HSBC, Goldman and Lord Fink back City fintech firm Bud February 4, 2019 Fintech startup Bud has closed a $20m (£15.3m) funding round from investors such as HSBC, Goldman Sachs and former Man Group boss Lord Stanley Fink. Other investors included Investec’s INVC fund, ANZ Bank, the corporate venture arm of Banco Sabadell and 9 Yards, the venture capital firm which lists former chancellor George Osborne among its [...]
More than three quarters of CFOs believe the UK will be worse off out of the EU, says Deloitte February 4, 2019 More than three-quarters of chief financial officers believe the UK will be worse off as result of leaving the EU, a new Deloitte survey has found. Approximately 80 per cent of CFOs surveyed by the big-four accountant said they expected the long-term business environment to be worse on leaving the EU. The UK is scheduled to leave [...]
Canadian vinyl record shop boss Doug Putman joins bidding war for HMV February 3, 2019 Canadian vinyl record tycoon Doug Putman has made a dramatic late bid to snap up collapsed music store HMV in a move that could hamper Mike Ashley's takeover plans. Douglas Putman, who owns Canadian chain Sunrise Records, has entered the auction and is now the front-runner ahead of the Sports Direct tycoon, according to media reports. [...]
Labour MPs mull party breakaway to form centrist movement in wake of Brexit divisions February 3, 2019 A handful of Labour MPs are rumoured to be on the brink of leaving their party to create a new centrist movement in the wake of dissatisfaction over Brexit. Up to six Labour MPs are thought to be prepared to walk away from the Labour party because of its stance on Brexit, anti-semitism, immigration and other [...]
Debenhams lending talks pay off as it closes in on store closure plan February 3, 2019 Debenhams will this week reveal it has bagged a cash injection from lenders as the struggling department store closes in on a radical restructuring plan. The embattled chain has been in discussions with lenders over recent weeks as it looks to refinance banking facilities over the next 12 months in a bid to stay afloat. [...]
Sajid Javid shoots down speculation of a snap general election in June February 3, 2019 Home secretary Sajid Javid has shot down rumours of a general election in June, saying "the people would never forgive us" if one was called. Speaking to the BBC, Javid said "the last thing" people wanted was a general election. “They want politicians to get on with the job," added. "They have been given a very [...]
Ocado investors set to quiz boss Tim Steiner over M&S food delivery deal February 3, 2019 Ocado boss Tim Steiner will be in the spotlight this week as he delivers the firm’s annual results amid reports of a possible partnership with Marks & Spencer. The two companies are said to be in talks over a food delivery partnership that would see the retailer use Ocado’s warehouses and delivery lorries. Read more: Ocado [...]
Theresa May determined to deliver Brexit ‘on time’ ahead of crunch talks on Irish backstop February 3, 2019 Theresa May has said she remains "determined" to deliver Brexit on time as she prepares to reopen talks with the European Union on the issue of the Irish backstop. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, the Prime Minister said she would head to Brussels to with a "fresh mandate, new ideas and a renewed determination" to stick [...]
High-ranking Venezuelan general backs opposition leader as supporters rally in the capital February 2, 2019 A Venezuelan airforce general has publicly declared his support for the self-declared interim president of Venezuela Juan Guaido as thousands of opposition supporters rally in Caracas. In a video circulating on Twitter today, General Francisco Yanez of the air force’s high command, said most of the armed forces already disavowed Maduro, who claims he is [...]
Putin suspends missile treaty and pledges to build more weapons February 2, 2019 Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that Russia has suspended a cold war era treaty to limit missile building after a similar move by the US. Putin told a meeting with foreign and defence ministers that Russia had suspended the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty which limits land-based missiles with ranges of 310–3,420 miles. Putin [...]