Tensions within one of the country's biggest pub operators spilled into the open yesterday when Mitchells & Butlers accused a representative of its biggest shareholder of actions that could undermine the independence and effectiveness of its board.
In a strongly worded statement, the owner of the O'Neill's and All Bar One pub chains also said it had approached the Takeover Panel over the issue and would soon submit evidence that "a small group of shareholders" were working to gain effective control of the company.
