BT's plans to turn itself into a holding company and several quasi-independent operating companies is that they have taken so long to appear.

ECONOMIST: British Telecom

But there are concerns that banks are keeping these no-hope companies alive in order to avoid taking further, potentially significant losses - and this, in turn, could be holding them back from new lending, which is needed to boost the economy.

BBC: 'Zombie' companies eating away at economic growth

Put those two together, you get companies in the fast-growing sectors taking on workers to meet rising demand, because they can't get a loan from the bank, and companies in the hard-hit companies holding on to workers, hoping something will turn up.

BBC: The UK productivity puzzle (cont'd)

At almost every turn Rogers is confronting his nemesis, BCE, the equally acquisitive Montreal-based holding company that owns Bell Canada.

FORBES: The Lion in Winter