Podcasts
ESG: does the political shift mean businesses will lose out?
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles have long been a key factor in Boardroom discussions and decisions. However recent political developments—particularly in the US—have sparked a stark change in direction. Is it all over for ESG, or is there a future? In this episode of Top of the Agenda,… Read More
Future of rail: how to shape a resilient and responsive Great British Railways
Great Britain’s railway is at a critical juncture, facing unprecedented pressures arising from changing travel patterns, ageing infrastructure, and ongoing financial strain. These challenges, exacerbated by the impacts of the pandemic and the imperative to achieve net zero, underscore the need for comprehensive and forward-looking reform. The UK government has proposed… Read More
Investing in distribution: ED3 and beyond
In the first quarter of this year the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC)1 published its vision for the UK’s electricity distribution network. Below, we review this in the context of Ofgem’s consultation on RIIO-ED32 and its published responses. One of the policy priorities is to ensure… Read More
Leveraged buyouts: a smart strategy or a risky gamble?
The second episode in the Top of the Agenda series on private equity demystifies leveraged buyouts (LBOs); a widely used yet controversial private equity strategy. While LBOs can offer the potential for substantial returns by using debt to finance acquisitions, they also come with significant risks such as excessive debt… Read More
Company valuation in post-M&A disputes—the Mahtani v Atlas Mara ruling
Post-merger and acquisition (‘post-M&A’) disputes can take many different forms, such as breach of representations and warranties, fraud and misrepresentation claims, and post-completion breach of contractual obligations. This article discusses the valuation issues in a post-completion breach case based on the ruling handed down by the Hon Mr Justice Butcher… Read More
Boosting growth, competitiveness and productivity in the EU and UK
Low economic growth is a current challenge for most major European economies, especially given the new fiscal burden of increased defence spending. Funding social challenges—such as climate change, the digital transition and European security—requires either some parts of society to be worse off, or that economies generate new sources of… Read More
Ctrl+Alt+Unemployed? The economics of AI at work
As AI continues to reshape industries and redefine the nature of work, its impact on labour markets is a topic of growing debate and concern. With AI’s rapid advancements, we are entering an era of both unprecedented opportunities and challenges. Should we fear widespread job displacement, or welcome AI’s ability… Read More
Allocation of indirect costs
There is no right or wrong way to allocate indirect costs, only good or bad ways of supporting policy objectives, either of the company itself or an industry regulator or competition authority. This article reviews the many allocation options, before proposing a process for selecting the most promising option… Read More
Grey or Green Giants? Sustainability and (Exclusionary Abuse of) Dominance under Article 102 TFEU
The intersection of sustainability and competition law has gained increasing attention in recent years—particularly in the context of agreements, as evidenced by the new Horizontal Co-operation Guidelines from the European Commission,1 but also in discussions around merger control.2 However, one area remains underexplored: the role of… Read More
Collective actions: are consumers reaping the benefits?
When companies engage in price fixing, abuse their market dominance, or form illegal cartels, consumers and businesses can suffer but since 2015 in the UK and 2020 across the EU, collective actions are challenging these anti-competitive practices and are seeking compensation. Many of us may even be members of a… Read More