Disney moves to pacify EU regulators with concessions on $71bn Fox deal October 15, 2018 Walt Disney has made commitments it hopes will please European regulators, allowing its acquisition of Twenty-First Century Fox to go ahead. The concessions, filed Friday with the European Commission, will be considered by EU antitrust authorities, before a decision is reached by 6 November. Read more: Fox and Disney to sell minority Sky stake to Comcast [...]
Sacré bleu! Tour de France trophy stolen during UK tour October 10, 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas has made desperate appeals for thieves to return his trophy, after it was announced today that the coveted cycling prize was stolen at a show in Birmingham. The trophy, which was lent to bike maker Pinarello, was on a tour across the UK with Sky team’s other Grand Tour [...]
James Murdoch quits Sky as Comcast officially confirms takeover of media titan October 9, 2018 James Murdoch has resigned from Sky's board after Comcast confirmed it was now officially the owner of the UK media titan. The chief exec of 21st Century Fox Murdoch stepped down from the board alongside six other directors after Comcast said it had officially acquired 75 per cent of Sky's share capital. The chance of Comcast [...]
Comcast confirms it has secured 75 per cent of Sky shares October 4, 2018 US media titan Comcast today confirmed it had snapped up over 75 per cent of Sky's shares – leading it tantalisingly close to finalising its acquisition of the British broadcaster. In a regulatory filing, Comcast said that once Fox's sale of its 39 per cent stake in Sky had been approved, it would hold over [...]
Ocado claims the FTSE 350 crown while Indivior takes a kicking October 2, 2018 Online supermarket Ocado has claimed the top spot in the FTSE 350’s best performers so far this year just months after sealing its place as a FTSE 100 player, with shares soaring after a swathe of new licensing deals. Shares in Ocado have rocketed 126 per cent since the start of 2018, as the firm [...]
Chained to its rival? Halfords swoops in for embattled bike chain Evans Cycles September 27, 2018 Britain’s largest bike chain Halfords is in talks to rescue its beleaguered rival Evans Cycles, according to Sky News late last night. Halfords is understood to be one of several parties which have shown interest in buying Evans, which has hurried up the bidding process in an effort to avoid collapse. The news comes [...]
We are veering towards a Brexit brain drain – it’s time for brands to shake things up September 26, 2018 There is a lack of innovation among British businesses; this was a problem highlighted in our latest research. It’s also a problem which threatens the future of UK businesses outside of the EU bloc, potentially hindering our ability to attract and retain talent. Fast-growing economies such as China, Indonesia, India, the US, and Germany [...]
Pub giant Shepherd Neame serves up rising profits September 26, 2018 Britain’s oldest pub owner posted a five per cent rise in profit in the year to the end of June this morning, following 12 months that have seen the brewer ramp up its operations in London and the south east. Read more: Spirits in the sky as pub landlord enjoys bumper summer of profits Shepherd [...]
Taxpayers to foot £65m bill from Carillion redundancies September 25, 2018 Taxpayers are set to cough up £65m in redundancy payouts following the collapse of outsourcer giant Carillion. The liquidated construction services company, which bucked under the weight of a £1.5bn debt pile in January, has so far paid out £50m of the total £65m after thousands of workers were made redundant. The figures also [...]
Comcast has built up a 30 per cent Sky stake following its auction showdown with Fox on Saturday September 25, 2018 US media titan Comcast this morning confirmed it had bought 30 per cent of shares in British broadcaster Sky so far after winning a dramatic auction for the company against 21st Century Fox on Saturday. In a note to the market, it confirmed it had purchased 515,885,170 shares at its improved offer price of £17.28 per [...]