Marks & Spencer is in a pay row with staff and could be axing 500 jobs. Is it time to split the retailer in two? September 5, 2016 Marks & Spencer’s famous adverts (“These are not just potatoes, these are pan-shaken ready-to-roast extra-crispy King Edward potatoes…”) may have stayed ripe for mockery for over a decade, but between our guffaws lies a reluctant acceptance that the branding is absolutely spot on. M&S food halls have been a roaring success, especially among the millions of Brits [...]
The chancellor’s fiscal reset is a golden opportunity to slash living costs through tax cuts and planning reform September 5, 2016 Philip Hammond recently said that he may use the Autumn Statement to “reset” fiscal policy. That is a welcome sentiment because it suggests the chancellor sees before him a golden opportunity to transform the tax system. With Parliament returning, we are likely to see the government start to formulate and publicise more detailed economic policy [...]
Royal London attacks Sports Direct over corporate governance issues ahead of AGM September 4, 2016 Two major investment firms are set to join a revolt against Sports Direct’s corporate governance at a crunch AGM on Wednesday. Royal London and Hermes will vote against several board appointments. Royal London Asset Management, which owns a £2.75m stake in the retailer, also pushed Sports Direct to commission an independent external review into its working practices. The [...]
Gatwick Airport runway closed after “hole” discovered September 4, 2016 Gatwick Airport was forced to close its main runway this evening after it discovered a "hole" on the tarmac, causing diversions and delays for thousands of passengers. A small number of flights were diverted to Heathrow, it is believed, while other passenger reported their flights had been diverted to Southampton and Stansted. Other aircraft were stuck circling the skies [...]
American Formula One takeover edges closer but subject to European Commission sign-off September 4, 2016 The eagerly-anticipated sale of Formula One to Liberty Media will need to navigate a series of tight chicanes including potential scrutiny by the European Commission (EC). Private equity fund CVC is putting the final touches to a $9.1bn (£6.8bn) deal that will see the American media giant take full control of Formula One . Fox media mogul Chase [...]
Marks & Spencer set to axe 500 jobs at head office in London September 3, 2016 Marks & Spencer is set to axe around 500 jobs at its head office in London. The cull of around 15 per cent of roles is expected to be announced next Thursday. Sky News first reported that more than half of the cuts will affect contractors. Read more: M&S pay row: New offer for workers – [...]
Inmarsat places $650m bond but isn’t planning to splash the cash September 1, 2016 Satellite company Inmarsat reached for the sky and succeeded as it successfully placed $650m of convertible debt. The placing was $50m more than the original deal size and Inmarsat said it reflected the “considerable demand” for the bonds which have a maturity that stretches out to 2023. “It was a popular placing that was oversubscribed [...]
PCP Capital Partners alleges Barclays loaned $3bn (£2.3bn) to Qatar to fund purchase of bank’s shares September 1, 2016 An investor is alleging Barclays handed Qatar a $3bn (£2.3bn) loan so it could purchase the bank's shares. PCP Capital Partners has filed documents containing the allegation at the High Court. According to documents seen by Sky News, which first reported the story today, the alleged loan was made in 2008, at a time when the [...]
These are the best big media companies to work for, as rated by employees September 1, 2016 Channel 4 and Immediate Media, home of the Radio Times, Top Gear and Horrible Histories magazines, have been named as the best big media employers in the UK. Online jobs and workplace reviews platform Glassdoor has compiled a list of the large media companies rated best by their own employees. Read more: Vice founder predicts [...]
Chris Froome roars back into second place in Vuelta a Espana by pipping race leader Nairo Quintana to stage win August 31, 2016 Britain’s Chris Froome insists he is relishing his duel with Nairo Quintana after he chipped away at the Colombian’s Vuelta a Espana lead with victory in stage 11. Tour de France winner Froome pipped Quintana in a sprint finish to climb to second in the general classification after the rivals went it alone over the [...]