Why Virgin Media O2 is cutting jobs and retreating from fibre Telecoms Virgin Media O2’s decision to cut thousands of jobs and halt further fibre upgrades marks quite the retreat for a company once positioned as BT’s biggest challenger, writes Saskia Koopman. Five years after Virgin Media and O2 merged to create a £31bn telecoms giant, VMO2 is battling falling revenues, ongoing customer losses and over £22bn [...]
Deloitte to create new jobs with launch of regional deals unit Big Four Deloitte is set to create up to 100 new jobs across the North of England with the launch of a specialised regional deals unit, in the latest sign that firms are eager to capitalise on the Prime Minister’s national growth agenda. The Big Four firm said on Thursday it plans to create up to 100 [...]
As Weil eyes a merger, who is a sizeable suitor? Legal US heavyweight law firm Weil Gotshal and Manges is reportedly pursuing a merger with another law firm and is in active discussions, fuelling speculation across the legal sector about the likely contenders. Leadership at the New York-headquartered firm, renowned as a powerhouse in corporate restructuring, private equity, and mergers and acquisitions, reportedly told top partners [...]
‘Hard to imagine’ no price hikes after Paramount Warner Bros mega merger October 6, 2026 Streaming customers are likely to face further price rises after Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery complete their $111bn (£82bn) merger on Tuesday, analysts have warned. The Hollywood giants will combine under a new parent company called Skydance, bringing Paramount+, HBO Max and some of the world’s most valuable film and television franchises under one roof. [...]
Sainsbury’s and Morrisons held talks over blockbuster merger October 5, 2026 Sainsbury’s walked away from talks over a merger with smaller rival Morrisons earlier this year, shelving what would have been the biggest shake-up of the UK’s grocery market in decades. The UK’s second-largest supermarket chain held preliminary talks with its private-equity-owned rival over a merger of the two firms between November 2025 and February this [...]
Apollo snaps up Easyjet after Castlelake walks away August 6, 2026 Easyjet has agreed a £5.7bn takeover deal with Apollo after rival bidder Castlelake pulled out of the bidding process. In a joint announcement with the low-cost airline on Thursday, the American private markets juggernaut said it had “reached an agreement on the terms and conditions of a recommended cash acquisition”. The offer has the backing [...]
Deloitte snaps up construction cost boutique to target infrastructure boom August 4, 2026 Deloitte has snapped up a niche construction consultancy as the Big Four firm looks to capitalise on the growing demand for tighter financial controls on major infrastructure projects. Deloitte has acquired The Orange Partnership, a Midlands-based consultancy specialising in cost verification and cost assurance in the construction sector, City AM can reveal. The deal comes [...]
Associated British Foods rises to bread battle with Warburtons July 12, 2026 Associated British Foods is taking on bread giant Warburtons with its Hovis merger. Could this be the biggest thing since sliced bread for the FTSE 100 giant? One of the London Stock Exchange’s biggest stalwarts is ditching the wardrobe and betting on the bread bin. Associated British Foods (ABF), which has been listed on the [...]
Associated British Foods toasts approval for £75m Hovis takeover June 16, 2026 FTSE 100 giant Associated British Foods has been given the green light for a £75m takeover of Hovis, creating the UK’s biggest bread brand. Associated British Foods (ABF) has been cleared to snap up Hovis after the competition watchdog accepted that the foods giant would likely exit the bakery sector in Great Britain and Northern [...]
VodafoneThree enters race for TalkTalk customers with takeover bid June 9, 2026 Vodafone has tabled a bid for TalkTalk’s consumer broadband business, joining a crowded auction as the UK’s largest mobile operator pushes into the home internet market. The FTSE 100 telecoms giant has emerged as a late entrant into the sale process, after initially declining to participate, the Financial Times first reported. Sources close to the [...]