A gay man has won equal pensions rights in a landmark Supreme Court ruling July 12, 2017 The Supreme Court has delivered a landmark ruling giving the husband of a gay man the same pension rights as a wife would receive. John Walker, 66, challenged a Court of Appeal decision to support his former employer Innospec. The chemicals firm said it willrefuse to pay his pension to his husband because Walker’s employment [...]
AkzoNobel triumphs over activist investor Elliott Advisors in Dutch legal battle May 29, 2017 Dutch paints firm AkzoNobel has scored a legal victory over activist investor Elliott Advisors as it fends off an unwanted US takeover approach. A Netherlands court ruled that Akzo, which makes Dulux paint, was not required to hold an extraordinary shareholder meeting requested by investors including Elliott. The hedge fund is leading an investor charge [...]
Where things stand one year after BHS went into administration April 25, 2017 BHS was almost 90 years old when it went into administration a year ago today, but all that remains of its legacy now is a string of empty shops and an online store. When retail tycoon Sir Philip Green sold the chain for just £1 to serial bankrupt Dominic Chappell in 2015, he set off [...]
Southern rail will agree to fresh talks with the RMT if the union suspends all strike action March 20, 2017 Southern owner Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has extended an olive branch to the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union. Well, sort of. The train company has offered to meet the RMT for fresh face-to-face talks if the union suspends industrial action in its year-long dispute over changes to the role of the guard. Read more: Southern [...]
Unilever and the confused priorities of the Davos elite March 20, 2017 If Angela Merkel epitomises the overrated in terms of international statesmanship, her equal in corporate terms must be Paul Polman of Unilever. As is true with the German Chancellor, it is unfathomable to me that the leader of a major corporation with a record this hapless should be lionised. For the larger point is that both [...]
Southern rail strike saga continues: The RMT union announces a new 24-hour walkout for 4 April March 17, 2017 The RMT union has announced another 24-hour strike on Southern rail for Tuesday 4 April, in a row over the role of conductors. Mick Cash, RMT's general secretary, said: “RMT members on Southern Rail have been fighting for safety and access for nearly a year now and it is disgraceful that we have continued to be carved [...]
How nine City experts reacted to Philip Hammond’s NIC u-turn March 15, 2017 It's official: Philip Hammond has bowed to criticism and scrapped his controversial plans to hike National Insurance Contributions for the self-employed. Reactions from have varied, from confusion to outright glee. Here's how nine of the City's most important organisations reacted. Read more: Hammond's U-turn on National Insurance hike plans – read his letter in full [...]
Potholes beware: Britain’s roads are getting worse and hitting drivers in the pocket March 13, 2017 Potholes on UK's roads are hitting drivers in the pocket, with damage to vehicles costing an average of £1,600 per incident, according to research released today. The analysis of 10,000 over-50s revealed eight out of 10 motorists think road maintenance has got worse over the last few years. Councils and highways agencies have come under increasing pressure [...]
MPs urged to leave parliament before a “catastrophic failure” occurs March 10, 2017 A Commons committee has urged MPs to vacate the Palace of Westminster for renovations because "doing nothing is not an option" and there is a "risk of catastrophic failure" if the building remains occupied. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended that MPs leave the historic building for six years while essential repairs, which could cost [...]
More KPMG partners follow Richard Fleming to Alvarez & Marsal in a bid to break the Big Four’s stranglehold March 6, 2017 One year has passed since KPMG big-hitter Richard Fleming shocked the City by walking out on the consultancy giant. Fleming officially joins rival Alvarez & Marsal this month. The firm moved for him and two other partners in early 2016 after KPMG rejected a bid from Alvarez & Marsal for the Big Four giant’s restructuring business. Today, the [...]