Von Der Leyen’s vaccine strategy violates the EU’s founding principles February 9, 2021 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has conceded that individual countries could have vaccinated their populations quicker had they acted alone rather than relying on the EU’s collective vaccine purchase and distribution program. She has effectively acknowledged that her vaccine procurement programme violated a fundamental principle of the European Union’s founding treaties. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has published an op-ed in the leading German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: “I ask myself the same questions every day: Could we have been much [...]
Medical cannabis firm MGC Pharmaceuticals to float on LSE February 9, 2021 Medicinal cannabis firm MGC Pharmaceuticals has announced plans to float on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. MGC Pharma is a European-based bio-pharma company specialising in the production and development of phytocannabinoid-derived medicines. As part of the listing process, the company intends to raise gross proceeds of approximately £6.5m via institutional and other [...]
TUI expects summer boost after pandemic pushes holiday giant into ‘fragile’ position February 9, 2021 The world’s biggest holiday company has announced a €699m loss during its first financial quarter as lockdowns severely limited demand for fights over the festive period. The results signal a difficult year for TUI, whose operations have been battered by the coronavirus pandemic. Cautious optimism Despite the challenges, the group remains confident in a strong [...]
Joules buys digital retailer for up to £12.5m in bid to expand in booming homeware market February 9, 2021 Joules has bought digital homeware retailer The Garden Trading Company for up to £12.5m, as it seeks to expand further into the thriving interiors market. Garden Trading sells its own home, garden and outdoor product designs through its direct-to-consumer platform and through 1,000 stockists across the UK. Joules said the acquisition will strengthen its position [...]
Myanmar protestors defy ban on gatherings as demonstrations intensify February 9, 2021 Myanmar’s authorities have today extended areas where gatherings are restricted after protesters confronted police in cities across the country. Gatherings of more than five people are banned, and curfews have been imposed in areas including the commercial hub of Yangon and the capital city of Naypyidaw. The rules come after Myanmar police fired gunshots into [...]
Notonthehighstreet.com bought by Boston private equity firm February 9, 2021 Online marketplace notonthehighstreet has been bought by Great Hill Partners, a Boston-based private equity business. Great Hill Partners will become a majority shareholder in the business, with existing investors Burda Principal Investment and Industry Ventures also remaining as shareholders. Notonthehighstreet did well throughout the coronavirus pandemic, boosting revenue by 50 per cent in the last [...]
Bellway revenue soars as first-half housing completions break records February 9, 2021 UK housebuilder Bellway reported that completions rose to record-breaking levels in the first half of the year, sending revenue soaring. Housing revenue jumped more than 12 per cent to £1.72bn in the first half, up from £1.52bn the previous year. The number of homes sold rose 6.3 per cent to 5,656, compared to 5,321. Bellway [...]
Huawei founder hopes Biden administration will have ‘open policy’ February 9, 2021 Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei said he hopes the new U.S. Biden administration will have an “open policy” to the Chinese company, after Donald Trump placed it on a trade blacklist. Zhengfei said he hoped U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration would bear in mind U.S. business interests when forming its policy. He said it was “conducive” [...]
Journalist sues Facebook over loss of control of personal data February 9, 2021 A claim has been filed against Facebook in the High Court of Justice regarding a loss of control over his and the personal data of around one million other affected Facebook users in England and Wales. The claim, brought about by journalist and writer Peter Jukes, is a consumer representative action brought on behalf of [...]
Living in a Digital World: three ways to connect with clients February 9, 2021 Where do financial advisers add value for investors? Relationships — including trust and personal connection — account for 72% of financial advisers’ perceived value, according to a recent Vanguard investor survey. The remaining 28%, investors attribute to the actual services advisers provide, such as creating financial plans and maximizing investment returns. This research emphasizes what [...]
