Roche faces further delay in $4.3bn takeover of Spark Therapeutics June 10, 2019 Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche’s $4.3bn (£3.4bn) acquisition of US gene therapy firm Spark Therapeutics has been delayed again amid increased scrutiny from US and UK regulators. Read more: Big pharma: Invidior launches generic version of own drugs to beat copycat Roche said both firms had received a request from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) [...]
Once-staid audit sector enters brave new world July 30, 2019 The days of auditors as grey-suited backroom boys is over. Whether they like it or not, the spotlight turned on the sector following the collapse of outsourcer Carillion has not diminished in intensity. The Big Four face the challenge of a potential raft of reforms designed to rein them in, overseen by a new beefed-up [...]
Government plans new powers to stop firms exploiting loyal consumers June 18, 2019 The competition watchdog is set to be given new powers to fine companies exploiting consumer loyalty in a crackdown on “subscription traps” and unfair cancellation charges. The government has proposed giving the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) legal powers to penalise firms without going through the courts. Read more: UK watchdog calls for new powers [...]
Why every company needs to know about the UK trade remedies regime April 26, 2021 Are all tariffs equal? Not when it comes to trade remedies and that matters for businesses who are navigating the UK’s new independent trade policy. Getting caught out with a large duty payment at the border when trying to import bicycles from China or biodiesel from Argentina is not something that any business wants. To [...]
‘Sclerotic’ City of London Corporation needs reform, says new report September 15, 2020 The City of London Corporation is “complex and sclerotic” while the public view it as a “secretive boys’ club”, according to a long-awaited independent report into the governance of the powerful local authority. Robert Rogers, now Lord Lisvane and a former Clerk of the House of Commons, said in his report that the “slowness of [...]
Competition watchdog gives green light for Paypal’s $2.2bn merger with iZettle April 30, 2019 The competition watchdog has given provisional approval to Paypal’s $2.2bn (£1.7bn) takeover of payments firm iZettle. Read more: Watchdog launches in-depth probe into Paypal-iZettle merger The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a probe into the merger last year amid concerns it would lessen competition between payment platforms in the UK. But in a provisional [...]
Google suspends Viagogo from advertising amid claims ticket site has not changed its ways July 17, 2019 Google has today dealt a blow to controversial second-hand ticketing company Viagogo by suspending its website as an advertiser. It is the second setback for the firm this month. Earlier in July, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it would take Viagogo to court. Read more: MPs warn consumers against using ticket reseller Viagogo [...]
Treasury launches listings review to lure companies to float in the UK November 19, 2020 The Treasury has today launched a review into the rules governing public listings in a bid to lure firms to float in the UK. Former British commissioner to the EU Lord Hill will lead the review which is aimed at helping to shape the UK’s financial services industry after Brexit. Lord Hill will present his [...]
Harmonisation needed in the global regulatory maze for digital assets March 30, 2021 Abradat Kamalpour stresses the importance of global harmony for regulatory reforms and changes in cryptocurrency.
From Woodford to the leasehold scandal, here are the big personal finance stories of 2019 December 11, 2019 December is usually the season to be jolly and reflect on the past year — though perhaps it doesn’t feel that way as we head to the polls tomorrow. Nonetheless, as the year comes to a close, let’s look at the big personal finance stories of 2019, which may give us some clues about what’s [...]