Much of the attention paid to Hewlett‐Packard has come, of late, as a result of the $19 billion acquisition of Compaq Computer, a remarkable feat that has fuelled the enthusiasm of Carly Fiorina to set her sights on the mighty IBM. Quentin Hardy says: “Companies that can’t create new...

While Philip Green was celebrating his £5m birthday bash in the sun last year, rival shareholders and CEOs were bashing their heads against brick walls. Though every company the British entrepreneur touches (most recently Arcadia that he bought for £850m) seems to turn to gold dust, the...