The Postal Services Bill has been agreed by parliament, paving
the way for Royal Mail to be privatised and relieved of its
£1.7 billion debt. As part of preparations for the sale of
the company, the government is now seeking approval from the
European Commission to take on Royal Mail’s historic pension
deficit. The government will submit a formal state aid
notification in the next few days and hopes the process will be
complete by March 2012.
DS Smith has appointed Lazard to advise on the
sale of its stationery arm Spicers. The sale is
said to have attracted the attention of trade buyers and private
equity firms, reports the Business Sale Report website.
Marks & Spencer waves goodbye to outgoing chief
executive Sir Stuart Rose with £8.1 million in pay, bonuses
and shares, writes
This is Money.
Want to get ahead in online retail? Then read Direct Commerce.
That’s one of the tips from Leon Bailey Green of DirectorsOf.com.
For more actionable advice, read his article in the Guardian.
Shop Direct-owned isme has added pet care
products to its range including bird tables, dog beds, fish tanks
and hamster cages. The brand was launched by Shop Direct in
January to replace the Marshall Ward catalogue, for more on isme,
read the
February issue.
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