With a change in Government in the UK by the end of this year a distinct possibility, this morning Herbert Smith Freehills held a second roundtable with clients to discuss Labour's radical agenda, with a particular focus on their nationalisation plans.
Labour's nationalisation programme includes Royal Mail, the energy, water and rail industries, as well as plans to require businesses with over 250 staff to transfer 10% of their value into "inclusive ownership funds" which would distribute 10% of any dividends to employees each year, up to a £500 per employee cap (the sizable remainder being paid to HM Treasury).
Most controversially, Labour pamphlets for both water and energy networks imply that, via "deductions for compensation" for a range of factors, there may be below fair market value compensation.
This Policy Matters note captures some of the observations of our experts arising from the roundtable. In addition here is a Policy Matters note which looks specifically at Labour's plan to nationalise Great Britain's energy networks and what it means for investors.
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