Brexit secretary David Davis: UK should be able to sign trade deals during transition period November 21, 2017 David Davis has said the UK should be able to sign free trade deals during any transition period agreed with the European Union. Speaking at a conference this morning, Davis said Britain “will be a third country and act as one too” after March 2019, which means it should be able to sign new deals [...]
EasyJet plans Brexit shareholder shake-up that could force UK nationals to sell their shares November 21, 2017 EasyJet has set out plans that could force UK shareholders to sell their stakes after Brexit, as it looks to get ready for Britain’s departure from the bloc and comply with foreign ownership rules. Under EU law, the airline needs to ensure majority control and ownership by EU nationals for when Britain leaves the bloc, [...]
Just when you thought the world couldn’t take more upheaval, came the news that German coalition government negotiations have broken down November 21, 2017 Just when you thought the world – and markets – couldn’t take more upheaval, came the news on Monday that German coalition government negotiations have broken down. The impact on the Euro was less damaging that might have been expected. But Europe is pretty used to coalitions. Strong and stable single party governments are, for [...]
Women in tech: Private equity giant KKR will help 20k women learn coding with Code First: Girls partnership November 21, 2017 Private equity giant KKR is backing women in tech in a new effort to help thousands of them learn how to code. The firm is backing an ambitious new campaign by Code First: Girls aiming to train 20,000 women by 2020 in an area where they are severely under-represented. The partnership with the UK-based social [...]
Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos buys two exploration licenses in Northern Gas Fields West of Shetland November 21, 2017 Ineos, the chemicals giant owned by billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, as been shopping again, buying a majority share in two exploration licenses in a North Sea gas field with estimated reserves of as much as 5 trillion cubic feet. The acquisition of the licenses for the Northern Gas Fields West of Shetland, which it bought from [...]
Concordia accused by UK competition watchdog of overcharging the NHS by “millions” November 21, 2017 Canadian drug giant Concordia overcharged the NHS by millions of pounds, Britain’s competition regulator provisionally found today. It is alleged the firm hiked the price of one the NHS’ essential thyroid drugs. Last year, the NHS spent more than £34m on the medication, called liothyronine, an increase from £600,000 in 2006. The Competition and Market’s [...]
Plot to save London Stock Exchange chief executive (CEO) Xavier Rolet risks triggering a messy exit November 20, 2017 Successful leaders can be difficult to work with. From Margaret Thatcher to Alex Ferguson, people at the top are frequently characterised as stubborn, uncompromising and aggressive, provoking inevitable feuds with anyone who questions their approach. Examples abound in the business world too, where singleminded and determined senior figures turn boardrooms into corporate battlegrounds. Sometimes this [...]
It’s time to get serious about going off-road. Ditch the Chelsea tractor and pick up a £90k Mercedes-Benz Unimog November 20, 2017 There’s something very cool about driving an off-roader in central London. And I mean a proper off-roader, not a pseudo off-road SUV capable of tackling nothing more than a slightly rutted farm track. No, I’m talking about vehicles like the Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler and Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Despite being even less PC than a [...]
Digital challenger Atom Bank is seeking to raise millions more funding from investors, including BBVA, Woodford and Toscafund November 20, 2017 One of the UK’s top digital challenger banks, Atom, is gearing up to raise fresh funding from investors as it eyes £1bn of deposit holdings, City A.M. can exclusively reveal. The app-only bank, which boasts music superstar Will.i.am, Neil Woodford and Spanish bank BBVA among high profile backers, has already raised more than £200m to [...]
YO! Sushi rolls up deal to acquire 600-branch Bento Sushi for £59m November 20, 2017 British sushi chain YO! Sushi has acquired Bento Sushi, the second-largest sushi chain in North America for $100m Canadian dollars (£59m). The acquisition forms one of the biggest sushi companies outside of Japan, combining Bento’s 600-strong portfolio of sushi bars across the US and Canada with YO!’s 97 owned or franchised restaurants worldwide. Combined sales [...]