Countrywide warns of earnings hit as it blames Brexit for sales slowdown April 30, 2019 Embattled estate agent giant Countrywide warned this morning that £5m would be wiped off of the group’s first-half earnings, as it blamed Brexit uncertainty for a slowdown in the UK property market market. Read more: Countrywide losses deepen amid housing market slowdown Countrywide, which owns brands such as Bairstow Eves and Gascoigne Pees, posted a [...]
Barclays shareholders urged to vote against executive pay over ‘inadequate’ response to whistleblowing scandal April 23, 2019 Barclays shareholders have been urged to vote against executive pay plans after the bank’s “inadequate” response to a whistleblowing scandal involving chief executive Jes Staley. Shareholder advisory group ISS criticised the measures taken by the bank following Staley’s attempts to unmask a whistleblower in 2016 and advised shareholders to vote down the remuneration report at [...]
Tesco turnaround marks the milestone for Drastic Dave April 10, 2019 In the never-ending debate about executive pay, examples of failure are cited more frequently than cases of good value for money. Recently the likes of WPP, Persimmon and Ted Baker have all demonstrated how the actions of the top boss can dent the fortunes of a company and frustrate shareholders. But despairing investors now have [...]
Countrywide shares tumble as it confirms heavy losses amid housing market slowdown March 7, 2019 Shares in estate agency Countrywide dropped more than eleven per cent today after it confirmed a widening of its full-year losses and warned of a tough year ahead. The figures Full-year revenue fell seven per cent to £627.1m, driven by a pipeline deficit in sales. The firm’s losses widened from £207.3m to £218.2m. Adjusted earnings before [...]
Activist investor Cat Rock turns up the heat after calling on Just Eat to start merger talks February 11, 2019 One of Just Eat’s major shareholders has urged the takeaway giant to start merger discussions with a "well-run industry peer" today, following the recent departure of boss Peter Plumb. Cat Rock Capital Management, which owns a 1.7 per cent stake in Just Eat, said that a tie-up for the online food delivery firm "would be a [...]
Big business needs to step up and take the reins of leadership from the politicians February 6, 2019 I wanna be the leader I wanna be the leader Can I be the leader? Can I? I can? Promise? Promise? Yippee I’m the leader I’m the leader OK what shall we do? Roger McGough did not know how prescient his poem was. The days of Churchill, Thatcher and Mandela are gone. Whether you agreed [...]
Nissan ‘faces SEC probe into executive pay reports’ January 28, 2019 Nissan is reportedly facing a US probe over whether it accurately revealed executive pay, it emerged today. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to begin an investigation into the matter, according to Bloomberg, coming as the company’s former chair stands trial on charges of financial misconduct. Read more: Ghosn 'paid Saudi businessman with company [...]
Government refusal to extend pay gap reporting rules to Big Four branded ‘disappointing’ January 22, 2019 The government has been accused of letting the Big Four audit firms “evade reporting on their pay ratios” by excluding firms with their business model from new legislation. The government’s small business minister refused to say whether new rules on executive pay transparency would be extended to partnerships during a grilling by MPs today. Members [...]
One in two FTSE 250 bosses has taken a pay cut since 2017 January 22, 2019 Chief executive pay has dropped at nearly half the UK’s top firms since 2017 but British bosses are still earning more than their European peers, according to a new report. Pay for FTSE 250 bosses fell as 48 per cent of firms listed in the index cut remuneration levels by 10 per cent on average. [...]
CYBG could face shareholder unrest over executive pay following Virgin Money deal January 20, 2019 Virgin Money’s new owner CYBG could face an investor backlash after a respected shareholder advisory group slammed its executive pay plans which it said are “not supported by compelling rationale”. The report by advisory group ISS said that following the acquisition of Virgin Money for £1.7bn last year, the company plans to nearly double variable [...]