Expert Interviews
Hartford Advisers specialises in interviewing experts on any theme, sector or jurisdiction globally - providing clients with critical human insights throughout the commercial decision making process.
We have recently launched a new newsletter for investors. In every edition, we interview leading experts on one of the world’s most pressing investment topics.
If you would like to request full transcripts of any of the below interviews or are interested in commissioning further interviews on any combination of theme, sector or jurisdiction globally - please contact us today.
AUGUST 2024
CMA Probe into Vodafone and Three Merger
This week, we ask experts for their views on the outcome and impact of the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into the £15 billion merger of two of Britain’s biggest mobile phone companies.
Interview 1
The UK telecoms market is likely to undergo a significant change with Vodafone and Three expected to get approval for their controversial £15bn merger, a senior expert has told Hartford.
The expert, who has held senior roles at several major telecoms firms in the last two decades, believes the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will give its backing to the creation of Britain’s biggest telecoms company with 27 million customers.
There are two main reasons why the CMA is likely to support the deal, the expert said. These are the firms’ promise of an £11bn investment in mobile network infrastructure over the next ten years and the overall strength and competitiveness of the telecoms market currently.
Interview 2
Britain’s competition regulator appears to be getting ready to reject the controversial £15bn merger between Vodafone and Three, despite the plan being in the best interest of the sector - according to an industry expert.
Such a decision would be a blow to the telecoms sector which needs investment in the UK’s mobile network infrastructure, the expert – a former senior government and telecoms director – told Hartford.
The expert felt the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) appears to be looking in “every nook and cranny” for reasons to block the proposal, in what would be a “watershed moment” for the regulator.
Interview 1
The UK telecoms market is likely to undergo a significant change with Vodafone and Three expected to get approval for their controversial £15bn merger, a senior expert has told Hartford.
The expert, who has held senior roles at several major telecoms firms in the last two decades, believes the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will give its backing to the creation of Britain’s biggest telecoms company with 27 million customers.
There are two main reasons why the CMA is likely to support the deal, the expert said. These are the firms’ promise of an £11bn investment in mobile network infrastructure over the next ten years and the overall strength and competitiveness of the telecoms market currently.
This week, we ask experts for their views on the outcome and impact of the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into the £15 billion merger of two of Britain’s biggest mobile phone companies - with contrasting viewpoints.
Interview 1
Revolut must address regulatory and consumer concerns about fraud and compensation before it is likely to obtain a full banking licence in the UK, a finance expert has told Hartford Advisers.
The company’s breakthrough last month caught the banking sector’s eye, but significant scepticism remains about Revolut’s efforts to fully establish itself as a player in the market – according to the expert.
They highlighted Revolut’s poor reputation for issues around fraud and refunds, which has prompted negative press coverage about the company’s operations. The expert – a consultant in the personal finance sector - added Revolut has been late in filing its annual accounts on two occasions, which has further contributed to a negative perception of the business.
Interview 2
There are significant doubts within the financial industry over Revolut’s ability to achieve a full and unrestricted licence, particularly if the company’s handling of fraud does not improve – according to an expert in the sector.
Although the partial licence marks a milestone for the company, the expert warned the licence could exacerbate – rather than resolve - existing issues at Revolut.
The expert, a finance journalist who has covered the sector for more than a decade, highlighted Revolut’s approach to compensating victims of bank transfer scams. According to the expert, Revolut has gained a reputation for denying compensation to victims of fraud, even when the victims appear to have acted responsibly.
AUGUST 2024
Interview 1
The UK telecoms market is likely to undergo a significant change with Vodafone and Three expected to get approval for their controversial £15bn merger, a senior expert has told Hartford.
The expert, who has held senior roles at several major telecoms firms in the last two decades, believes the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will give its backing to the creation of Britain’s biggest telecoms company with 27 million customers.
There are two main reasons why the CMA is likely to support the deal, the expert said. These are the firms’ promise of an £11bn investment in mobile network infrastructure over the next ten years and the overall strength and competitiveness of the telecoms market currently.
Revolut Granted Restricted Banking Licence
This week, we ask experts for their views on the outcome and impact of the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into the £15 billion merger of two of Britain’s biggest mobile phone companies - with contrasting viewpoints.
After fast-growing global fintech Revolut finally received a British banking licence last month (albeit with restrictions), we asked experts for their views on its impact on the British banking sector - and whether the firm, viewed by many as a controversial disruptor, is likely to win a full and unrestricted licence in the UK.
AUGUST 2024
Revolut Granted Restricted Banking Licence
After fast-growing global fintech Revolut finally received a British banking licence last month (albeit with restrictions), we asked experts for their views on its impact on the British banking sector - and whether the firm, viewed by many as a controversial disruptor, is likely to win a full and unrestricted licence in the UK.
Interview 1
Revolut must address regulatory and consumer concerns about fraud and compensation before it is likely to obtain a full banking licence in the UK, a finance expert has told Hartford Advisers.
