Coronavirus: UK banks expect surge of business loan defaults April 16, 2020 The UK’s banks and building societies expect to see a surge of businesses defaulting on their loans in the coming months, survey data has shown, as coronavirus sends the economy into a deep recession. Small businesses are expected to be the worst hit, with expectations of defaults hitting their highest since the financial crisis for [...]
Easyjet raises £1.9bn but faces £380m coronavirus loss April 16, 2020 Budget airline Easyjet said today that it had has raised £1.8bn-£1.9bn in extra cash to help it survive the shutdown caused by the coronavirus epidemic. But it could face first-half losses of up to £380m due to travel bans associated with the coronavirus lockdown, it warned. The airline said today that it had signed two [...]
Dunelm boss takes 90 per cent pay cut as retailer seeks coronavirus loan April 16, 2020 The chief executive of Dunelm will take a 90 per cent pay cut, the homeware retailer announced this morning as it confirmed it is eligible for a coronavirus loan. Chief executive Nick Wilkinson will be paid 10 per cent of his salary for at least three months, while chairman Andy Harrison and other non-executive directors [...]
Insurer Hastings to pay dividend despite Bank of England warning April 15, 2020 Hastings said today it would go ahead with its planned dividend despite a warning from the Bank of England to the insurance industry to think carefully before paying out cash to shareholders. Car insurer Hastings said it did not offer any lines affected by coronavirus such as travel or business interruption insurance. Hastings also said [...]
FCA warns insurers to cough up on coronavirus payouts April 15, 2020 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today urged insurers to pay out for business interruption claims that covered a coronavirus shutdown. In a letter to insurance bosses, the FCA’s interim chief executive Chris Woolard warned the watchdog would be carefully scrutinising the industry’s treatment of customers. The FCA said most business interruption policies did not cover [...]
The City View from City A.M. with Dame Helena Morrissey April 14, 2020 Join Christian May, City A.M.’s Editor in Chief, for The City View – the daily podcast from City A.M. Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS On each edition of The City View podcast, Christian will discuss the most important business and finance stories of the day before introducing a [...]
National Express pulls dividend and secures £800m in new cash facilities April 14, 2020 Transport group National Express said today it was scrapping its dividend and keeping future dividends under review as it said it had secured £800m in new cash facilities. National Express said that two of its workers had died of coronavirus globally and that other members of staff were suffering from the virus. The company said [...]
Coronavirus: If we get it right, there are grounds for optimism for SMEs April 10, 2020 The Government have acted promptly and in scale to address the unprecedented crisis we face. In addition to the schemes to protect jobs and certain hard-hit sectors, such as hospitality, some of the schemes are intended for distribution through the banks. These include: Coronavirus Commercial Financing Facility (CCFF) where the Bank of England buys debt [...]
Dominic Raab: Still ‘too early’ to lift lockdown restrictions April 9, 2020 The government has said that it is still too early to lift lockdown restrictions across the UK, urging people again not to travel over the Easter bank holiday weekend. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for Boris Johnson while the prime minister remains in intensive care, said that although the early signs were that [...]
Coronavirus: Redrow secures £300m facility through BoE’s emergency scheme April 9, 2020 Housebuilder Redrow has secured a £300m lending facility under the Bank of England’s emergency coronavirus financing scheme. The developer, which has furloughed 80 per cent of its staff using the job retention scheme, is also in talks to extend its existing revolving credit facility by £100m to £350m. Redrow said this morning that it expects [...]