Grave concerns prompt watchdog intervention on pre-paid funeral plans March 2, 2021 The City regulator has launched a consultation on how it plans to regulate the pre-paid funeral plans sector, which has faced criticism from the media and consumer groups. Under its remit, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) intends to ensure the products meet the individual needs to consumers, the plans are sold fairly and the price [...]
Ebay and Adevinta sell British units to secure CMA approval March 2, 2021 Ebay and Adevinta have announced plans to divest three smaller British units, including Gumtree, in a bid to secure regulatory approval for their merger. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) last month said the two companies would have to resolve their concerns before proceeding with the $9.2bn tie-up. As a result the companies have set [...]
Will pressure on Chinese tech firms spark renewed interest in value stocks? February 26, 2021 The flotation of Ant Group in December last year was supposed to be a landmark event. The initial public offering (IPO) was set to raise $37 billion, valuing Ant at over $313 billion and making it the biggest IPO ever. It was due to list in Hong Kong and Shanghai, rather than having a US [...]
Kalifa Review: Others waiting for UK fintech’s ‘crown to slip’ February 26, 2021 The head of the much-awaited government-backed review into the fintech industry has warned the UK risks falling behind if recommendations aren’t quickly implemented. Former head of payments firm Worldpay Ron Kalifa led the review published today which sets out plans to capitalise on the growing fintech industry. The scope of the review is large, ranging [...]
O2’s £31bn Virgin Media merger ‘will help UK pandemic recovery’, says CEO February 25, 2021 O2’s proposed £31bn tie-up with Virgin Media will accelerate investment in telecoms infrastructure and bolster the UK’s post-pandemic recovery, the mobile network’s boss has said. The mega-merger, agreed last year by O2 owner Telefonica and Virgin Media parent Liberty Global, is facing an in-depth probe by regulators amid concerns it could harm competition. But O2 [...]
Why are UK mid caps in such an M&A sweetspot right now? February 22, 2021 It would be difficult to miss the fact that UK mid cap companies are attracting a renewed level of bid interest at present. So much so that, every morning, when I log in to my virtual workplace, I am mentally preparing myself to see a new headline about the next one to be bid for. [...]
Will London’s budding cannabis market turn the EU green with envy? February 18, 2021 One after the other, medical cannabis companies are listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), and investors are piling in cash, keen to be early investors in what they hope will become a major industry in the UK. It is an exciting time for the medicinal cannabis industry. In September, City regulator the Financial Conduct [...]
Dr Ben Goertzel: The crusade against the oligopolies February 18, 2021 SingularityNET CEO Dr Ben Goertzel explains how, once AGI is achieved, it must not fall into the hands of individuals with their own agendas.
Competition watchdog raises concerns over £6.5bn Gumtree takeover February 16, 2021 The competition watchdog has raised concerns over the £6.5bn takeover of Gumtree by Norwegian rival Adevinta, warning it could push up prices and reduce choice for consumers. In July Adevinta struck a cash and stock deal with Ebay that would create the world’s largest online classified ads business. The merger would bring together advertising platforms [...]
Government report calls for regulations bonfire to give UK a ‘post-Brexit dividend’ February 16, 2021 The UK should slash regulation and overhaul the competitions authority to give the economy a post-Brexit boost, according to a report commissioned by the government. The report, written by Tory MP John Penrose, calls for the government to create a “Brexit dividend” by “replacing bureaucratic EU rules with modern, digital equivalents”. Penrose’s report, commissioned by [...]