New Look slapped with fresh downgrade as Moody’s casts doubt over restructuring plan January 17, 2019 Moody’s, the influential ratings agency, has downgraded New Look’s senior secured notes rating, just days after the retailer unveiled a restructuring deal aimed at cutting its debts by £1bn. On Monday, New Look agreed a debt-for-equity swap proposal to reduce debt from £1.35bn to £350m, and also announced a £150m capital raise through the issuing [...]
Government plans ‘make a nonsense’ of tackling gender pay gap, says senior MP January 17, 2019 The government has been accused of dragging its feet over the gender pay gap after refusing to adopt MPs’ recommendations for tackling unequal pay. Rachel Reeves, chair of the influential Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis) Select Committee, said the government’s stance on reporting pay disparities would “make a nonsense” of efforts to close the [...]
Patisserie Valerie exodus continues as deputy chairman steps down January 17, 2019 Patisserie Valerie has been burned further this morning by the walkout of its deputy chairman. Lee Ginsberg – a non-executive director at the beleaguered cafe chain, which is caught in a devastating alleged fraud – would resign with immediate effect, the company said in an update. Ginsberg had been chair of the audit committee at [...]
City Moves for 16 January – who’s switching jobs at Orchard Street, Crowell & Moring and Stephens Rickard? January 16, 2019 Who’s switching jobs today? Orchard Street Orchard Street Investment Management, the specialist commercial property investment manager, announces the expansion of its leadership team with the promotion of Tom Chadwick to partner. Tom joined Orchard Street in 2014 as investment transactions manager following a successful six-year track record at Aviva Investors, where he started his career [...]
Greggs’ vegan sausage rolls rise to the occasion perfectly January 15, 2019 The retail industry has had a difficult time recently but shares in high street bakery Greggs have bucked the trend and hit an all-time high, thanks to some ingenious and topical marketing. Greggs used social media and publicity stunts to boost awareness in the brand during its launch of a vegan sausage roll – a [...]
Experts pour cold water on CMA’s proposals for joint audits in first Beis committee hearing January 15, 2019 Audit academics and investment managers have called for caution over recommendations by the competition regulator to shake-up the audit sector. During the first in a series of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee hearings, held today, witnesses warned that the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) recommendation could risk unintended consequences for auditing. Led by [...]
City moves for 15 January – who’s switching jobs at Leathwaite, Blend Network and Quantexa? January 15, 2019 Who’s on the move? Leathwaite Leathwaite, the global human capital specialist firm, announces that Dena Brumpton is to join its board as a non-executive director. With over 30 years’ experience as a senior financial services professional, most recently as chief executive for Barclays savings, investments and wealth management, Dena Brumpton is regarded as one of the [...]
Off road: Is the car industry in reverse? January 14, 2019 The automotive industry faces recession and decline. Driverless cars are on the horizon, but has the moment for motors already passed? The first Model T Ford rolled off the production line in 1908. Available in “any colour… so long as it is black”, in the words of magnate Henry Ford, the car marked a breakthrough [...]
City moves for 14 January – who’s switching jobs at Robeco, Greenberg Traurig and Aminex? January 14, 2019 Who’s moving roles today? Robeco Robeco, the pure-play international asset manager, has appointed two senior members to its global fixed income macro team. Jamie Stuttard joined the team as co-head of the global fixed income macro team and fixed income strategist. Regina Borromeo (pictured) joined the team as portfolio manager. Jamie will co-manage Robeco’s global total [...]
HMRC claims its online tax evasion crackdown has clawed back £200m January 11, 2019 The government claims to have recovered more than £200m of lost VAT from overseas sellers since gaining new powers, saying its crackdown on online tax evasion is paying off. HMRC has issued over 4,600 ‘red flag’ notices to online marketplaces such as Amazon and Ebay since 2016. The flags, called Joint and Several Liability (JSL) [...]