News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Why privatisation has been a costly failure in Britain by danuker on Tuesday July 11, 2023 @06:17AM (#36678860)
> load the company up with debt and pay yourself a nice dividend

I am new to this. Doesn't a dividend come from profits? What profits are there if you need debt? And who will loan to you if your business plan is to exit scam?

Re:Why privatisation has been a costly failure in Britain by lmm on Tuesday July 11, 2023 @06:24AM (#36678930)
> Doesn't a dividend come from profits?

A dividend can be paid with money from any source, it's all money.

> And who will loan to you if your business plan is to exit scam?

Ambitious junior bankers. Or you get the government to guarantee your debt.

Re:Why privatisation has been a costly failure in Britain by scott_w on Tuesday July 11, 2023 @07:39AM (#36679576)
> What profits are there if you need debt? And who will loan to you if your business plan is to exit scam?

If you’re a water company, after government bailed out the banks, chances were good you’re not going bust. What are they going to do? Let the entire population of London die of dehydration?

Re:Why privatisation has been a costly failure in Britain by toyg on Tuesday July 11, 2023 @09:58AM (#36681064)
And since a lot of investors in large utility companies are international, should the government somehow not make them whole (or worse, just expropriate), there would typically be repercussions - with international arbitration courts adjudicating reparation with processes that are typically stacked in favour of businesses.

It's a sham market.

Re:Why privatisation has been a costly failure in Britain by scott_w on Tuesday July 11, 2023 @12:27PM (#36683334)
I just explained the thought process, I never said it was guaranteed to hold true.