SoftBank-backed Flipkart rallies $37bn valuation, just south of its target July 12, 2021 Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart, which is controlled by Walmart, has been valued at $37.6bn today, just shy of its target. The valuation comes ahead of an initial public offering (IPO), which it hopes will take place early next year. Flipkart rallied $3.6bn in the pre-IPO fundraiser, which spurred its valuation and was co-led by SoftBank Vision [...]
Young’s to sell most tenanted pubs for £53m, eyeing a freehold future July 12, 2021 Brewery Young’s has agreed to sell 56 of its 63 pubs in its Ram Pub Company estate for £53m, to add some ‘firepower’ to existing pub upgrades ahead of no restrictions. The brewery has made “attractive returns” investing and operating managed pubs and hotels, its boss said, which it will use the newly secured funds [...]
Tate & Lyle confirms break-up with £1.2bn sweetener division sale July 12, 2021 Historic foodstuffs brand Tate & Lyle will be broken up, it confirmed this morning, as it sells off the controlling stake in its sweeteners division for £1.2bn. American private equity firm KPS Capital Partners will take a 50 per cent stake in Tate & Lyle’s “Primary Products” business, which makes commodities like artificial sweeteners and industrial [...]
Asos enters deal with Nordstrom to bolster Topshop’s US presence July 12, 2021 Asos has teamed up with the US’ Nordstrom, which will see Topshop clothes sold in brick and mortar stores for the first time since the brand fell into admission last year. The joint-venture will see Nordstrom snag a minority stake in Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands, which joined Asos’ pre-existing online platform following [...]
Klarna snaps up London ecommerce tech startup Hero July 11, 2021 Klarna has acquired London-based ecommerce tech startup Hero in a deal worth a reported $160m (£115m). Hero, which was founded in 2015, offers virtual shopping services to retailers and counts Harvey Nichols, Levi, Nike and JD Sports among its clients. Klarna said it will introduce Hero to its 250,000 retail partners, allowing them to access [...]
Morrisons bosses set for bumper payday from private equity takeover July 11, 2021 Three of Morrisons’ most senior executives are set to earn millions from the supermarket’s proposed private equity takeover as scrutiny grows over the deal. Morrisons has accepted a £6.3bn takeover offer by a consortium of funds led by private equity firm Fortress — the latest in a growing frenzy of US buyouts of British firms. [...]
Outdoor dining set to stay in high street regeneration push July 10, 2021 Outside dining is set to become the norm in the UK even after Covid-19 restrictions are lifted as the government seeks to push forward with its “levelling-up” agenda. In a speech next week, Boris Johnson will lay out his plans for regenerating the country’s high streets, which have been in slow decline for years. After [...]
Amazon snaps up Tesco exec Tony Hoggett to run stores worldwide July 9, 2021 Amazon today announced it has appointed Tony Hoggett, formerly one of Tesco’s top executives, to run its physical stores. Joining in January 2022, Hoggett will take on the role of senior vice president of physical stores and report to Dave Clark, chief executive of Amazon’s worldwide consumer business. He will be based in Seattle. Clark [...]
Top Tesco executive Tony Hoggett to step down after 30 years July 9, 2021 One of Tesco’s most senior executives is stepping down after more than three decades at the supermarket. Tony Hoggett joined Tesco in 1990 and has served in a number of top roles in the UK and Asia. He became group chief operating officer in 2018 before being appointed to the newly-created role of chief strategy [...]
UK supermarkets brace for Euro 2020 final frenzy July 9, 2021 Soaring demand for beer, soft drinks, salads and barbecue food as England supporters prepare for Sunday’s Euro 2020 final is putting more pressure on supermarket supply chains already creaking from a shortage of lorry drivers. Watch the full report.