Deal or no deal? How coronavirus is impacting M&A March 22, 2020 Deal advisers say they fear the coronavirus crisis could stop M&A in its tracks in the UK, but predict a wave of distressed deals in the coming weeks as struggling businesses are picked up and companies band together to try and ride out the economic shutdown. KPMG’s head of deal advisory in the UK Liz [...]
City of London Corporation asks Square Mile to donate to coronavirus fund March 22, 2020 The City of London Corporation has urged Square Mile firms to donate money to help organisations dealing with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The London Communities Response Fund was set up by the Corporation and the Greater London Authority to provide money for “organisations facing immediate financial pressures and uncertainty because of the coronavirus”. [...]
Coronavirus: FCA urges companies to delay publication of preliminary results March 22, 2020 The City watchdog today urged listed companies to suspend the publication of their interim results for at least two weeks. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said: “The unprecedented events of the last couple of weeks mean that the basis on which companies are reporting and planning is changing rapidly.” It said companies needed to give [...]
Coronavirus: Boris Johnson officially announces quarantine of 1.5m people March 22, 2020 Quarantining 1.5m Britons vulnerable to coronavirus will do “more than any other single measure to save life”, according to Boris Johnson. The Prime Minister has officially unveiled the government’s latest measure to combat Covid-19 at today’s press conference, while also telling people to follow the government’s social distancing advice. The measures will force people over [...]
UK coronavirus: Death toll jumps to 281 March 22, 2020 The coronavirus death toll in the UK has risen to 281 as the number of confirmed cases also jumped. The latest figures from the government showed that a further 47 people had died from the virus. As of 9am this morning, 78,340 people had been tested in the UK, and 5,683 had been confirmed positive. [...]
Only 46 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in China March 22, 2020 China has confirmed 46 new cases of coronavirus today, an increase for the fourth consecutive day. All but one of the reported infections were imported from overseas, mostly by Chinese citizens returning from other countries. 14 of the 46 confirmed cases were in the financial hub of Shanghai, while 13 were in Beijing, the nation’s [...]
Train operators running out of time to renew rail franchises March 22, 2020 Train operators are running short on time to agree new contracts with the government as the coronavirus outbreak continues to drive down passenger numbers. Go Ahead Group and First Group run the Great Western and South Eastern franchises respectively, the contracts for which expire on 31 March. Under the Railways Act, the government will step [...]
Coronavirus: What does the chancellor’s support mean for businesses and employees? March 22, 2020 The Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced an unprecedented package of measures on Friday to support businesses and employers coping with the economic shock of coronavirus. What is available to companies and employees? How do they access this support? And where are the gaps in provision? Coronavirus business interruption loan scheme Focused on smaller businesses with a [...]
Estate agents urge government to extend coronavirus support March 22, 2020 Estate agents have urged the government to protect the industry as house viewings drop and sales activity slows due to coronavirus. The sector has called for the government to extend the business rates holiday, which applies to retail and hospitality firms, to estate agent companies. The UK’s housing market looked set to bounce back this [...]
Coronavirus: British Olympic champion Callum Skinner calls on the International Olympic Committee to postpone the Tokyo Olympics March 22, 2020 Former British Olympic champion cyclist Callum Skinner has accused the International Olympic Committee of “arrogance and stubbornness” in their stance on this summer’s Games. The IOC is still planning to hold the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games between 24 July and 9 August and the Paralympics from 25 August to 6 September, despite the global coronavirus [...]
