Thames have changed: CEOs going green will reap the benefits January 26, 2021 WHEN Paul Polman drank a glass of water drawn from the murky River Thames a decade ago the Dutchman could hardly have imagined how many of his peers would follow suit. Not by matching his dubious consumption, but by attempting to generate more from the companies they run than profit alone. Polman’s stunt took place in November [...]
Bumper year for private equity as deals soar 257 per cent January 26, 2021 The number of UK listed companies taken private by private equity firms jumped from seven to 25 in private equity boom year. The total value of UK listed companies taken private by private equity firms increased from £2.3bn to £21.1bn in 12 months to 30 September 2020, research compiled by BDO has found. The audit [...]
Going digital? Hold up – hybrid events will be the future January 26, 2021 In recent years, much of the technologically-minded business community has decamped to the windowless, air-conditioned rooms of Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show. Despite being the showcase for all things digital – from autonomous vehicles to intelligent fridges – it has always been a distinctly physical event. And while many complained of being [...]
The nascent UK cryptoassets industry – Post-brexit opportunity? January 25, 2021 The start of 2021 heralded new rules governing the relationship between the UK and EU. While the scope for cross-border financial services provision between the UK and the EU still remain unclear in the final hour Brexit deal, it seems likely that regulatory “equivalence” will continue for most areas of traditional financial services (e.g. including [...]
UK set to wrap up New Zealand trade deal before Easter January 25, 2021 The UK is reportedly just weeks away from closing a free trade deal with New Zealand that will see tariffs slashed on wine, gin and cars. The third formal round of trade talks begin today, with UK negotiators confident the terms of the deal can be agreed before Easter. The Sun reports the deal will [...]
Thames freeport proposal gains weight with new partnership January 25, 2021 A proposal to develop a new freeport zone on the Thames Estuary has been bolstered today by the proposed inclusion of the 700-acre Thames Enterprise Park. The new partner will expand the current freeport proposal, which comprises the ports of Tilbury and Thames Gateway, as well as Ford’s Dagenham plant, by 70 per cent. The [...]
TP ICAP loses full EU rights as pandemic disrupts move to French office January 25, 2021 British broker TP ICAP has revealed that it cannot currently serve some European Union clients because Covid-19 has delayed completion of its new Brexit hub in Paris. TP ICAP said that regulators would allow it to continue serving customers from London while it finished preparations in France after the UK’s EU departure concluded. The EU [...]
Believe it or not, post-Brexit VAT doesn’t have to be taxing January 23, 2021 The free trade deal signed by the UK and the EU was supposed to herald a new dawn in the relationship between the two sides. The Free Trade Agreement and the UK’s exit were intended to give us control of our borders, money and laws and therefore promote a dynamism in this country which was [...]
Car industry straps in for rough ride in 2021 January 23, 2021 2020 was one of the worst years the UK car industry has ever experienced, with shuttered factories and closed showrooms due to Covid-19 leading to a record slump in production and sales. But barring a disaster on the same scale, the industry is confident that it will begin to recover this year, even though the [...]
Brexit friction should spark new ideas for retail exports January 23, 2021 Many retailers received a welcome boost during the Covid-19 crisis with a rise in online orders from international markets, but with exports to EU member states facing teething problems in the form of higher costs and processing delays, now’s the time for retailers to broaden their reach and tap into new markets further afield. Research [...]