Aramco-backed halal fintech opens bank branch in London despite high street bank exodus January 24, 2023 Aramco is backing American fintech Wahed as it launches a physical bank in London. However, concerns of a high street bank exodus place question marks over the branch’s future success. Wahed’s first UK-based physical bank, which opens its doors today on Baker Street, has scored £61m ($75m) from the Saudi Arabian oil giant together with [...]
Beauty and the beat: Hipgnosis spends £163m to buy Justin Bieber’s hits January 24, 2023 Hipgnosis Song Management has bought the back catalogue of Canadian superstar artist and songwriter Justin Bieber in a deal reported to be worth $200m (£163m). Bieber’s songs have been streamed over 32 billion times on Spotify, where he has 82 million monthly listeners. Hipgnosis said today it had acquired Justin Bieber’s 100 per cent interest [...]
THG brings in new finance chief ahead of bleak looking year January 24, 2023 E-commerce giant THG has hired Damian Sanders as its new chief financial officer amid a recent slew of negative earning reports and a collapse in share price. Following a global search, the troubled British firm has landed on Sanders as the replacement for John Gallemore, who is moving over to the role of chief operating [...]
London to get its own highline – as Camden looks to emulate Manhattan January 24, 2023 Camden’s green garden in the sky took a step closer to reality after charity Camden Highline was given the go-ahead for the first stage of a project that will transform a section of disused Victorian railway into an overhead park. Garden designer Piet Oudolf, working with the London Wildlife Trust, is leading the design and [...]
Exclusive: London-based Peckwater Brands swallows competitor to become largest virtual food brand in Europe January 24, 2023 Peckwater Brands has acquired its chief competitor eatclever, making it the largest provider of virtual food outlets in Europe. The acquisition has seen Peckwater scooping brands like taste&soul, KoChi and Chicos from its health food-focused competitor, expanding its reach into Germany, Austria and Switzerland in the process. The terms and price of the deal are [...]
Marston’s bucks hospitality trend as historic pub chain reports bumper festive period January 24, 2023 Pub and hotel operator Marston’s has reported bumper sales over the Christmas period as Brits treated a pint as an “affordable treat”. The historic London-listed firm, founded in 1834, said like-for-like sales were up 12.9 per cent on Omicron-affected 2022, for the 16 weeks to 21 January. Marston’s has however experienced difficulties in this time [...]
Bill Ackman invests £48.8m in luxury watchmaker Bremont January 23, 2023 Bill Ackman has bought a minority stake in British luxury watchmaker Bremont after being a loyal customer for many years. The American billionaire hedge fund manager has invested £48.8m alongside Bremont’s current lead investor private equity fund Hellcat, Bremont announced today. With the new investment from Ackman, Bremont is now valued at around £100m. Ackman’s [...]
Spotify’s revenue slow down will lead to 600 job losses, as tech giant becomes the latest to cull staff January 23, 2023 Spotify will be cutting its global workforce by nearly six per cent with around 600 people expected to lose their jobs. The music streaming platform has joined fellow tech giants including Amazon, Google, Meta and Twitter in laying off staff, with tens-of-thousands of workers being laid off in recent weeks. Last November Meta, the owner [...]
Chapel Down shows English wine still has its fizz with bumper results January 23, 2023 The world is waking up to sparkling wine from England, new results from flagship brand Chapel Down suggest. A new trading update from the Kent-based wine producer reports a 164 per cent increase in exports, indicating a growing market for English sparkling wine overseas. Domestic revenues paint a similarly rosy picture, with off-trade sparkling wine [...]
Top Gun: Maverick and pricier tickets help Everyman cinemas post 75 per cent boom in earnings January 23, 2023 Blockbuster movie Top Gun: Maverick helped boost Everyman Media’s revenues by 62 per cent as Brits continue to embrace cinema going as an affordable luxury. The company, which has 14 of its 38 cinemas in greater London, announced its annual update to December, reporting revenue of £79.7m which is up from the previous covid-impacted year [...]