U.K Proposes New Executive Compensation Rules
The U.K. government on Tuesday published a consultative report chock-full of potential corporate governance reforms that could align the country more with executive compensation practices in the U.S.
CFO Journal
Dodd-Frank Rules on Business: Up for a Rethink
With the GOP vowing changes in the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul, corporate finance chiefs are focusing on the fate of the law’s nonbank provisions.
SEC Criticizes Tesla Over ‘Tailored’ Accounting
Tesla Motors has come under fire from the SEC for using prohibited accounting metrics and sharing that information with investors, according to regulatory correspondence.
Currency
Falling U.K. Pound Means Double Trouble For Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk A/S, the Danish insulin producer, has been punished not only by the weakened U.K. pound but also because EU-countries use lower, currency-adjusted prices as a base to negotiate drug pricing in their own markets, said the company’s finance chief.
The Big Number
$18.2 billion: Last year’s goodwill write-downs by U.S. energy firms
Capex
Rio Tinto Committed to Improving Balance Sheet, Analyst Says
The cost-cutting measures that Rio Tinto PLC announced earlier this week underline management’s commitment to further improving the balance sheet, making Rio Tinto stand out against its competitors, said David Butler, head of the metals and mining team at Barclays Capital.
Tax
Autumn Statement Offers U.K. Tax Changes
Companies will face limitations on the tax deductions they can claim for U.K. interest expenses beginning next April, said the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond.
CFO Report
Pension Funding Levels Could be a Competitive Advantage, Fitch Says
A well-funded pension plan could give defense contractors a leg-up in contract bids, according to Fitch Ratings.
Valuation Experts Will Be Held to a New Standard
The financial pros who specialize in assigning a valuation to intangible corporate assets, such as patents and trademarks, don’t have a credential that attests to their experience and training. That’s about to change.
The Big Number
7% Third-quarter growth in early stage M&A activity
M&A
Aixtron Could Either Invest in New Technology or Cut Costs Should Chinese Bid Founder
Aixtron SE, the Herzogenrath, Germany-based technology company whose purchase by a Chinese fund faces resistance by U.S. and German regulators, may be able shore up its troubled finances by pursuing one of two strategies should its proposed deal founder, a spokesman said in an email.
Latest News
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Samsung Electronics Says It Will Consider Restructuring WSJ
The company said it would raise dividends and consider restructuring as it seeks to appease growing demand for governance reforms.
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U.S. Stocks Edge Higher WSJ
U.S. stocks edged higher, as gains in health-care stocks helped offset losses in the energy sector.
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Big Names Take Hit on Theranos WSJ
Blood-testing company got much of its funding from high-profile private investors who weren’t part of the ecosystem that typically backs startups and could see their stakes wiped out.
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Activist Elliott Management Calls for Change at Cognizant WSJ
Activist investor Elliott Management called for change at Cognizant, a $34.6 billion IT-outsourcing firm whose growth prospects have been upended by the rise of cloud computing.
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Trouble at Tiffany, and Donald Trump Isn’t Helping WSJ
Protests and high security at Trump Tower, next door to Tiffany’s flagship store, add to macro pressures facing the luxury retailer.
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Stripe’s $9 Billion Deal Turns Focus to Payments Companies WSJ
Online payments startup Stripe Inc.’s new $9.2 billion valuation could augur some rethinking for holders of PayPal, Square and other payments firms
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AT&T Blinks on Price War WSJ
DirecTV Now, which AT&T unveiled Monday, won’t threaten cable as much as initially feared.
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WTO Rules Against Boeing in U.S.-EU Trade Battle WSJ
Tax benefits granted for production of the company’s 777x jet are considered to be in violation of trade rules, but the ruling might ultimately have no effect in the long-running dispute over commercial plane makers.
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Nissan Revs Up Plans for the Connected Car WSJ
Nissan Motor said it planned to accelerate the penetration of internet-connected vehicles by offering a connection device to existing customers in Japan and India.
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GM Super-Cruise Feature Raises Concerns From Regulators WSJ
U.S. highway safety regulators raised concerns over General Motors Co.’s plan to halt semiautonomous vehicles with unresponsive motorists, the latest push from government officials to police development of self-driving cars.
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How Amazon Gets Its Holiday Hires Up to Speed in Two Days WSJ
To prepare for the flood of holiday orders just under way, Amazon.com has been using technology ranging from touch screens to robots to shrink the time it takes to train new hires at its warehouses to as little as two days.
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Allstate to Acquire Squaretrade in $1.4 Billion Deal WSJ
Allstate Corp. said Monday it had agreed to acquire privately-held Squaretrade Inc., which sells warranties for electronic products, in a deal worth about $1.4 billion.
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Companies Plan to Dole Out Fatter Holiday Bonuses WSJ
About 75% of surveyed human-resources executives say their companies will give their workers extra cash for the holidays this year, up from 67% last year. The average bonus is expected to rise to $1,081 from $858 in 2015.
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Zenefits Hit With $7 Million Fine by California Insurance Regulator WSJ
Health-benefits broker Zenefits was fined $7 million by the California Department of Insurance on Monday, one of the largest penalties the agency has assessed for licensing violations in its history.
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Monte dei Paschi’s Future Hangs on Sunday Vote WSJ
An Italian referendum on Sunday could derail Banca Monte dei Paschi’s rescue plan. That in turn could complicate Italy’s efforts to clean up its banking sector.
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Can All Markets Be Wrong About Trump? Yes WSJ
In the aftermath of the U.S. election, the danger is that investors are responding to their own prejudices, James Mackintosh writes.
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Rising Rates Could Be a Chinese Phenomenon, Too WSJ
With inflation reviving in China, authorities may have no choice but to stand aside in the face of rising bond yields
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OECD Says Trump’s Policies Could Lift Global Growth WSJ
U.S. and global economic growth would be boosted by increased spending and tax cuts promised by President-elect Donald Trump, but those gains would be lost if he pressed ahead with tariff increases that triggered retaliation, the OECD said.
