Sir John Kingman says lack of government action putting audit reform at risk October 15, 2019 The author of a report into the future of the audit regulator warned today that lack of government action risks letting the watchdog “drift on, half-reformed”. Former mandarin Sir John Kingman undertook the report into the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) following the failure of outsourcer Carillion in 2018. Kingman expressed his concerns in a letter [...]
Grave danger: Dignity posts falling profit as death rate dip takes bite out of results May 13, 2019 A dip in the number of Brits dying in the first three months of the year buried profits at Dignity, the funeral provider reported today. It comes as pressure has been growing on the funeral industry, which is facing a competition probe into its practices and prices. Read more: Hymns fall out of funeral charts as [...]
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 [...]
Competition watchdog expresses concern over Rentokil and Mitie merger April 12, 2019 The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has warned Rentokil Initial it may have to investigate the company after its completed takeover of Mitie's pest control arm has severely reduced competition in the sector. The competition watchdog has given Rentokil a deadline of April 23 to outline how it will address concerns that prices could [...]
Competition watchdog warns holiday booking sites over trip cancellation costs April 17, 2019 The UK’s competition watchdog has issued a warning to holiday booking websites to make customer terms and conditions clear. A total of one in five customers who had cancelled a booking in the past felt they had been treated unfairly, a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) survey found, as the regulator told travel businesses to [...]
Asda and Sainsbury’s propose selling 150 stores to save merger March 22, 2019 Asda and Sainsbury's have offered to sell up to 150 supermarkets and several convenience stores in a bid to save their proposed merger. Read more: Sainsbury's and Asda double down on £1bn price cut pledge to salvage deal The supermarkets promised they could divest between 125 and 150 supermarkets and "a number" of the convenience stores in [...]
Private equity firms eye up challenger accountancy firm Cogital July 28, 2019 Several private equity groups are reportedly preparing bids on UK-based accounting firm Cogital, in a deal that could value the company at £1bn. European firms BC Partners, Permira, and PAI are preparing final bids alongside US-based Hellman & Freidman, according to the Financial Times Cogital was set up in 2016 by former Deloitte partner John [...]
Aberdeen Standard opposes Non-Standard Finance’s hostile Provident Financial takeover June 2, 2019 A major shareholder in Provident Financial has come out to publicly oppose rival doorstep lender Non-Standard Finance’s (NSF) hostile takeover bid. Aberdeen Standard Investments, which owns 3.1 per cent of the sub-prime lender, said it would not accept NSF’s offer. Read more: Watchdog probes Non-Standard Finance's hostile takeover of Provident Head of UK equities Andrew [...]
Ofgem urged to extend prepayment price cap due to smart meter delays June 7, 2019 The competition watchdog has urged Ofgem to extend protection for prepayment consumers beyond the end of 2020 due to the delayed roll-out of smart meters. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) implemented a temporary prepayment price cap in 2017 in a bid to reduce customers’ bills by around £300m a year. Read more: Ofgem won’t [...]
Competition regulator preparing to launch fresh court action against Viagogo March 5, 2019 Controversial ticket reseller Viagogo has been slapped with a fresh warning this afternoon from Britain’s competition regulator, which is threatening legal action in the wake of continued concerns over the firm’s practices. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said today that it is preparing to take Viagogo to court after saying that it is [...]