Shareholders demand information about diversity in global firms’ annual reports January 25, 2016 Two-thirds of the world’s biggest banks now include diversity reporting in their annual reports, according to new research out today from DHR International, a global executive search firm. According to DHR, shareholders are increasingly keen to receive information on diversity at the banks they are investing in. “Addressing diversity is no longer optional for world-leading businesses,” [...]
Tax experts pour cold water on heated debate over Google’s £130m corporation tax agreement January 25, 2016 Tax experts have poured cold water on a heated debate over Google’s agreement to hand over £130m to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in unpaid corporation tax, dismissing suggestions that the deal was unfair. Tighter rules surrounding corporation tax will result in a string of companies striking deals with HMRC, accountants say. “There will be lots of businesses that [...]
The Co-operative Group kicks off hiring spree for members’ council January 25, 2016 The Co-operative Group has embarked on a recruitment drive to find 24 candidates to join the representative body for its eight million members. The mutually-owned group, which operates everything from supermarkets to funeral care services, has undergone a radical overhaul over the last two years that resulted in a shake-up of both its governance practices [...]
UK retailers prove a hit with shoppers overseas as smartphone browsing soars January 25, 2016 The number of international shoppers using their smartphones to browse for UK brands has jumped over the last quarter, new research shows, as growth on mobile devices continued to outstrip tablets. According to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Google, beauty and apparel enjoyed the biggest rise in search volumes on mobile devices, [...]
Outdoor retailer Mountain Warehouse eyes £200m IPO after hiring Rothschild January 24, 2016 Mountain Warehouse is eyeing a £200m stock market debut after hiring investment bank Rothschild to explore options for the business. The outdoor clothing and equipment retailer was founded by former management consultant and Oxford physics graduate Mark Neale, who opened his first shop in Swindon in the late 1990s. It now operates 191 stores in [...]
Shell confident BG deal will get rubber stamped as investors asked to vote on Wednesday January 24, 2016 Royal Dutch Shell and BG Group shareholders will vote this week on whether to approve the proposed tie-up between the two companies. The acquisition is widely expected to go through, needing 50 per cent approval from Shell shareholders and 75 per cent from BG, though there has been speculation that the falling oil price would derail the deal. [...]
Cross-party report says BT should be forced to sell Openreach January 23, 2016 A report backed by 121 cross-party MPs says that BT should be forced to sell Openreach due to poor performance. The report, published by the cross-party British Infrastructure Group (BIG), said that Openreach, the country's leading broadband provider, had only partially extended superfast broadband, despite £1.7bn of government money. Read more: BT Openreach boss Joe Garner steps down [...]
Unilever is going to make Magnum and Cornetto ice creams smaller to help consumers “make healthier choices” January 23, 2016 Unilever is going to cut the size of its ice cream products aimed at adults, just in time for spring and summer. The multinational firm, which produces Magnum and Cornetto, as well as Ben & Jerry's, said it would be shrinking its ice creams to help consumers "make healthier choices". Read more: I scream, you scream, which [...]
Google agrees to pay £130m in back taxes in deal with HMRC January 23, 2016 Google has agreed a deal with HMRC in which it will pay £130m in back taxes after an "open audit" of its accounts by the UK tax authorities. The £130m covers corporation tax owed since 2005, and senior figures at Google have said it would follow rules which will result in it paying more tax [...]
Apple hires VR researcher Doug Bowman to catch up with Facebook, Google and Microsoft in Silicon Valley virtual reality race January 22, 2016 Apple has hired a leading VR researcher in a bid to catch up to its rivals in the great Silicon Valley virtual reality race. Doug Bowman can now add Apple employee to his cv, joining the company from his current role as the director of the Centre for Human-Computer Interaction at Virginia Tech, reports the [...]