Ryanair share price jumps as profit soars following new customer service programme May 26, 2015 Ryanair's share price soared this morning as it celebrated its 30th birthday with a 66 per cent increase in net profit for the year – beating analysts' expectations. The figures The low-cost carrier reported net profit of €867m (£614m) in the 12 months ended March 31 from €523m at the same period last year. Revenue rose more steadily [...]
Malone-backed Charter swoops for Time Warner May 25, 2015 John Malone-backed cable group Charter is poised to win the race to snap up media giant Time Warner in a $55.1bn deal to create America’s second largest cable and broadcasting company. The billionaire executive, who chairs Liberty Global, has helped engineer a $195 a share stock and cash deal for Time Warner. The takeover, which [...]
Choice, transparency and M&A: FCA outlines terms for investment banking probe May 22, 2015 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) says it will focus on wide-ranging subjects when it launches a study into the investment and corporate banking market. In a statement today, the FCA said its investigation, which will build on a wholesale sector competition review published in February, will look at "choice, transparency, bundling and cross-subsidisation in debt [...]
CMA updates the market on banking review May 21, 2015 THE COMPETITION and Markets Authority (CMA) will focus on difficulties customers face when trying to switch personal and business current accounts in its banking market investigation. The government body yesterday provided an update on its inquiry so far, and said it was focusing on three specific areas, the first being a look at the problems [...]
How energy subsidies are teaching the EU an invaluable lesson in competition May 20, 2015 Of all the functions performed by the EU, competition policy is arguably the most important – and where it could stand to do the most good. Unfortunately, many of the Commission’s attempts at trust-busting have been misguided. Last month, for instance, its authorities issued formal charges against Google. And last week, we found out that [...]
US officials hand down multi-billion forex-rigging fine to UBS, JPMorgan, RBS, Citicorp and Barclays May 20, 2015 US officials have confirmed the multi-billion-dollar bill being paid by five of the world's biggest banks for their involvement in the forex-rigging scandal. JPMorgan Chase, Royal Bank of Scotland, Citicorp and Barclays will plead guilty to US criminal charges, paying a total of $5.6bn to settle the allegations that date back to 2007. UBS is [...]
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary to seek CMA damages as Irish government gets green light May 17, 2015 Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary was fighting a rearguard battle with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over the weekend as he sought to maintain his firm’s stake in Aer Lingus. The threat from O’Leary to seek damages from the regulator, made in the Telegraph, is the latest salvo in the long-running dispute. O’Leary has maintained [...]
Greene King and Spirit deal gets amber light from market regulator May 11, 2015 The Competition and Markets authority (CMA) yesterday gave pub company Greene King and Spirit a week to sort out hurdles that could halt their planned £774m merger. The authority said the current proposal would “substantially” lessen competition in the pubs sector. However, it pointed to difficulties in only 16 locations, which is small considering that [...]
Poundland agrees to probe by authorities into 99p Stores deal May 6, 2015 POUNDLAND said yesterday it has agreed to proceed with a full-scale investigation by the competition watchdog over its proposed £55m tie-up with 99p Stores. The bargain chain said last month that it was considering whether to continue to pursue the deal or walk away after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) raise concerns over 92 [...]
Poundland brings forward competition probe into 99p Stores deal May 6, 2015 Bargain store Poundland has bought forward a competition probe into its offer to buy rival 99p Stores for £55m. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) previously said the tie-up could create "a realistic prospect of less competition" in 80 local areas – and an additional 12 areas where they will be competitors in the near future. It said [...]