European Commission to propose vaccine passport legislation this month March 1, 2021 The European Commission will propose legislation for an EU-wide digital vaccine passport in March, President Ursula von der Leyen said this morning. Speaking to lawmakers this morning, she said: “As for the question of what the digital green passport could look like: we will submit a legislative proposal in March”. Her words come after it [...]
Halfords on track for £100m profit as cycling division keeps the wheels turning March 1, 2021 Halfords this morning said that it was on track to post full year profit of £90m to £100m as a pandemic-inspired cycling boom continued. That’s after paying back £10.7m in furlough income, as the firm announced that it would do this morning. The firm’s shares rose 17 per cent on the back of the announcement. [...]
300 McColl’s convenience stores to be converted into Morrisons Daily’s March 1, 2021 300 McColl’s convenience stores are set to be converted into Morissons Daily’s over the next three years, as the companies’ said this morning they have extended their wholesale supply partnership. The upcoming rollout follows over 30 conversions in recent months, with all stores continuing to be owned and operated by McColl’s. Offering the Morrisons [...]
Bank of Ireland to shut 103 branches as digital shift reaches ‘tipping point’ March 1, 2021 Bank of Ireland has announced it will close 103 branches across the island as the bank shifts to a digitally driven service. The closures are part of a cost cutting initiative which will shut 15 of its 28 branches currently operating in Northern Ireland. In August, the bank said it was aiming to cut 1,400 [...]
Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group burns through £5.5m a month during lockdown March 1, 2021 Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group has said it expects to burn through £5.5m a month until lockdown restrictions are lifted. The group announced details of the cash burn rate at Christmas but today said it expected to stay at this level until the end of restrictions, which are due to be lifted no earlier than [...]
Reviews website Trustpilot set for London IPO March 1, 2021 Trustpilot is considering launching an initial public offering in London that would see at least a quarter of the company floated on the London Stock Exchange. The offer would comprise new shares raising proceeds of around $50m, the company announced on Monday. Trustpilot is targeting a premium listing on the London market and expects to [...]
Russian retailer Fix Price targets $1.7bn London listing March 1, 2021 Russian budget retailer Fix Price is targeting an IPO size of between $1.5bn and $1.7bn as it finalises its London listing. Earlier this month the company, which is the largest value retailer in Russia, announced its float would allow it to pursue growth and international expansion. Fix Price, which launched in 2007, has more than [...]
Daily Mirror owner Reach sees profit fall despite stronger second half March 1, 2021 Reach today posted a 12.8 per cent fall in profit as the newspaper publisher reported a stronger second half of the year. The firm, which owns the Mirror and the Express, said that profit fell to £133.8m, in line with expectations. An 18.9 per cent decline in print revenue over the year sent the group’s [...]
BT chair Jan du Plessis steps down to ‘focus on other interests’ March 1, 2021 BT chair Jan du Plessis will step down from the board less than four years after joining the telecoms firm. The former Rio Tinto chair joined BT as a non-executive director in June 2017 and was appointed chair that November. Prior to his role at the telecoms giant, du Plessis was chairman of SABMiller when [...]
Ladbrokes owner Entain hikes Enlabs offer after shareholder resistance March 1, 2021 Ladbrokes owner Entain has today hiked its offer for Swedish rival Enlabs to around £310m, the firm announced this morning. The FTSE 100 firm said that it was raising its bid from 40 Swedish krona per share to 53 Swedish krona per share, giving the firm a valuation of 3.7bn krona (£311m). The decision to [...]