US markets surge to a record and FTSE starts the week on a high February 8, 2021 US markets surge to a record and FTSE starts the week on a high
Napster set for London listing after MelodyVR deal February 8, 2021 Napster is reportedly preparing to list in London later this month following the $70m (£53.8m) reverse takeover by startup MelodyVR. Napster will start trading on Aim from 26 February, according to the Guardian, the first time it has ever had its own IPO. Virtual music tech company MelodyVR, which launched in 2018, announced it had [...]
Cain International mulling insolvency process for Italian chain Prezzo – report February 8, 2021 The private equity firm which bought Italian chain Prezzo in December is reportedly mulling putting the restaurant group through an insolvency process. Sky News reported that Cain International was considering a number of options, including pre-pack administration, as uncertainty over the future of the casual dining sector goes on. The firm, which also owns Swingers [...]
Don’t expect sharp post-Covid rebound for UK economy, warn Niesr economists February 8, 2021 Don't expect sharp post-Covid rebound for UK economy, warns Niesr
Spirited away: The Brits making their own brand of tequila February 8, 2021 Two Englishmen have founded one of the first British tequila brands, creating their own line of super-premium, 100% agave spirit. VIVIR is distilled in collaboration with the multi-award-winning Casa Maestri, using natural volcanic spring water and traditional production processes. “I worked for a food company and brought Bircher muesli to the UK,” says co-founder Paul [...]
Michael Gove slams EU for putting ‘vaccine procurement’ ahead of Northern Ireland peace February 8, 2021 Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has accused the EU of putting peace in Northern Ireland at risk to try and “salvage” its slow Covid vaccine rollout. Gove told MPs today Brussels “owes its member states is a fuller explanation about why it acted in the way it did” and that the EU’s quickly rescinded call [...]
Hunting for unicorns could see us miss the easy targets February 8, 2021 Every year, the health of Britain’s venture economy, and particularly tech, ecosystem is judged by the number of unicorns – companies that have secured billion-dollar valuations. The number of unicorns goes up, and the growing strength of the emerging next generation of UK businesses is celebrated. At the pinnacle of the apex, it’s a good [...]
British entrepreneur Mike Lynch gears up to fight US extradition attempt February 8, 2021 Mike Lynch, the British businessman facing accusations of fraud, will this week fight attempts to extradite him to the US. Lynch is facing charges of securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy in the US related to the 2011 acquisition of his former software firm Autonomy by tech giant Hewlett Packard. Following the sale, HP wrote [...]
Heathrow ‘key’ to success of UK’s freeports push, airport says February 8, 2021 Heathrow Airport has said that the UK’s biggest air travel hub has a “key role in facilitating the successful implementation of the UK’s freeports policy”. In its application for freeport status, which was submitted on Friday, the airport said it played “a central role in facilitating Britain’s position as an independent trading nation by enabling [...]
Special wines to treat your beau this Valentine’s Day February 8, 2021 “We sold a bottle of Sine Qua Non The Hussy Roussanne 2000 to a customer for Valentine’s Day. It currently retails for £1,580. The most expensive bottle we have in the shop is the Macallan Lalique 2 55YO, which sells for £145,000.” Established in 2012 in the heart of London’s Mayfair by Russian mobile phone entrepreneur [...]
