Capital Agenda Blog

How can the construction sector rebuild stakeholder confidence?

June 6, 2019

This week’s blog comes from Richard Harrison Director in our TAS Practice and Ian Marson, TAS Construction Leader and Director in our Transactions practice. Stakeholder confidence is vital to any business, but it is crucial for those reliant on winning and delivering contracts. This is the challenge facing the construction sector, where confidence has been tested by a … More How can the construction sector rebuild stakeholder confidence?

What happens when we lose the middle?

May 21, 2019

This week’s post comes from Dougald Middleton, Partner in UKI Transaction Advisory Services at EY. The middle class is shrinking in the UK and in almost every developed economy. The structural drivers that rebalanced employment towards managerial and professional roles are weakening – along with economic growth rates – and this turnaround in fortunes is … More What happens when we lose the middle?

Could the UK become a hotbed of M&A in 2019?

May 13, 2019

This week’s post comes from Steve Ivermee, Managing Partner, UKI Transaction Advisory Services at EY. This might be a strange, even bizarre question to ask given the uncertainties currently faced by the UK economy and – by extension – UK companies. But, our latest Global Capital Confidence Barometer has two really striking UK headlines. For … More Could the UK become a hotbed of M&A in 2019?

How can oil companies engage with a low-carbon future?

April 29, 2019

In this week’s blog we’ll look at how the oil sector is responding to new challenges and think about the broader cross-sector challenge of transforming non-traditional investments into long-term value. … More How can oil companies engage with a low-carbon future?

Has UK plc lost its earnings compass?

April 16, 2019

This week’s Capital Agenda Blog comes from Alan Hudson, Head of UK Restructuring. UK quoted companies issued 89 profit warnings in the first quarter of 2019. This is the highest first quarter total since 2009. Indeed, our EY Profit Warning Stress Index has only been higher twice before – both times during the last recession. … More Has UK plc lost its earnings compass?

Are travel headwinds easing?

March 12, 2019

This week’s Capital Agenda Blog comes from Amanda Blackhall O’Sullivan, a partner in our Restructuring team. Some of the strongest headwinds that have battered the travel sector in recent years are easing, but new challenges are always emerging and many go deeper than temporary shifts in overheads and demand. Airlines and tour operators in particular will need … More Are travel headwinds easing?

Can they buy what you’re selling?

March 6, 2019

This week’s blog comes from Charles Honnywill, Transactions Partner and Divestiture Leader at EY Disposals remain high on the UK corporate agenda and an active M&A market suggests that there’s no shortage of buyers. So far so good. But as recent high-profile examples highlight, many transactions don’t go to plan due to unforeseen regulatory issues. … More Can they buy what you’re selling?