PCR test firm for travel being investigated over results, refunds and service September 3, 2021 One of the UK’s largest and cheapest PCR test companies focussed on travel is under investigation by the competition watchdog over several service failings. Expert Medicals faces allegations that tests and results were not provided in a timely manner, or at all in some cases, bosses failed to respond to complaints and refunds were not [...]
Brexit: Three CAs from across British industry share how their businesses have been affected September 3, 2021 A Brexit deal may have been signed as the clock struck 2021, but many of the finer details are still being ironed out. Ryan Herman speaks to three chartered accountants (CAs) to discover how their businesses have been affected. This article first appeared in ICAS’ CA magazine. Depending on where you stand on Brexit politically, [...]
Tripped up: Competition watchdog to block JD Sports merger with Footasylum September 2, 2021 JD Sports is “perplexed” and “disappointed” after the CMA announced a preliminary decision to block its planned purchase of Footasylum following an appeal. Kip Meek, chair of the group conducting the inquiry, said the deal “would see Footasylum bought by its closest competitor,” which could lead to a worse shopping experience for customers facing higher [...]
Babcock sells off helicopter business for £10m September 1, 2021 Babcock, the British defence and engineering business, has sold off its helicopter operations branch for £10m after purchasing it for £1.6bn in 2014. The Group’s Aviation sector, which is being purchased by CHC group, provides offshore oil and gas crew transportation services in the UK, Denmark and Australia. Babcock said that its divestment from oil [...]
National Grid’s £7.8bn power deal gets green light from competition watchdog September 1, 2021 The UK’s competition watchdog has today given the green light to National Grid’s whopping £7.8bn deal to buy Western Power Distribution (WPD). Based on the information currently available, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had decided not to refer the merger to a phase 2 investigation. Back in March National Grid announced that [...]
UK’s Blue Prism sees shares surge 39 per cent amid takeover discussions September 1, 2021 Blue Prism has been lured into takeover discussions with two US private equity firms sending its share price soaring. Yesterday shares jumped by as much as 38.6 per cent, from lows of GBX837.0 to highs of GBX1,160.0, after the company announced it is in talks with TPG Capital and Vista Equity Partners about possible offers. [...]
UK’s Blue Prism sees shares surge 39 per cent amid takeover discussions : CityAM September 1, 2021 Blue Prism has been lured into takeover discussions with two US private equity firms sending its share price soaring. Yesterday shares jumped by as much as 38.6 per cent, from lows of GBX837.0 to highs of GBX1,160.0, after the company announced it is in talks with TPG Capital and Vista Equity Partners about possible offers. [...]
Shell plans to install 50,000 charging points in the UK by 2025 September 1, 2021 Oil giant Shell has today unveiled plans to install 50,000 electric vehicle charge points on the UK’s streets by 2025 through its Ubitricity subsidiary. The FTSE 100 firm said that it would support local authorities in paying for the installation with special financing terms meaning that some will not have to pay. As the government [...]
South Korea outlaws Google and Apple in-app payment systems August 31, 2021 South Korea’s National Assembly has approved legislation that bans app store operators such as Google and Apple from forcing developers to use their in-app payment systems. South Korea is reportedly the first country in the world to pass such a bill, which becomes law when it is signed by the president, whose party has backed [...]
EU to investigate Nvidia’s $54bn purchase of Arm August 27, 2021 Brussels is preparing to open an investigation into Nvidia’s acquisition of Arm as a result of competition concerns. Nvidia plans to notify the EU of its intention to purchase Cambridge-based technology company Arm in the first week of September. Two sources with detailed information of the process told the Financial Times that when Nvidia officially [...]