Matt Hermer's appetite for new venture

Matt Hermer: Hot dog move

Matt Hermer, the man behind royal stamping ground Boujis, has gone distinctly down market with his latest venture.

The former banker this week launched Top Dog, a Soho hot dog outfit. It is a personal nod to the tastes of his US wife, Marissa. And for the millionaire Welshman - the son of a former Lord Mayor of Cardiff - it's also part of the entrepreneurial growth plan.

City Insider hears that Top Dog could be the first of a chain and other branded chains may follow. Mr Hermer then plans to roll them all into a new fund backed by high net-worth money. Prince Harry's chance for a new adventure?

Howard Shore: Missing silver vases

As a big Tory donor, Howard Shore will be cheering his party's surprise general election win.

But the shine may be taken off by the outcome this week of a court case between private-jet charter operator London Executive Aviation and the Lily Partnership, owned by Mr Shore and his firm Shore Capital.

In 2007 Shore, via Lily, bought a new Bombardier Challenger 300 jet. He approached LEA to take over the jet's management. The High Court was asked to decide whether Lily had to pay LEA £52,222 of charter incentive payments, connected to target charter rates of the aircraft, and whether Lily was entitled to deduct £20,103 from outstanding invoices.

The judge ruled LEA could claim the charter incentive payments but ruled that Lily could offset certain items against the claim, including £2,000 for two missing silver flower vases.

When the jet was used for charter work the silver vases were placed in LEA's store at Luton airport. The ruling notes: "In 2011 they disappeared again and have never been found: neither side knows why." The curious case of the donor and the vases.

Jon Moynihan: Royal Albert discord

Tense times in Albertopolis. The Royal Albert Hall's outgoing president, Peta Travis, has alerted members to a spat with her predecessor, The Hon Richard Lyttelton.

The EMI lifer has asked the Charity Commission to repeal the RAH's charitable status, which would throw its finances into turmoil. Rejecting his suit, the Charity Commission threw a spanner in the works when it suggested changes to the composition of the RAH's all-powerful council.

Mr Lyttelton has appealed against the charitable status ruling and his appeal will soon be heard. Treasurer Jonathan Asiz, while dealing with all of this, faces his own troubles. He wrote to members last week to tell them that a challenger has emerged to his own presidential candidacy.

The former chairman of PA Consulting, Jon Moynihan (whose wife is a milliner), has thrown his name into the mix before next week's AGM and election. Hold on to your hats.

Matteo Canonaco: HSBC dealmaker goes

HSBC is losing its top private equity dealmaker. Matteo Canonaco is leaving to launch his own venture, 11 years after joining from Lazard to establish HSBC's financial sponsors business.

The 46-year-old Italian's team worked on recent deals like the sales of British Car Auctions and United Biscuit. An avid skier, Mr Canonaco once skied on the same team as one-time world champion skier Alberto Tomba ("Tomba la Bomba'). Andiamo!

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