Kier property arm ‘targeted by US private equity firm’ November 10, 2019 American private equity firm Lone Star is said to be one of the bidders in the race to buy parts of Kier Group, as the embattled contractor looks to raise money. Kier is looking to sell off “non-core” parts of its business, with its housebuilding division, Kier Living, up for grabs. Read more: Kier suspends dividend [...]
Boris Johnson ‘wary of putting HS2 on scrap heap’ November 10, 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has yet to make his mind up on the High Speed 2 rail project but called it “incredibly expensive” late last week, as a government-commissioned review into its future enters its final stages. Speaking on the campaign trail in Nottingham near one of the railway’s planned stops, he said he was [...]
Emirates profit soars as fuel price dip gives airline a boost November 7, 2019 Emirates airline saw profit nearly quadruple in the first half of the year, bouncing back from its lowest half-year results in a decade in 2018. The Dubai-based firm, which is owned by the state, cashed in on a decline in global fuel prices, but said global currency movements had an adverse impact. The state-owned airline [...]
Aston Martin is hoping next year’s James Bond movie will boost sales November 7, 2019 The chief executive of ailing luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin hopes next year’s James Bond movie will give the firm a financial boost. Shortly after announcing the company had fallen to a £13.5m loss in the third quarter of the year, Andy Palmer said the series usually gives Aston Martin a lift in China, a [...]
Essex lorry deaths: Police identify all 39 Vietnamese victims November 7, 2019 All 39 Vietnamese people found dead in a lorry in Essex have been formally identified and their families told. The 31 men and eight women, all of whom were believed to be migrants, were found in the back of a refrigerated lorry in Grays on October 23. Detectives had been working alongside Vietnamese officials in [...]
Airbnb has promised to verify all of its properties – 11 years after it was founded November 6, 2019 Airbnb has said it will verify all properties on its website, after an investigation uncovered a series of scam listings. Last month, Vice News revealed a string of false or misleading rental properties posted on the platform. The tech company said it would review every property by December next year. It also said it would [...]
California demands Facebook hand over documents in state investigation November 6, 2019 California is investigating Facebook’s disclosure of user data to Cambridge Analytica, it emerged in a court filing demanding the firm respond to a subpoena. Facebook is already being investigated by 47 states in the US. Some have raised concerns that Facebook and other tech giants engage in anti-competitive practices, expose consumer data to thieves and [...]
Pizza Express owner to pay down debt pile with £80m cash injection November 6, 2019 The Chinese owner of restaurant chain Pizza Express has launched a tender offer to buy up £80m of the company’s unsecured bonds, as it looks to allay concerns about the firm’s financial future. Chinese private equity firm Hony Capital, which bought the company in 2014, appointed financial advisors before crucial talks with creditors last month [...]
Chinese firm Jingye Group ‘in pole position to buy British Steel’ November 6, 2019 The Chinese company which has reemerged as a frontrunner to buy British Steel is thought to have lofty ambitions the country’s second-biggest steelmaker. Jingye Group, which is hoping to strike a deal for the manufacturer by the middle of this month, is chaired by businessman Li Ganpo, one of the richest men in China. Read [...]
Revolut’s information security chief has left the firm after just two months in the job November 6, 2019 Revolut’s chief information security officer (CISO) Dinis Cruz has quit less than two months after he joined the firm. Cruz announced last week that he will leave the challenger bank this month, in a move described as being “by mutual agreement”. Read more: Martin Gilbert to step down from Stand Life and join Revolut He said [...]
