The Spectator

Barometer | 23 February 2017

Also in Barometer: when mega mergers go wrong; will your pension go up less?

issue 25 February 2017

Big league

Lincoln City became the first non-league club since Queens Park Rangers in 1914 to win a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals. But what happened in 1914? — There were only 40 league clubs and QPR won a bye through the early rounds. — They drew 2-2 with Bristol City before winning 2-0 in a replay. — They beat Swansea and Birmingham (2-1 each) to reach the quarter-finals, where Liverpool beat them 2-1. — Liverpool lost the final 1-0 to Burnley, the team Lincoln beat last weekend. — That final was the last held at the Crystal Palace, which had been its venue since 1895.

Mega mergers

Unilever rejected a £115 billion takeover offer from Kraft Heinz. What happened after huge mergers that did go through? —Vodafone paid £112 billion for German telecoms giant Mannesmann in 2000 but suffered hefty related losses. — RBS paid £49 billion for Dutch bank ABN Amro in 2007, leading to its emergency bailout by the government. — AOL paid $165 billion (then £82 billion) for Time Warner in 2000. It was a disaster and they demerged in 2009. — Kraft Heinz was itself merged less than two years ago. In July 2015 the combined company was worth $46 billion and its share price was $77. This week it was $96.

Raising questions

The government proposed letting companies use the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) instead of the Retail Prices Index (RPI) as a basis for rises in defined-benefit pension schemes. What would a pension starting at £10,000 a year be worth now?
RETIREMENT RPU RISE
5 years ago £11,155
10 years ago £13,169
15 years ago £15,326
20 years ago £17,195
25 years ago £19,579

RETIREMENT CPI RISE
5 years ago £10,718
10 years ago £12,580
15 years ago £13,758
20 years ago £14,653
25 years ago £16,514

Source: ONS

Going rates

A controversial business rates revaluation will give some High Street shops larger bills and some Amazon distribution centres lower ones. How much does it cost to set up a small shop?
BUSINESS SQ FT
Takeaway, Grimsby 350
Hair salon, Enfield 400
Grocery, Battersea 850
Café, Fitzrovia 763
Lights shop, Bath 1,120
Bookie, Mids’boro 2,150

BUSINESS RENT (P.A.)
Takeaway, Grimsby £3,500
Hair salon, Enfield £5,500
Grocery, Battersea £26,000
Café, Fitzrovia £19,000
Lights shop, Bath £30,000
Bookie, Mids’boro £37,000

BUSINESS RATES
Takeaway, Grimsby £0
Hair salon, Enfield £600
Grocery, Battersea £800
Café, Fitzrovia £6,200
Lights shop, Bath £9,000
Bookie, Mids’boro £16,000
Source: Zoopla, Valuation Office Agency  

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