energy sources (Geothermal, Tidal (Pedal wheels), Wind), 5 – Financials Institutes/concepts will change (Integrity – Ethical) , 6 - News/Media/TV to change, 7 – Big Pharmaceutical company will collapse “soon”, (Keep people sick), (Integrity – Ethical)  8 – Wars will be over on Earth, Global Unity, … etc.)  - New ! 

RI`s finance to be leading if managed well : Princess Maxima

Antara News, Fri, April 6 2012

Related News

• Indonesia hopes IMT-GT receives help from AIF
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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian inclusive finance will be leading in the ASEAN region if all economic players and the government of this country can really work together on account of big potentials of its people and natural resources, Princess Maxima says.

Speaking in a special interview with four journalists at the Kimpinsky Hotel here on Thursday afternoon, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands who is also the UN Secretary General`s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development said Indonesia`s big population and its richness in natural resources were seen as the brightest prospect for the country.

After having a series of meetings with private sector representatives and development partners about the use of financial services by people and companies during her first visit to Indonesia, the Princess said this country had adopted a better approach on how to develop micro, small and medium-sized businesses which are also the backbone of the country`s economy.

During the 1998 economic crisis engulfing Indonesia and some other ASEAN countries, the small-and medium-scale businesses proved capable of surviving the burden of the crisis. Therefore, the step taken by the government of Indonesia to develop micro-, small-and medium-scale businesses was already on the good track, she said.

The princess also touched on the programmes of Malaysia which focus on deepening and expanding services, including to reach 20 percent of its population that has no access to financial services, and on financial education, consumer protection and improving the quality of loans to individuals and small businesses.

However, each country has its own policy on how to improve its inclusive finance depending on its geographical condition. Such policy applied by a country in a continental area will be different from that of archipelagic country like Indonesia.

In her capacity as Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, she advised him about access to financial services, working at global level to ensure access to financial services for everyone. These efforts contribute particularly to the development of low income groups and small-and medium-sized enterprises.

In many countries it is no simple matter to open a savings or other bank account, borrow money or buy insurance. Since June 2011 Princess Maxima has also been Honorary Patron of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI).

Hence, financial inclusion would be on the agenda of the G20 Summit in Mexico in July 2012, she said.

During her stay, the Princess had a courtesy call on Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and a series of meetings with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs M. Hatta Rajasa, Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo, Minister of National Development Planning Armida Alisjahbana, and Governor of Bank Indonesia Darmin Nasution.

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono

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GE, Johnson & Johnson among firms to give more lobbying detail

Reuters, by Ross Kerber, BOSTON, Tue Apr 3, 2012

Trucks containing cases of Coca-Cola, which will be
 delivered to stores, sit  outside a warehouse at the Swire
Coca-Cola facility in Draper, Utah March 9, 2011.
(Credit: Reuters/George Frey)

(Reuters) - A dozen U.S. companies have agreed to disclose more about their lobbying efforts in return for avoiding public showdowns at their annual meetings, a sign of growing traction for corporate governance reforms this year.

Companies including Coca-Cola Co (KO.N), General Electric Co. (GE.N) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) have agreed to make available more details about areas like trade association memberships and top policy issues, according to a tally of 2012 reforms kept by activist investor Walden Asset Management.

In return for the changes, the Boston fund shop said it or its investor allies agreed to withdraw proxy proposals they had submitted in advance of this spring's season for corporate annual meetings.

Though some of the lobbying information was already available in government databases, much of it was too obscure for the average investor to track down, said Tim Smith, senior vice president at Walden who helped lead the disclosure campaign. Smith said the company actions show the disclosures are not just a pet concern of so-called socially responsible investors.

"This is significant because the companies see it as being a good business practice," Smith said.

Spokespeople for GE, J&J and Coke did not immediately respond to questions.

Another 22 company activists targeted for lobbying disclosure have not announced any changes or concessions yet. As a result, Smith said, the issue will be debated and voted on at their upcoming annual shareholder meetings.

Groups allied with Walden that filed similar resolutions include the public-sector labor union the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; the New York State Common Retirement Fund; and several religious orders. In recent years, the investors have built a successful record of pressing for change on a variety of issues that are now common practice or law such as shareholder advisory votes on executive pay.

Those votes and other scrutiny companies are getting from proxy-advisory firms are leading to a faster pace of governance changes, said Paul Hodgson, senior research associate at GMI Ratings. The New York-based organization tracks shareholder votes and has supported some changes such as separating the roles of chief executives and Board Chairmen -- a major focus of AFSCME this year.

"Companies know that giving in early or compromising is easier than the embarrassment of losing a high profile vote," Hodgson said in an e-mail.

