Ready for a Brexit? Most businesses are not, but financial services firms are ahead of the game May 9, 2016 People up and down the country may be preparing themselves to vote at the EU referendum next month, but a study out today suggests that businesses might not be ready for the result. The research by law firm Pinsent Masons found that just a quarter (26 per cent) of senior decision makers from businesses across [...]
MPs kick off probe into BHS fiasco May 8, 2016 MPs will turn up the heat on Monday on past and present owners of BHS, including Sir Philip Green, when they begin in-depth inquiries into the collapse of the high street retailer. The initial focus of the investigations by two powerful select committees will be on the firm's worrying pensions situation. The defined benefit pension at [...]
In another week full of AGMs, there could be more naysaying from shareholders on executive pay May 8, 2016 Ahead of another full week for AGMs, a leading shareholder advisory group has recommended saying no on a number of resolutions at various companies, including Greggs. Pensions & Investment Research Consultants (Pirc) has advised shareholders not to roll over on the remuneration report at the baker's AGM on Tuesday. While the group acknowledged that the [...]
Tabernula case jury told no unanimous verdicts needed May 8, 2016 The jury members on a long-running insider trading case were told late last week that they need not reach their verdicts unanimously. The jury on the case, nicknamed Tabernula after the Financial Services Authority and Serious Organised Crime Agency operation which prompted it, has been told that it may give its verdicts with 11 to one or 10 [...]
Panama Papers: Here’s what you need to know ahead of the database release on Monday May 8, 2016 A database packed with information from the Panama Papers leak is due to be released tomorrow, providing authorities worldwide with potentially valuable leads for their investigations. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) announced that it would be launching the searchable database about a fortnight ago and wrote in a blog post that the database will contain information [...]
Northern Ireland election results: The seats are starting to fill up… May 6, 2016 The seats are starting to be filled for the Northern Ireland assembly, with 12 of 108 being declared at time of writing. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has so far secured four seats, but lost 2.8 per cent of the vote. Sinn Fein has also so far earned four seats, although it has lost 3.3 per cent of [...]
Here’s what David Cameron had to say about the SNP today May 6, 2016 It's nice to know that, as busy as politicians must be today, they still have time for a natter on the phone. One such natter this morning involved Prime Minister David Cameron and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. A Downing Street spokesperson said: The Prime Minister telephoned Nicola Sturgeon today, following the election results confirmed in Scotland [...]
Housebuilders have their doubts about government targets May 6, 2016 When the government revealed its target to build one million homes by 2020, plenty of those dreaming of stepping onto the property ladder must have rejoiced. However, a study out today warns that they might have celebrated too soon, as over half (51 per cent) housebuilders believe that the target will not be met, with lack of land, painfully [...]
Meet Toshiba’s new chief executive, assuming he gets the thumbs up from shareholders May 6, 2016 Toshiba has today nominated Satoshi Tsunakawa to take over as president and chief executive officer, subject to approval at a board meeting following a shareholders meeting in late June. Toshiba has been involved in an accountancy scandal in recent years, which involved the company's profits being wrongly bumped up by over 150bn yen (£966m) over a seven-year period. The [...]
How the US passport rule changes affect you, and what you can do about it May 6, 2016 While we were all preoccupied by the elections – both over here and across the pond – the US government only went and made a crucial change to its passport rules. As of 1 April 2016, those travelling from the UK to the US who don't want to apply for a visa because they'll only [...]