The company’s breakthrough last month caught the banking sector’s eye, but significant scepticism remains about Revolut’s efforts to fully establish itself as a player in the market – according to the expert.
They highlighted Revolut’s poor reputation for issues around fraud and refunds, which has prompted negative press coverage about the company’s operations. The expert – a consultant in the personal finance sector - added Revolut has been late in filing its annual accounts on two occasions, which has further contributed to a negative perception of the business.
Interview 2
There are significant doubts within the financial industry over Revolut’s ability to achieve a full and unrestricted licence, particularly if the company’s handling of fraud does not improve – according to an expert in the sector.
Although the partial licence marks a milestone for the company, the expert warned the licence could exacerbate – rather than resolve - existing issues at Revolut.
The expert, a finance journalist who has covered the sector for more than a decade, highlighted Revolut’s approach to compensating victims of bank transfer scams. According to the expert, Revolut has gained a reputation for denying compensation to victims of fraud, even when the victims appear to have acted responsibly.
Interview 1
The UK telecoms market is likely to undergo a significant change with Vodafone and Three expected to get approval for their controversial £15bn merger, a senior expert has told Hartford.
The expert, who has held senior roles at several major telecoms firms in the last two decades, believes the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will give its backing to the creation of Britain’s biggest telecoms company with 27 million customers.
There are two main reasons why the CMA is likely to support the deal, the expert said. These are the firms’ promise of an £11bn investment in mobile network infrastructure over the next ten years and the overall strength and competitiveness of the telecoms market currently.
This week, we ask experts for their views on the outcome and impact of the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into the £15 billion merger of two of Britain’s biggest mobile phone companies - with contrasting viewpoints.
AUGUST 2024
Royal Mail Takeover Bid Under Investigation
With news of a government probe into Royal Mail's takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky due to potential links with Russia, we ask experts whether the deal is likely to be blocked and what it means for other acquisitions led by companies with Russian ties.
Interview 1
The UK government is likely to allow a high-profile takeover of Royal Mail by an eastern European billionaire unless its investigation into his activities finds “substantial ties” to sanctioned Russian individuals, a former British cabinet minister has told Hartford.
The former minister, whose expertise includes international trade and business, said the deal between Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky and Royal Mail would only be blocked if it emerges that Mr Kretinsky has significant links to either the Putin regime or other Russians subject to sanctions.
UK government officials have launched the probe because of concerns Mr Kretinsky has inappropriate links to Russia, potentially through his ownership of a business called EUStream which carries Russian gas into Europe – according to media reports.
Interview 2
A UK government rejection of the Royal Mail takeover by Daniel Kretinsky would set a strong precedent for any future proposed acquisitions between companies with Russian ties and British infrastructure firms, according to an expert.
Any company with “clear Russian ties” or backed by Russian investments is extremely unlikely to be allowed to take over any part of British critical infrastructure in the current political environment, the expert felt.
The expert, who has several decades’ worth of experience in the mail and logistics sector, said the fate of Mr Kretinsky’s deal with Royal Mail depends on whether the UK government makes a commercial or political decision.
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Interview 1
The UK telecoms market is likely to undergo a significant change with Vodafone and Three expected to get approval for their controversial £15bn merger, a senior expert has told Hartford.
The expert, who has held senior roles at several major telecoms firms in the last two decades, believes the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will give its backing to the creation of Britain’s biggest telecoms company with 27 million customers.
There are two main reasons why the CMA is likely to support the deal, the expert said. These are the firms’ promise of an £11bn investment in mobile network infrastructure over the next ten years and the overall strength and competitiveness of the telecoms market currently.
This week, we ask experts for their views on the outcome and impact of the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into the £15 billion merger of two of Britain’s biggest mobile phone companies - with contrasting viewpoints.
AUGUST 2024
New UK Gigafactory Success Analysis
After it was announced that construction on the UK's biggest gigafactory is set to begin this week, we ask experts whether it is likely to go the same way as Britishvolt, which collapsed into administration after millions of taxpayers' money was wasted.
Interview 1
Significant supply chain and environmental challenges pose the greatest risk to the fate of a new £4bn gigafactory in the UK, an industry expert has told Hartford.
The expert, who has several decades of experience in the automotive and energy sectors, highlighted lithium mining and tough net-zero targets as key issues facing Agratas, the Tata Group-owned global battery business which is building the factory.
Agratas hopes the factory will be ready to start producing batteries by 2026, and that it will contribute almost half the projected battery manufacturing capacity required for the UK’s automotive sector by the early 2030s.
Interview 2
A new £4bn gigafactory has a better chance of succeeding than the failed Britishvolt venture because it has a more defined customer-base, according to an industry veteran.
The expert said there was a “higher likelihood” that the new facility in Somerset, UK, would be sustainable, in contrast to the Britishvolt fiasco which saw the construction of a similar factory halted when the firm went into administration in 2023.
This is because the new factory, which will be run by global battery production firm Agratas, has an obvious customer in Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), according to the expert.