A £3bn reckoning that will reshape buy now, pay later Regulation Buy now, pay later providers are cheering the arrival of new regulations.In this week’s column Samuel Norman considers how the industry could be reshaped. Five years ago, the government revealed plans to crack down on the buy now, pay later market after an industry review found financial risks posed by the ease with which consumers [...]
H&M misses sales target as cost-cutting leaves retailer understocked Retail H&M slumped to lower than expected sales and profit as the retailer warned that its cost-cutting drive is leaving some stores unable to keep up with demand. The Swedish-listed firm took 54.8bn kronor (£4.2bn) in sales in the three months to the end of May, flat year on year. Its operating profit jumped by 11 [...]
Inside Celonis, the German tech unicorn that won over a fifth of the FTSE 100 Tech For a company valued at more than $13bn (£9.58bn), Celonis remains relatively unknown in Britain. Founded in Munich in 2011, the software company has become one of Europe’s most valuable private tech firms, with customers including AstraZeneca, ASOS, BMW and the UK Cabinet Office. The UK has become one of its three largest markets globally. [...]
M&S eyes up Brits’ weekly shops as food arm set to expand May 15, 2026 Marks & Spencer has not been shy over its ambition to conquer the British weekly shop, and the retail giant is nearing a crucial update on its foray into the UK’s fiercely competitive grocery market. M&S Food accounts for more than half (54 per cent) of the retailer’s revenues, and its recent warehouse expansions suggest [...]
ASOS shares soar as it offloads Lichfield warehouse to M&S in £66m deal May 11, 2026 Retail giant ASOS agreed to sell one of its stock warehouses to Marks and Spencer for £66m in the latest sign of its efforts to save money on rent and improve its financial position. The fashion retailer said the sale of the Lichfield fulfilment centre, which is expected to close by the second half of [...]
Asos shares uptick despite narrowing losses April 23, 2026 Asos shares are up by more than 3 per cent on Thursday as the online fashion giant focuses on efforts to bear down on its losses. The group cut its pre-tax loss by more than £100m to £137.9m for the six months to the beginning of March, while revenue slid 14 per cent to £1.1bn. [...]
Mike Ashley appeal case confronts ‘unjust’ trademark claims April 21, 2026 Billionaire businessman Mike Ashley‘s company, Sports Direct, is back before the court today as it seeks to challenge damages awarded in a trademark infringement claim. The appeal follows a long-running dispute between Sports Direct and the Beverly Hills Polo Club brand, owned and managed by Lifestyle Equities, which claimed Sports Direct had infringed its trademark through products [...]
AFC Wimbledon seeking fan investment at £26.8m valuation April 8, 2026 League One side AFC Wimbledon is seeking further investment at a valuation of £26.8m through crowdfunding. The Dons, who sit 16th in the third tier of English football, have registered themselves on investment platform Republic, offering up a maximum allocation of £68,125. The site states that this is an “opportunity to invest in AFCW PLC [...]
Exclusive: Frasers Group acquires stake in athletic giant Puma March 5, 2026 Frasers Group has taken a stake in athletic giant Puma, City AM can reveal. Retail giant Frasers has acquired 246,000 shares in the athletic group, according to German filings published on Thursday. Puma’s share price currently stands at €22.50, meaning this 5.77 per cent stake is worth more than €5.5m. Frasers Group, founded by British [...]
Exclusive: RPC to lose Mike Ashley’s ‘rainmaker’ lawyer February 13, 2026 City law firm RPC is set to lose one of its highest-billing lawyers, who represents the retail titan Mike Ashley. Long-term partner Jeremy Drew will leave the firm after nearly 20 years in the solicitor’s retail and commercial department, which he also co-led. The star lawyer has been a long-term adviser to Mike Ashley, the [...]