Corporate spending to influence public policy has been a hot issue since a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision lifted limits on election spending by companies and unions. Smith and others are also part of an effort to get companies to agree to disclose political contributions led by the Center for Political Accountability in Washington.

In March, it said 100 companies agreed to disclose direct political contributions and indirect spending through trade associations and similar groups.

Among the companies where activists withdrew proxy proposals, the details vary and may be considered minor by some measures. For instance, Coca-Cola had already published a number of disclosures such as an online listing of its top policy priorities: corporate taxation, product-specific rules and environmental rules.

Under a deal with Walden, the Atlanta-based beverage company will now provide more detail about how it sets its priorities, plus more details such as on trade association payments, according to Walden.

(Reporting By Ross Kerber; editing by Aaron Pressman and M.D. Golan)

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"The Many 'Shoulds' "  – Jan 26, 2012 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll)

(Subjects: Religion/Worship, Lightworkers, Food, Health, Prescription Drugs, Homeopathy, Innate (Body intelligence), New Age movement, Global Unity, ... etc.)

"Recalibration of Free Choice"–  Mar 3, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Caroll) - (Subjects: (Old) Souls, Midpoint on 21-12-2012, Shift of Human Consciousness, Black & White vs. Color, 1 - Spirituality (Religions) shifting, Lose a Pope “soon”, 2 - Humans will change react to drama, 3 - Civilizations/Population on Earth,  4 - Alternate energy sources (Geothermal, Tidal (Pedal wheels), Wind), 5 – Financials Institutes/concepts will change (Integrity – Ethical) , 6 - News/Media/TV to change, 7 – Big Pharmaceutical company will collapse “soon”, (Keep people sick), (Integrity – Ethical)  8 – Wars will be over on Earth, Global Unity, … etc.)  - New ! 

J.P. Morgan Asia CEO: Why I’m Leaving the Bank (Video)

Gaby Abdelnour, head of J.P. Morgan’s Asia Pacific division, tells the WSJ’s Deborah Kan why he is leaving the bank, explains the intricacies of doing business in China and discusses the fate of investment banking bonuses.

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Angela Knight to step down as British Bankers' Association chief

Knight says her five years in job was a time of 'extraordinary difficulty', and she has 'one more job in me'

guardian.co.uk, Juliette Garside, Monday 2 April 2012

Angela Knight said the BBA was 'strong and forward-looking'
Photograph: David Sillitoe for the Guardian

Angela Knight, the voice of banking during five of the most tumultuous years in the industry's history, is to step down this summer.

Knight, who is 61, said she had "one more job in me" as she announced her departure from the British Bankers' Association. She described her time there as one of "extraordinary difficulty" that came "during a crisis of a magnitude that few if any have seen before or expected".

A former Conservative MP and economic secretary to Ken Clarke, she joined the BBA on 1 April 2007 and was soon pitched into battle on behalf of the businesses blamed for the worst recession since the Great Depression.

Her first trial by fire came on Friday, 14 September 2007, the day the queues formed outside Northern Rock in the first run on a British bank since the 19th century, when Knight took on 19 back-to-back television and radio interviews from a studio at London's Millbank Tower.

As the credit crunch and the collapse of Lehman Brothers followed, Knight become an early morning fixture of Radio 4's Today Programme. During her tenure at the BBA, she has given over 800 broadcast interviews, made over 1,000 speeches, and travelled over 14,000km to and from Brussels alone.

"It's been a lot of ground covered in both distance and issues," she said on Monday. At a time when "banker bashing" became a national sport, Knight's challenge was to defend the industry while avoiding becoming as unpopular as those she represented. She played a key role in shaping the legislation introduced to reform British banks and prevent a similar financial collapse.

On Monday, she paid tribute to her team at the BBA, describing the organisation as "strong and forward looking", and to the commuters who became her sounding board during her morning train ride from Ascot to Waterloo. "I'm kept in order by those who I travel on the train with in the morning. There's plenty of time for people to give me a view."

Knight drew personal criticism for taking on the retail banks' fight against rulings that they should compensate customers for over £5bn of mis-sold payment protection insurance. The BBA backed away from seeking a judicial review after Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays withdrew their support.

"We had to take it on behalf of the banks and that is very hard for a trade association on a very unpopular issue," said Knight. "It became very personalised. But you can't just walk away."

A chemistry graduate who started her career working for Air Products, an American industrial gas company, she set up on her own, forming Knight & Cook, a metallurgical processor, before entering local politics in Sheffield as a Tory councillor. She entered parliament in 1992 before serving as economic secretary to the Treasury between 1995 and 1997.

