Why digital infrastructure could emerge stronger from Covid-19 August 28, 2020 | City Talk The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the need to modernise digital infrastructure networks. We expect that this will create new investment opportunities. Surging online activity Whether we like it or not, the Covid-19 pandemic has cemented our addiction to fast and reliable internet access. While speaking to colleagues remotely, food shopping online or monitoring our ‘smart [...]
CVC and Advent team up in €1.3bn bid for Italy’s Serie A August 26, 2020 Private equity firms CVC Capital Partners and Advent International have reportedly joined forces in a €1.3bn (£1.17bn) offer for a minority stake in Italy’s Serie A football league. Last month Lega Serie A, the governing body of the league, placed a cap of 15 per cent on any potential private equity investment. CVC and Advent [...]
What does value investing have in common with Forrest Gump? August 26, 2020 | City Talk Gump is rewarded for his determination and resilience in the face of vicious storms in the 1994 film “Forrest Gump”. We believe returns could be bountiful for the genuinely long-term and patient value investor too. When I look at a chart like this, I think one of two things. Either it’s different this time for [...]
Six steps to true racial equality in business August 26, 2020 When we look back at 2020, what will have changed in the business world? I don’t mean social distancing and remote working. I mean actual systemic change: accountability, consequences, promotions, and retention. The combination of coronavirus and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has raised questions about the tech industry’s problem with Black, Asian, and [...]
A CEO’s guide to reaching net zero carbon emissions August 26, 2020 Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney warned last year that: “companies and industries that are not moving towards zero carbon emissions will be punished by investors and go bankrupt.” I would add customers and employees to that statement: a Net Zero commitment is becoming an expectation for companies they will buy from or work [...]
Regulators target football fans in pension scam awareness campaign August 25, 2020 Regulators are targeting football fans in a new campaign intended to raise awareness of pension scams, with over £30m reportedly lost to scammers since 2017. Reported losses range from under £1,000 to as much as £500,000, according to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and The Pensions Regulator (TPR) with the average victim being a man [...]
Four-in-10 Londoners expect pay rise in next 12 months despite coronavirus recession August 25, 2020 Four in 10 Londoners expect a pay rise in the 12 months despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy. A survey by job board CV Library found 43.8 per cent of Londoners expected a pay bump in the next year. According to CV Library data, salaries in London increased two per cent [...]
Why the whistleblower is truly the boss’s best friend August 25, 2020 Whistleblowers have an unfair reputation.Traditionally known as the “snitch”, or the “traitor”, the whistleblower — especially in the corporate services firms — should be rebranded as the “chief executive’s best friend”. We need to change the stigma of the whistleblower. Historically, those who dared to speak up — whether to uncover a persistent culture of [...]
Can learning improv improve your presentation skills? August 25, 2020 Public speaking frequently appears at the top of lists of people’s worst fears, making it even scarier than death. So how can we address this common phobia? Improv could be the answer. After all, improv comedians have learned several techniques to help them own any room and overcome even the most hostile of audiences. Here [...]
The inflation divide: what should investors be doing? August 25, 2020 Currently, inflation is more of an annoyance than the economic tyrant of old. Given the unprecedented stimulus that the global economy has received since the coronavirus crisis hit, the debate is whether these “whatever it takes” financial packages will stoke a sustained period of rising prices. Inflation or deflation? The inflation debate is polarising opinion [...]
