PRESS DIGEST - Financial Times =3

GENTING POISED FOR CLOSURES

Genting Stanley, which operates 46 UK casinos, is to review the manpower across the sites, a move that could result in over 120 jobs being placed at risk. The gambling industry has suffered from the consumer downturn, the smoking ban, the loss of lucrative gaming machines and increased gaming duty, and Genting is considering closing the Mint in Luton and the Triangle in Bristol. Peter Brooks, executive deputy chairman, said: "It is ironic that the government allowed us all to believe they were going to encourage the gaming industry to be a launch pad for regeneration, when in fact they introduced new levels of tax that are making a major contribution to the serious pressures the industry now faces."

NIELSEN STEPS BACK FROM MOVE ON TNS-GFK MERGER

Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has received a boost to its chances of fending off a bid from (WPP.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), after the Nielsen Company played down its interest in breaking up the agreed merger between TNS and Germany's GfK. David Calhoun, chief executive at Nielsen, said on Wednesday that the strengths of GfK and TNS in consumer panels and customised research were not in the "sweet spot" of his strategy. Citigroup said this has improved the chances of the TNS-GfK deal going ahead and that any further WPP bid for TNS would have to be priced at 250 pence to 260 pence "to be even vaguely competitive".

PHONES 4U FACES OFCOM MIS-SELLING INVESTIGATION

Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, is using powers under the Enterprise Act to investigate alleged phone mis-selling at Phones 4U, which operates more than 440 stores across Britain. The regulator has received complaints about "unclaimable" cashback offers, phone upgrades and monthly contracts with unexpected additional charges and failure to inform customers about their cancellation rights. Phones 4U said that it "intends to co-operate fully with Ofcom in this matter" and that it "prides itself in maintaining the highest standards of customer service".