He may be busy advising Kraft with its offer for Cadbury, but Lazard London chief William Rucker has managed to push through the rights issue at Quintain, where he has just taken on the role as chairman. Longtime advisers JPMorgan Cazenove, Lazard and HSBC were enlisted, but Mr Rucker still faces challenges at Quintain, whose main assets are Wembley and Greenwich, which await development.

Over at residential property group Grainger, Andrew Cunningham , who took over from Rupert Dickinson as chief last month, wasted no time in fundraising. Mr Dickinson, part of the founding family, may have resigned, but the clan is still among Grainger's top investors, holding about 6 per cent.