Spin physician suffers untimely data on Vodafone and Three deal

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) lastly selected Friday to start its investigation into the deliberate merger between Vodafone and Three – a transfer many noticed as inevitable.

But one PR rep over at consultants Teneo might have been a bit too keen to interrupt the information, sending out the businesses’ response to the CMA’s choice a full day earlier than it was even introduced, adopted by a really hasty recall e-mail that sarcastically served to attract extra consideration to the snafu.

As if that wasn’t cringeworthy sufficient, an trade supply advised Whispers these within the room when Three and Vodafone found the untimely assertion skilled what they diplomatically known as an ‘absolute s**t present’.

When the CMA acquired round to saying its inquiry, the businesses’ response was despatched out once more, this time by way of a unique Teneo worker. Vodafone additionally noticed match to ship the missive through one other PR outfit. A warning name, maybe?

The CMA started its investigation into the merger between Vodafone and Three on Friday

Full steam forward for shipbuilder Cammell Laird

Remember ‘Boaty McBoatface’? That was a well-liked selection of identify for the polar analysis ship constructed by Cammell Laird after an unwise choice to place it to an internet ballot.

Now issues are trying up for the Birkenhead-based shipbuilder after it reported a revenue of £3.7million for the yr to April 1, 2023 having misplaced £4.5million the earlier yr, in keeping with not too long ago filed accounts.

Perhaps Cammell may boost its personal identify. Profit McProfitface?

Grainger to face grilling from traders

Residential landlord Grainger will probably be one of many first listed firms to face a grilling from traders this yr at its annual assembly subsequent month.   

The agency might wish to get the mud-slinging out of the best way early, given it already has a battle on its palms. 

In a publication final week shareholder advisor Pirc referred to as on traders to vote in opposition to the group’s government pay, saying awards granted to Grainger’s administrators had been ‘extreme’. 

It added that the pay ratio between the boss and common worker was ‘not thought-about applicable’. 

The consultancy additionally took difficulty with Grainger’s plan to difficulty shares to lift money for funding, arguing it was not linked to a particular deal. 

Well, which of us hasn’t had a gripe with their landlord? 

QCM gloats as defamation lawsuit thrown out 

Short-sellers are sometimes reviled in monetary markets, with many accusing them of feasting on disaster and misfortune to rake in money from bets on share costs tumbling.

But many observers fail to think about the authorized dangers taken by short-sellers in criticising a agency’s enterprise mannequin. So in the event that they win, they prefer to crow about it. 

Such a spat performed out within the New York courts final week when Quintessential Capital Management, the hedge fund that shot to fame final yr by focusing on UK cyber safety darling Darktrace, scored a victory when a defamation lawsuit in opposition to it by US pharma agency Cassava Sciences was thrown out. 

‘To fellow truth-seekers, preserve shining a light-weight on darkness!’ QCM declared, humbly.