Thomas Cook goes bust: How did it end up like this? September 23, 2019 Britain’s 178-year-old travel firm Thomas Cook officially collapsed into administration in the early hours of this morning after last-ditch rescue talks with lenders failed. The UK’s aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), is now in the process of escorting back home hundreds of thousands British holidaymakers who are abroad after booking with Thomas Cook. [...]
How Kapten is trying to take Uber’s ride-hailing crown September 23, 2019 Uber has an image problem. The ride-hailing app’s popularity has declined on complaints that its drivers are contributing to congestion and pollution on London’s streets. Uber took a big PR hit last year when Transport for London (TfL) took away its operating licence due to issues with the company’s approach to safety and regulation. The [...]
Why M&S’ relegation from the FTSE 100 doesn’t mean the death of the High Street September 20, 2019 Marks and Spencer (M&S) is set to be relegated from the FTSE 100 after the close of business today. This will be the first time that the company has lost its blue chip status. The UK retailer was a founder member of the FTSE 100 and a stalwart of the UK High Street. But its [...]
Watchdog probes West Coast rail franchise award to First Group and Trenitalia September 20, 2019 Britain’s competition watchdog has said it is investigating the award of the West Coast partnership to First Group and Trenitalia. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking at whether the joint operation could lead to “a substantial lessening of competition within any market”. Read more: Saga profits slump The CMA is inviting comments on [...]
Watchdog warns JD Sports’ £90m Footasylum merger could hurt competition September 19, 2019 The UK’s competition watchdog has warned that JD Sports’ £90m move for rival Footasylum may hurt competition on the high street, referring it for a deeper investigation. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will begin a second phase of scrutiny into the acquisition. Read more: Government intervenes in £4bn Cobham takeover on national security grounds [...]
Government intervenes in £4bn Cobham takeover over national security concerns September 18, 2019 The government has hauled in the £4bn foreign takeover of aerospace giant Cobham on national security grounds, it said today. Business secretary Andrea Leadsom issued a European intervention notice yesterday to scrutinise US private equity giant Advent International’s huge offer for the British company. Read more: Cobham investors give green light to £4bn private equity [...]
Government drops probe into Saudi investments in Evening Standard and Independent September 16, 2019 The government has decided not to pursue a probe into Saudi investments in the Evening Standard and the Independent, despite concerns they could harm freedom of expression. Culture secretary Nicky Morgan today said she will not appeal a court ruling that blocked the government from forcing a full public interest inquiry. Read more: Independent and [...]
PwC partner profits jump to £765,000 despite criticism for poor quality of audit work September 16, 2019 Partner profits at PwC UK increased 7.4 per cent to £765,000 this year, despite the firm receiving a dressing down from the regulator for the decline in the quality of its audit work. Profit for the year to 30 June increased to £1.016bn, up from £935m the previous year. Revenue leapt 12 per cent to [...]
Overlapping UK and EU regulations post-Brexit would hurt markets, FCA warns September 16, 2019 The head of the UK’s financial regulator has warned that overlaps between UK and EU share trading regulations post-Brexit would damage markets “to no good end”. Brussels has warned that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, EU investment firms must trade euro-denominated shares within the bloc – many of which are currently traded in [...]
Senior KPMG restructuring partners set for 25 per cent pay rise to stave-off break up September 15, 2019 Senior partners in KPMG’s restructuring division have received a 25 per cent pay rise as the accountancy giant tries to prevent a potential break-up, it was reported this weekend. The Big Four accountancy firm, which has been involved in high-profile business failures, including the collapse of outsourcer Carillion in January 2018, had been holding talks [...]