Brussels clears Comcast bid for Sky June 15, 2018 The European Commission has approved Comcast’s bid for Sky, turning up the heat in the battle with 21st Century Fox for the broadcaster. Brussels authorities said that the proposed merger raised no competition concerns in Europe. “The commission found that the proposed transaction would lead to only a limited increase in Sky’s existing share of [...]
Competition watchdog flags concerns over media intelligence merger between Nielsen and Ebiquity June 13, 2018 The proposed merger of marketing consultancies Ebiquity and Nielsen has sparked concerns from the competition watchdog. Nielsen and Ebiquity monitor the advertising habits of companies and are the only suppliers of this intelligence across the UK media. Ebiquity announced in February that it wanted to sell its advertising division to Nielsen. The Competition and Markets [...]
Don’t get caught up in your mortgage lender’s game of Space Invaders June 13, 2018 You might be familiar with Space Invaders – the computer game where you have to shoot aliens. According to UK Finance, that retro 70s game resembles the challenge that lenders face in the interest-only mortgage market. That is, once lenders have recouped cash from the easy targets (or borrowers), they then have to take [...]
WeBuyAnyCar owner BCA Marketplace rejects £1.6bn takeover offer from private equity firm Apax Partners June 11, 2018 BCA Marketplace, the owner of WeBuyAnyCar, announced today that the board had decided to reject the takeover offer from the private equity firm Apax Partners. On 9 May, the company received a bid from Apax for a cash takeover of £1.6bn, in a 200p per share offer. Since rejecting the offer, no new proposal has [...]
City watchdog Andrew Bailey defends controversial rules to clear way for Saudi Aramco London listing June 11, 2018 The top financial watchdog has split the City with controversial changes to listing rules which could allow Saudi Aramco to list in London, but Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) boss Andrew Bailey insists the reforms will raise standards. From July the regulator will create a new category with less strict requirements within its “premium” rules for [...]
Revolut wants to be the next Robinhood, promising commission-free stock trading as it hits 2m users June 7, 2018 Challenger banking app Revolut has reached 2m registered users, as it prepares to launch a commission-free stock trading feature and pushes back its journey across the pond. The new feature will allow users to explore and invest in UK and US listed companies, as well as other instruments such as exchange traded funds and options. [...]
Inconsistent and erratic regulators risk stifling our thriving vaping industry June 7, 2018 Independent vaping companies, free from ownership or control by the tobacco or pharmaceutical industries, make up 90 per cent of what is one of the fastest growing industries in Britain. UK vaping businesses are known globally for their innovation and product stewardship, and locally, independent vape shops are one of the few areas of positive [...]
Culture minister Matt Hancock confirms Sky-Fox deal can proceed as long as Sky News is divested June 5, 2018 Culture secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed that the Sky-Fox merger can go ahead, as long as Sky News is divested to Disney or another firm. If an “acceptable form of remedy” can be found, the minister said he would wave it through. Hancock said he agreed with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that there [...]
Culture minister Matt Hancock confirms Sky-Fox deal can proceed as long as Sky News is divested June 5, 2018 Culture secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed that the Sky-Fox merger can go ahead, as long as Sky News is divested to Disney or another firm. If an "acceptable form of remedy" can be found, the minister said he would wave it through. Hancock said he agreed with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that there [...]
Last Week in the City: Stiff competition in funerals? June 1, 2018 Garry White, chief investment commentator, looks at the market-moving events that have shaped the UK equity markets this week (28 May to 1 June 2018). Shares in listed funeral director Dignity slumped after the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it will examine the pre-paid funeral sector, a move that could see tougher regulation. [...]