Investors reap record payouts October 22, 2012 INVESTORS enjoyed a cash bonus in the third quarter as dividend payments from UK companies hit a record high of £23.2bn, according to research released today. Payouts to shareholders are up 10.4 per cent on the same period last year, with more than four out of every five firms increasing their dividend. But the celebrations [...]
Investors reap record payouts October 22, 2012 INVESTORS enjoyed a cash bonus in the third quarter as dividend payments from UK companies hit a record high of £23.2bn, according to research released today. Payouts to shareholders are up 10.4 per cent on the same period last year, with more than four out of every five firms increasing their dividend. But the celebrations [...]
Auditors welcome plans to cut red tape for small businesses September 6, 2012 A GOVERNMENT plan to slash red tape for small businesses was welcomed by auditors when it was announced yesterday by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Over 100,000 businesses could be released from the requirement to undergo a statutory audit, potentially saving small firms millions of pounds. The rules will make firms eligible [...]
Punters can take their Cash And Go after Racing Post Hurdle November 15, 2012 THERE is an equally exciting card on Sunday and the highlight is undoubtedly the Racing Post Hurdle, formerly known as the Greatwood, at 2.50pm. This has been a very different race to the Paddy Power Gold Cup, with four top weights winning in the past decade, and it is the first genuine Champion Hurdle trial [...]
Car sales boom above forecast in September October 4, 2012 CAR SALES exceeded expectations in crucial numberplate changeover month September, data from an industry body revealed yesterday. Car registrations were up 8.2 per cent compared to last year, hitting 359,612, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said, with analysts calling the boost “fantastic” for the car industry. This latest boost meant that 67,515 [...]
Asset managers say new euro rules are a threat to business July 30, 2012 RULES governing alternative investment firms will shut the door on overseas fund managers operating in London and make Europe less competitive, a major study of UK asset managers finds today. The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) will be implemented by European policymakers next July to regulate private equity, hedge fund and real estate managers. [...]
UK technology darling’s rocky road to HP deal November 20, 2012 WHEN Autonomy was sold to Hewlett-Packard (HP) for $11bn (£6.9bn) in October 2011, the deal was hailed as a defining moment for Cambridge’s technology scene and chief Mike Lynch was made a poster boy for British entrepreneurship. But seven months later, Lynch was out of HP, fired by the US giant’s new boss Meg Whitman. [...]
Banks and a brave industry boss square up to claims firms November 14, 2012 BRAVERY is not a quality conventionally attributed to the bosses of business lobbying groups but step forward, John Cridland. The CBI director-general’s decision to lob a grenade into the row over payment protection insurance (PPI) mis-selling is in danger of splitting his body’s membership. Cridland’s argument that there should be a time limit on compensation [...]
Pirc hits out at Essar chairman August 21, 2012 SHAREHOLDER advisory body Pirc has advised investors in Essar Energy to vote down the firm’s chairman Prashant Ruia. Pirc has concerns that Ruia, whose family has a large indirect interest in the London-listed firm, is not sufficiently independent to be an effective chairman. Essar appointed Prashant after his uncle Ravi stepped down from the role [...]
BDO and PKF in talks for audit merger deal November 7, 2012 BDO and PKF are in advanced talks to merge their UK operations, the accountancy and advisory firms revealed yesterday. A tie-up, which is expected to take place early next year, would give the group extra firepower to compete with Grant Thornton for mid-market audit and business advisory clients. The firms said the enlarged company would [...]