Executive pay packets now closer aligned to company performance, finds new report by professional services firm PwC November 9, 2015 Bosses’ bumper pay packets have become more reflective of company performance, according to a new report released this morning. In their study, called Sunlight is the best disinfectant, PwC argues that greater transparency has firmer tied executive bonuses to company performance. By examining FTSE 100 companies over the last five years, the audit giant has [...]
PwC: Investment in UK-held assets will account for more than half of all investment across Europe November 9, 2015 British banks are leading the way in disposing of unwanted loan portfolios, according to a new report out today from PwC. Analysts from PwC’s portfolio advisory group found that European banks are disposing of unwanted loan portfolios at record rates and performing portfolios are becoming increasing popular, with investment in UK-held assets accounting for more [...]
Electra chairman Roger Yates resigns as Sherborne’s activist investor Edward Bramson voted onto the board by shareholders November 5, 2015 Sherborne's Edward Bramson has finally succeeded in his mission to join the board of private equity group Electra, after 53.5 per cent of shareholders voted in favour of his appointment as a director, 16.6m to 14.4m against. Chairman Roger Yates resigned from the from the board with immediate effect after the meeting. Sherborne's first move is to introduce "a strategic [...]
City A.M. shadow MPC votes 6-3 in favour of holding interest rates at current level November 5, 2015 City economists who enjoy poring over Bank of England data (we know who you are) will think Christmas has come early today, as Threadneedle Street publishes its latest interest rates decision, minutes from the meeting, and its quarterly inflation report. Dubbed “Super Thursday”, the hat-trick of releases should give a stronger indication of how the [...]
City remains in dark on HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver’s travel plans November 5, 2015 Should I stay or should I should I go? Not the song by The Clash, but the question on HSBC directors’ minds since the bank kicked off its review of whether it ought to move its headquarters. If the exercise was calculated to extract concessions from ministers for Europe’s biggest lender, it has been adroitly handled: [...]
City Moves for 5 November 2015 | Who’s switching jobs November 4, 2015 RIDGEWAY PARTNERS The executive search firm has appointed Toby Crosthwaite as a partner. He joins from Russell Reynolds Associates, based in Singapore and London, where he worked on appointments in the insurance sector. In his new role, Crosthwaite will cover work in life insurance, general insurance, and reinsurance. RUSSELL INVESTMENTS Sarah Leslie has been appointed [...]
City Moves for 30 October 2015 | Who’s switching jobs October 29, 2015 MITSUBISHI UFJ FINANCIAL GROUP The bank has announced two appointments to its corporate banking team in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Ian Wootton joins as managing director, healthcare. For the last year, he was an independent adviser for Park Road Advisory and was also formerly a partner at PwC. Richard Price (pictured) joins as [...]
UK R&D spend dropped by 52 per cent between 2007 and 2015 – PwC October 27, 2015 Spending on research & development (R&D) in the UK dropped by 52 per cent between 2007 and 2015, according to research from PwC's Strategy& business. The financial services firm said this shift had come about as a result of globalisation making it “increasingly attractive for UK companies to redeploy their R&D spend globally instead of investing domestically”. [...]
Boardroom battle between Electra and Sherborne Investors boss Edward Bramson continues October 26, 2015 The boardroom cat-fight between Edward Bramson and Electra rumbles on, with yet more letters when Electra released its full year results yesterday. Electra reported net asset value (NAV) per share return of 25 per cent in the year to September 30, with £259m realised from the portfolio. NAV per share return (the best measure of [...]
Cyber security talent shortage: Business is struggling to keep up with sophisticated criminals October 26, 2015 Concerns about cyber security are growing in prominence, but companies and law enforcement agencies are still playing catch-up in their attempts to counter ever more sophisticated cyber criminals. While the cyber attacks on TalkTalk and Ashley Madison have made headlines around the world, the day-to-day business of protecting a company against attack goes largely unnoticed. [...]