Mike Ashley hits out at competition watchdog over JD Sports probe October 30, 2019 Retail tycoon Mike Ashley has slammed the UK’s competition watchdog for its investigation into the merger between JD Sports and Footasylum, saying it has overstated Sports Direct’s share of the market. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether JD Sports’ £90m takeover of Footasylum could result in higher prices and reduced competition in [...]
Competition watchdog ploughs ahead with investigation into JD Sports’ Footasylum takeover October 1, 2019 Britain’s competition watchdog has decided to plough ahead with an investigation into JD Sports’ £90m takeover of Footasylum. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has referred the deal to an in-depth probe amid concerns that it could potentially result in higher prices and less competition. Read more: CMA warns that JD Sports deal with Footasylum [...]
Mastercard among five companies fined after engaging in ‘cartel behaviour’ March 31, 2021 Mastercard, along with four other companies, allegedly engaged in anti-competitive behaviour when offering pre-paid cards to vulnerable people. Mastercard, allpay, APS, PFS and Sulion engaged in anti-competitive behaviour by agreeing not to compete or poach each other’s clients, the Payment Systems Regulated (PSM) has said. As a result of the alleged collusion, the PSR said, [...]
China places state investigators in Didi’s offices to conduct security probe July 16, 2021 Beijing’s heavyweight state spy industry and six other government departments have swooped on ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing’s offices to conduct a security investigation. The bold move comes after Chinese authorities opened an investigation into Didi for allegedly violating user privacy, just days after its $4.4bn listing in New York last month. As of yet, there [...]
Thames Water hires advisers on £12bn debt ahead of crucial Ofwat ruling December 14, 2019 Thames Water has hired restructuring experts from Gleacher Shacklock ahead of a crucial ruling from industry watchdog Ofwat. The UK’s biggest water supplier has called in the experts to advice on its £12bn pile of debt amid concern about the impact of a regulatory crackdown on its finances, according to Sky News. Read more: Thames [...]
Water industry hits back at Ofwat over price determinations February 14, 2020 Two more water companies have referred Ofwat to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today over its five-year financial plan for the sector, after Yorkshire Water did so on Monday. Both Anglian and Northumbrian Water have referred the regulator’s price determinations, with the latter claiming that the plan runs “contrary to the long term best [...]
What does China’s stock market meltdown mean for investors? August 2, 2021 Chinese markets have hit headlines again in recent weeks. Geopolitical tensions surrounding trade remain, but market behavior and performance – particularly in the tech sector – has also come to the fore. We asked Tom Wilson, Schroders’ Head of Emerging Market Equities, what’s causing the upset. The Chinese government seems to be cracking down on [...]
MPs join call to end electric vehicle charging ‘postcode lottery’ July 28, 2021 MPs have added their voice to calls for the government to lay out a clear plan for how it will deliver sufficient charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across the UK by 2030. A new report from the transport select committee said that it was vital for ministers to work with the National Grid to identify [...]
Europe’s gas crisis: what does it mean for investors? August 23, 2022 Europe faces high gas prices and potential shortages as supply from Russia dwindles. We ask our investment experts what this means for companies, the energy transition, and the eurozone economy. Europe’s precarious gas supply situation has been a prime focus for markets ever since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the end of February. The European [...]
General Election 2019: Conservative Party to ditch central tenet of Big Four audit reform plans November 25, 2019 The Conservatives will throw out a proposal to impose mandatory joint auditors on large companies if they win the General Election. Officials at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis) have in recent weeks indicated that the system is unlikely to be introduced as part of wider reform of the auditing sector, Sky [...]