The value of foreign acquisitions by British companies in the second quarter of 2011 fell by more than half from the first quarter total, from £20.7 billion to £10.2 billion.

The figures issued from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicated that the value of purchases made in the UK by foreign businesses rose by 57 per cent to £8.5 billion in the same period, indicating that British businesses continue to… Continue reading

Changes to Department for Business (DfB) regulations mean that small firms may soon be able to file their financial positions to Companies House and HM Revenue & Customs in one single document.

The DfB said that the trading statement could replace a profit and loss account, and a simplified "statement of position" could be filed in the place of a balance sheet, which would not be required to list variable… Continue reading

Changes to the pre-pack administration process have been pushed back, the Insolvency Service has confirmed, with no changes likely to take place before April.

The minister in charge of insolvency, Ed Davey, had previously said that the amendments would be implemented before the end of this year. The changes are set to include giving creditors three days' notice before a company is sold to a connected party or business.

An… Continue reading

This week has seen the official launch of the £2.5 billion Business Growth Fund (BGF), which will provide loans for medium-sized businesses that have been struggling to raise funds since the financial crisis.

HSBC, Standard Chartered, Lloyds, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland, have all provided the backing for the BGF, agreeing in the process to increase their lending capacity to small companies. The agreement was hashed out during the… Continue reading

Analysis of business transactions in the South Yorkshire region has indicated that the second half of 2011 is likely to see an upturn in the number of business deals being carried out.

The research, carried out in advance of the South Yorkshire Dealmakers Awards, has shown that many of the corporate finance advisers shortlisted for the awards are looking forward to a more buoyant period ahead.

The research was conducted… Continue reading

Buyers are swarming around independent financial advisory (IFA) businesses, with eyes for finding new partners or snapping up outright sales, according to a leading British corporate adviser.

Fred Hanson, from London-based IMAS Corporate Advisors, said the impeding implementation of measures laid out in the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) is seeing a lot of companies aim their focus on investing in elevating the standards of their advisers and the qualifications they… Continue reading

The rising number of businesses facing distress and imminent administration may present opportunities for people looking to buy or rescue businesses, but for landlords they are proving to be a costly headache.

Closing retail stores and administrations of high street chains have left UK landlords facing some £393 million in lost rent and increasingly desperate to find new tenants to buy out the leases.

Research published by the Investment Property Databank… Continue reading

The former chairman of Channel 4 and renowned private equity specialist, Luke Johnson, has said mid-sized businesses in Britain are being stifled by red tape, despite being the “unsung heroes” of the economy.

The businessman accused senior ministers in the Coalition Government – including Business Secretary, Vince Cable – of inhibiting “the pro-enterprise inclinations of Government”, and were not experienced enough in enterprise to be making major judgements.

He said that mid-sized… Continue reading

A new report on business distress in Britain's motor dealerships has shown that one in five of them are unable to pay their short-term debts and liabilities.

The latest Baker Tilly/Company Watch research on motor dealerships has found that many dealerships have remained solvent only due to riding the benefits they have obtained through the scrappage scheme. The figures showed that nearly one in four of the dealerships, with a… Continue reading

The Business Sale Report, which provides information on distressed businesses, has released figures showing a 22 per cent increase in the number of winding up petitions lodged through the courts in the second quarter of this year, compared to the same period last year.

These figures continue the upwards trend of 2011, which began with a 30 per cent rise in winding-up petitions numbers in… Continue reading