Friday newspaper round-up: Housebuilders, BHS, Feelunique
The Competition and Markets Authority is examining payments between housebuilders and the providers of warranties for new homes as part of a review of NHBC, the largest warranty provider. The CMA announced last month it was reviewing undertakings made by NHBC, the standard-setting body for new-build properties in the UK and the main warranty provider. These 22-year-old undertakings were designed to improve competition in the warranty market. – Guardian
Norway plans to build the world’s first tunnel for ships, a 1,700-metre (5,610-ft) passageway burrowed through a piece of rocky peninsula that will allow vessels to avoid a treacherous part of sea. The Stad Ship Tunnel, which would be able to accommodate cruise and freight ships weighing up to 16,000 tonnes, is expected to open in 2023. – Guardian
Dominic Chappell, the former owner of BHS, is being hauled to court by the Insolvency Service for failing to co-operate with its inquiry into the retail chain’s collapse. It is understood that Mr Chappell has been given a court date of April 27 in Manchester to respond to the Insolvency Service’s requests for information. – Telegraph
The French have always been better-known for beauty than the British. Dior, L'Oréal, Chanel - they're all French brands. Even the word 'beauty' comes from the Old French 'beaute'. And now British firms are making the most of the French 'savoir-faire'. British beauty retailer Feelunique has bought The Beautyst, a French company which has one of the largest social media followings in the French beauty sector and which sells beauty products online. – Telegraph
A former Barclays trader acquitted over playing a part in the Libor-rigging scandal has claimed Bank of England officials were told the rate was being inflated years before regulators began their investigations. Ryan Reich, 35, was acquitted yesterday of conspiracy to defraud following a six-week trial with Stylianos Contogoulas, 45, another former Barclays banker, after a jury rejected the Serious Fraud Office’s case that they were involved in an attempt to rig benchmark borrowing rates. – The Times
One of the biggest operators in the hire purchase market has said the financial regulator has given it about a year to get its house in order amid concerns about eye-watering costs and a lack of transparency for consumers. Brighthouse, which has about 300 stores selling televisions, fridges and washing machines through repayment plans with interest rates of up to 99 per cent, said the Financial Conduct Authority notified it that it is “minded to authorise” the business if it complies with a series of conditions by May 2018. – The Times