Challenger banks concerned Brexit has put creating a more even playing field on the backburner December 13, 2016 The UK's smaller lenders are concerned the government is delaying levelling the playing field for banking as key figures are too tied up navigating Brexit. Shortly after the Brexit vote, a number of challenger chief executives wrote to the influential Treasury Select Committee to ask them to push for creating a fairer market for lenders. This [...]
Challengers lambast competition watchdog’s report for focussing on technology and ignoring red tape issues August 10, 2016 Challenger banks have lambasted the competition watchdog for squandering a rare opportunity for change in a sector dominated by larger players. Many of the UK’s up-and-coming lenders were disappointed that yesterday’s final report from the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) retail banking investigation focused more on using technology to disrupt the sector than on tearing down some of the [...]
Legal eagles not impressed with average price suggestions August 25, 2016 The professional body for solicitors has today slammed calls for firms to publish their average costs. Last week, the Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP) responded to the interim Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) report into the legal services market and suggested red tape should be introduced to make publishing average fees mandatory. Although noting the Society wanted to improve [...]
Ladbrokes Coral could be in line to table a £2bn bid for Australian betting company Tabcorp November 27, 2016 Ladbrokes Coral Group could be in line to launch a bid for Australian betting company Tabcorp, in a deal worth over £2bn. Advisers for the bid have been hired, according to reports in the Mail on Sunday. Ladbrokes Coral Group declined to comment. Tabcorp, which reported a market capitalisation of AU$3.8 (around £2.3bn) in its [...]
Political opposition to Murdoch takeover of Sky mounts December 10, 2016 Former Labour leader Ed Miliband, former business secretary Vince Cable and influential campaign group Hacked Off have all voiced their opposition to the possibility of a 21st Century Fox takeover of Sky. Although media analysts appear to believe the deal is unlikely to be blocked by regulators, the news has attracted a number of objections in the [...]
Why challenger banks see Brexit as an opportunity July 20, 2016 A group of challenger banks has written to the Treasury select committee to shine a light on the opportunity Brexit brings to cut banking red tape. The letter, which is signed by the chief executives of Aldermore, Charter Savings, Hampden and Co, Metro Bank, OneSavings Bank, Secure Trust Bank and Shawbrook, is dated 30 June. However, [...]
Acadia takeover of healthcare group Priory set for UK competition probe July 14, 2016 The takeover of UK-based Priory Group by US healthcare group Acadia has been referred for an in-depth investigation to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Acadia, an operator of psychiatric hospitals, announced the takeover deal for Priory, which is known for its celebrity rehab patients, in January. The companies said the deal will consist of shares and cash, [...]
Barclays is selling its Irish insurance unit, as it continues to ditch its non-core business November 8, 2016 Barclays announced today it has agreed to sell its Irish insurance business, marking the latest step in a long journey to scale back its non-core business. The bank will sell Barclays Insurance (Dublin) Designated Activity Company and Barclays Assurance (Dublin) Designated Activity Company to Monument Re for an undisclosed sum and the deal is expected to [...]
Santander returns to negotiating table for RBS’ Williams & Glyn November 7, 2016 Santander has had a change of heart about Royal Bank of Scotland's Williams & Glyn, tabling a new bid for the bank. RBS has been told to divest of its interest in Williams & Glyn, and its more than 300-strong branch network, by the end of 2017 as part of its £45bn state bailout deal. Now, [...]
Meet Masthaven: The latest challenger bank on the scene November 28, 2016 Masthaven has become the latest challenger bank on the scene, as it officially opens for business today. The bank was initially awarded its retail banking licence in April and has spent the time between then and now strengthening its team and developing its technology platform and product offering. At present, the challenger offers a flexible [...]