Better as a bank?
Article Abstract:
Halifax Building Society's decision to convert from its mutual status into a public company reflects the decline of the building society within the UK financial services sector. This decline is partly due to legislative changes, and partly to the high level of home ownership in the UK: this has brought building societies greater competition in a core business in which there is little growth potential. The Halifax now aims to offer a full range of financial services, which it cannot do as a building society. Conversion will also allow it to tap international capital markets more effectively.
Publication Name: The Director
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0012-3242
Year: 1996
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Germany's boards start soul-searching: has the two-tier board reached its sell-by date?
Article Abstract:
A review of the two-tier board system in Germany may be required following the public relations catastrophes affecting industry during 1994, such as at Metallgesellschaft, Balsam and Jurgen Schneider. A Germany banker describes the two-tier board as an efficient early warning system, but the validity of the supervisory Aufsichtsrat is beign questioned. The supervisory board only meets a few times a year and may not have an in depth understanding of the companies being supervised.
Publication Name: The Director
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0012-3242
Year: 1995
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Germany: awaiting the downturn
Article Abstract:
There is unlikely to retail sales growth in Germany of more than 3% according to analysts, in spite of the 1996 tax relief. There is much concern about job security, with wage increases only expected to be half a percentages point above inflation in 1996. Unemployment reached 3.7 million in December 1995. There is little optimism that the country will meet the Maastricht terms by 1999.
Publication Name: The Director
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0012-3242
Year: 1996
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