In my view, the rejection by LV= policyholders of a takeover by US venture capital is good news. ‘Rejection’ may be too strong a word, as apathy, or at best abstention by most meant that the anti-takeover activists won the day. Looking at their annual report for 2019, it’s hard to believe that they were about to, or had to sell out, as it trumpets with apparently forked tongue, their profitability, great brand and mutual status. The latter will be maintained, it seems, as a merger with or takeover by Royal London, a company we like, seems on the cards. We’ll continue to watch this space.
“Why most won’t need to worry about IHT on pensions”
Many a government has made the point that only a minority will be affected by this or that tax change or tinker. It is, however, both perception and aspiration which are important, and they are what makes IHT the ‘most hated’ of all taxes – along with all the others, of course.
