Full investigation into UK vets market announced; NatWest share sale under threat from general election – business live
Competition watchdog launches formal market investigation into £5bn/year vets market, and offers tips to help‘The vet presented it as: if you care, you pay’: who really profits from poorly pets?The July election could scupper plans to sell the government’s stake in NatWest bank back to the public.Chancellor Jeremy Hunt had been aiming to do a “Tell Sid”-style sale of the stake back to the public this summer, aiming to raise funds by selling shares at a discount.This share sale cannot take place before the General Election and the new government, which polls are currently suggesting is likely to be formed by the Labour Party, may or may not proceed with this initiative. Although the UK Government is a passive investor only in NatWest, the presence of the State on the share register in our view is not helpful for the rating of NatWest’s shares.If the Retail Offer is cancelled, this might extend the timeframe over which the complete exit of the UK Government from the register is achieved. Whilst this development does not alter our positive view on the outlook for the company and its shares, the uncertainty is modestly unhelpful for NatWest in our view. Continue reading...
Competition watchdog launches formal market investigation into £5bn/year vets market, and offers tips to help
The July election could scupper plans to sell the government’s stake in NatWest bank back to the public.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt had been aiming to do a “Tell Sid”-style sale of the stake back to the public this summer, aiming to raise funds by selling shares at a discount.
This share sale cannot take place before the General Election and the new government, which polls are currently suggesting is likely to be formed by the Labour Party, may or may not proceed with this initiative. Although the UK Government is a passive investor only in NatWest, the presence of the State on the share register in our view is not helpful for the rating of NatWest’s shares.
If the Retail Offer is cancelled, this might extend the timeframe over which the complete exit of the UK Government from the register is achieved. Whilst this development does not alter our positive view on the outlook for the company and its shares, the uncertainty is modestly unhelpful for NatWest in our view. Continue reading...
