The Business Matrix: Monday 21 April 2014

Queen’s award for animator

Glasgow-based Axis Animation, which produces sequences for blockbuster video games like Infinity Blade III, is one of 162 companies to have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise today. Other winners included the car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover and waste management group Veolia.

Owners of firms to be revealed

The Coalition is to go ahead with a public register that will show who really owns and controls British companies. Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, said: “No longer will UK companies be able to use complex structures and trails of paperwork to hide information and keep the public in the dark.”

BMW on track to sell 2m vehicles

Ian Robertson, a director at BMW and arguably the most powerful Brit in the global car industry, said the group is on track to reach its target of selling 2 million vehicles this year. At a trade show in China yesterday, Mr Robertson added that BMW is close to choosing where it will build its next factory.

Insurers have best year since 2006

The motor insurance industry has delivered its best results since 2006, according to analysis by the accountant EY. However, there was still a marginal underwriting loss, a constant problem for two decades. Independent medical panels are to be introduced to assess whether claims are legitimate.

Malaysian mogul to rev up car sales

Vincent Tan, the Malaysian tycoon who owns Cardiff City football club, is looking to take his new luxury car business HR Owen to Asia. Mr Tan is considering opening showrooms in several Asian cities, with the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, considered a good starting point.

Floats cost firms 9.8% of cash raised

The cost of floating companies on the Alternative Investment Market, London’s junior stock exchange, has risen sharply, according to UHY Hacker Young. The cost of selling shares on Aim for the first time, known as an initial public offering, now sucks up 9.5 per cent of funds raised, up from 8.4 per cent..

What the Sunday papers said

MPs backed over Sellafield criticism

The Government has backed a committee of MPs that criticised the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for “inappropriately” withholding information over the clean-up of the Sellafield nuclear facility in Cumbria. Details were blacked out from a critical report into how the site had been managed, citing commercial confidentiality.

The Independent on Sunday

Pfizer eyes £60bn Astra takeover

The US pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer has approached rival AstraZeneca in what would be the biggest ever foreign takeover of a British company. In recent weeks there have been informal discussions over a possible tie-up, but Astra is thought to be resisting Pfizer’s overtures at the moment. A deal could value Astra at more than £60bn.

The Sunday Times

New furore looms on bank bonuses

Royal Bank of Scotland’s annual report could be released this week, triggering a fresh backlash against banker bonuses. It could reveal that it plans big bonuses to hold on to staff in its investment banking division. Barclays’ shareholders are also set to protest over pay arrangements on Thursday.

Mail on Sunday

Sofa.com mulls possible sale

The online furniture retailer Sofa.com has asked advisers at Altium Capital to look into a potential sale of the business. Memos detailing the business’ successes, such as growing sales by 20 per cent in the year to February, are believed to have been sent to potential investors before the weekend.

The Sunday Telegraph