She lost her seat in the 1997 general election that swept Tony Blair to power, and joined the Association of Private Client Investment Manager and Stockbrokers, where she was instrumental in breaking up a 2000 merger plan between the London and Frankfurt stock exchanges. At the time, she described herself as "a woman with two kids doing a job".

BBA chairman Marcus Agius praised her "extraordinary leadership and energy" and said she had been instrumental in making the BBA "the key voice in the debate on the future of the banking sector".

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Hill in Washington October 21, 2008. 
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David Wilcock: March 28, 2012 Interview with Whistleblower “Drake” on Mass Arrests

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DBS to Buy Stake in Indonesian Bank Danamon for $4.9b

Jakarta Globe, April 02, 2012

A security officer stands at the entrance of a branch of Bank Danamon in
Jakarta,  in this March 15, 2011 file picture. DBS Group Holdings, Southeast
Asia's biggest bank, halted trading of its shares on Monday ahead of an
announcement that sources said will confirm its bid for the controlling stake
 in Indonesia's Bank Danamon. The stake is owned by the bank holding arm
of Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings. (Reuters Photo)

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DBS Group Holdings, Southeast Asia’s biggest bank, will buy control of Bank Danamon Indonesia for about $4.9 billion to tap a market growing at the fastest pace since before the Asian financial crisis.    

DBS will pay Temasek Holdings for Rp 45.2 trillion ($4.9 billion) for its 67 percent stake and plans a bid to buy the rest of the lender, the Singapore-based bank said in a statement to the Singapore stock exchange.    

DBS is seeking to tap Danamon’s 3,000-branch network, Indonesia’s second largest, serving 6 million customers. The country’s economy, Southeast Asia’s biggest, grew 6.46 percent last year, the fastest pace since before the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, as rising investment and domestic spending countered a slowdown in export demand. The target for 2012 is 6.5 percent.    

The deal will allow DBS “to expand in an important high- growth emerging market,” Jonathan Koh, an analyst at UOB Kay Hian in Singapore, wrote in a note. DBS could “add value by building up Bank Danamon’s corporate banking, investment banking and treasury businesses,” he said.    

DBS, whose controlling shareholder is Temasek, said it will issue 439 million new shares at 14.07 Singaporean dollars apiece for the purchase. DBS shares, suspended from trading for the announcement, last traded at 14.18 Singaporean dollars on March 30. The transaction is the largest banking takeover in Southeast Asia since June 2001, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.                       

Takeover Premium    

DBS bank will offer to buy the remaining shares at 7,000 rupiah each, a 52 percent premium from Danamon’s closing price of 4,600 rupiah on March 30. That amounts to 2.62 times Danamon’s book value, higher than the median of 2.2 for deals worth more than $1 billion in the global banking industry over the past five years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.    

The Singapore bank said the acquisition would cost about 66.4 trillion rupiah if all Danamon shareholders accepted the offer, which it also valued at 2.6 times book value. DBS will pay the remaining shareholders in cash, estimated at 21.2 trillion rupiah, from its own funds and debt, it said.    

The transaction would be DBS’s biggest purchase of a majority stake in a company since its takeover of Dao Heng Bank Group Ltd. in Hong Kong announced April 2001. In that deal it paid 3.33 times book value, according to Bloomberg data.                   

‘Exciting Asian Market’    

“Indonesia is an exciting Asian market and we believe that we will be able to contribute towards the growth of the Indonesian banking sector, especially in areas such as infrastructure financing, project financing, trade finance and syariah banking,” DBS Chief Executive Officer Piyush Gupta said in the statement. “With Danamon, we will be able to significantly diversify our revenue mix.”    

DBS said in a slide presentation today that its 2011 revenue from South and Southeast Asia would have increased to 27 percent from 7 percent with Danamon, while its reliance on Singapore would decline to 49 percent from 62 percent.    

Temasek’s banking unit Fullerton Financial Holdings, which holds the stake in Danamon, Indonesia’s sixth-biggest bank by assets, said in a March 30 statement it received an offer for its shares, without disclosing the bidder.    

In June 2003, Temasek and Deutsche Bank AG, Germany’s biggest bank, through Asia Financial Indonesia, paid 3.08 trillion rupiah for a 51 percent stake in Danamon. Asia Financial now owns 67 percent of the bank, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.    

Temasek managed 193 billion Singaporean dollars ($154 billion) in the year ended March 2011, according to its Web site. Its unit Fullerton Financial said it appointed Bank of America Corp.’s unit Merrill Lynch and UBS AG as advisers for the offer. It also obtained a waiver from having to make a takeover bid for DBS.    

Asian investments made up 77 percent of Temasek’s underlying portfolio in 2011, the Web site showed. The percentage of financial services in Temasek’s portfolio rose to 36 percent from 35 percent as of March 2011, according to the company.

Bloomberg