The EIS-y hall of fame: Four companies that wouldn’t have existed without the Enterprise Investment Scheme February 26, 2020 While EIS and SEIS offer meaningful tax advantages to investors, it’s important to remember that their main function is to help kickstart new businesses and ventures. As the independent trade body for the EIS and SEIS industry, our core aim at the EIS Association is to help small and medium-sized enterprises obtain the funding that [...]
Prime Minister announces foreign policy “overhaul” in biggest review since Cold War February 25, 2020 Boris Johnson will today launch a fresh review into Britain’s foreign and defence policy, as he seeks to redefine the nation’s national security position post-Brexit. The Integrated Review, which will look into the UK’s foreign, defence, security and development policies, is set to be the largest government-led review since the end of the Cold War. It [...]
Breaking: Disney chief executive quits February 25, 2020 Disney’s chief executive has stepped down with immediate effect and been replaced by the head of its theme parks division, as the entertainment giant pivots towards streaming. The world’s largest media company late last night made the unexpected announcement that chief executive officer (CEO) Bob Iger has resigned after 15 years at the helm. Bob [...]
Tesco exits China with £275m stake sale February 25, 2020 Tesco has sold its 20 per cent share in its China joint venture for £275m as it nears a potential deal for its Thailand and Malaysia businesses. The supermarket giant announced this morning that it has offloaded its stake in Gain Land – which was established in 2014 – to a subsidiary of its joint [...]
Is the SFO giving executives an easy ride in bribery cases? February 25, 2020 The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has developed a lucrative model of targeting large companies in bribery and corruption cases, striking a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) to suspend criminal charges and extracting a sizeable financial penalty. Last month, the SFO agreed a €991m (£831m) DPA with planemaker Airbus as part of a €3.6bn deal with prosecutors [...]
East African states strive for single capital market as Mauritius diversifies February 25, 2020 CFA Institute has examined Africa’s 10 largest capital markets in a major report compiled by Heidi Raubenheimer, CFA, our senior director for journal publications. Here we highlight key developments across East Africa and also take a look at island nation Mauritius. East Africa: Kenya leads way as tech platform links markets The East African Community (EAC) [...]
Prudential faces break up calls from Dan Loeb’s Third Point February 25, 2020 Hedge fund manager Dan Loeb has called for the breakup of insurance company Prudential after taking a near $2bn (£1.5bn) stake. Loeb’s New-York based investment firm Third Point has built a five per cent stake in the insurance firm and is now pushing for it to separate its Asian and US operations. It comes just [...]
DEBATE: Does the ‘royal’ brand hold any cachet anyway? February 25, 2020 Harry and Meghan have dropped the word ‘royal’, but does the brand hold any cachet anyway? Max Ottignon, co-founder of branding agency Ragged Edge, says YES. There’s a huge amount of value in the royal brand. It comes with a rich legacy, one that has been carefully curated and protected over time. And it carries [...]
Bank of England’s Andy Haldane suggests overhaul of corporate governance laws February 24, 2020 The chief economist of the Bank of England has suggested Britain should make “legislative change” to shift corporate governance rules away from a sole focus on shareholders to instead consider consumers, workers and social goals. Andy Haldane also said Britain needs a “rethink” about its banking sector, suggesting that regional, development and infrastructure banks could [...]
Sadiq Khan’s budget lays out path for East Bank development February 24, 2020 City Hall yesterday confirmed its plans to spend £437.5m over the next five years to fund a new culture and education hub across the Stratford waterfront. The £1.1bn East Bank development will be the home of a new Sadler’s Wells theatre, BBC music studios, a new Victoria and Albert Museum museum and campuses for University [...]