BDO: A third of companies risk losing business if they ignore the rise of ESG August 31, 2021 As environmental, social and governance (ESG) measures climb higher on both the consumer and investor agenda, companies will begin to lose business if they fail to get on board, new data has found. Almost a third of mid-market companies have admitted they face a “high” or “very high” risk of losing out on business if [...]
Gyms are back: Peloton slims down bike prices for second time in a year August 27, 2021 Fitness machine maker Peloton is set to trim down the price of its bikes, as people trade in DIY home gyms for the real deal. Bikes will be some 20 per cent less expensive from this week onwards, across all its markets in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Germany at $1,495 each. The company’s [...]
The Hut Group billionaire Moulding loaned £151m from local council August 27, 2021 The billionaire owner behind The Hut Group (THG) has been lent £151m by Warrington council, after it secured a £4.5bn stock market listing last year. THG’s Matt Moulding was given access to a £200m loan facility by the Cheshire local council in October for Icon 3 Holdco, a company he indirectly controls. In one of [...]
China targets internet algorithms that risk public order or ‘encourage addiction’ August 27, 2021 China has proposed a ban on algorithms that “encourage addiction or high consumption”, or risk national security or public order, in another round of its regulatory crackdown. In draft guidelines published by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) today, algorithm providers with “social mobilisation capabilities”, or algorithms with large public influence, should first apply through [...]
‘Full-blown recycling crisis’ looms over UK, DS Smith boss warns August 27, 2021 A “full-blown recycling crisis” is looming in the UK, the boss of London-listed packaging firm DS Smith has warned. With the UK trying to up its environmental commitments ahead of the UN’s flagship climate conference COP26 in November, DS Smith chief executive Miles Roberts has said the country is “throwing away” opportunities that could help [...]
Tech crackdown: China proposes banning local sensitive data firms from US IPOs August 27, 2021 China has turned its attention to the US stock market amid its tech sector crackdown, according to reports, by suggesting new rules that ban sensitive data firms from listing. The new rules target internet companies, but the China Securities Regulatory Commission, its local market watchdog, has said that those in the pharmaceutical industry, are still [...]
Microsoft warns of intruder risk in Azure cloud database August 27, 2021 Thousands of Microsoft cloud computing customers could have reportedly been hit by a breach, as it warned intruders could have the ability to read, change or delete their main databases. The weak spot is in Microsoft Azure’s Cosmos DB database, according to Reuters. Which was revealed when security company Wiz found it could open keys [...]
Net fees slip at recruitment giant Hays as Covid rocked business confidence August 26, 2021 Net fees at recruitment giant Hays have dropped eight per cent as the firm grappled with the Covid-19 impacts of rocky business and candidate confidence. The group’s total fees fell from £996.2m to £918.1m in the year to 30 June. Meanwhile, the firm’s operating profit also dropped 30 per cent from £135m to £95m. Shares [...]
Space race: The ambitions, plans and delays of launching superpowers August 26, 2021 Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, following its landmark human flight last month, has launched an uncrewed mission of NASAs future moon landing technology today. The flight, known as NS-17 or New Shepard 17, set off from a Blue Origin site in West Texas. The NASA payload on board is to test technologies including a Doppler Lidar [...]
Research platform Atheneum looks to expand London team after £110m fundraiser August 26, 2021 Research platform Atheneum has set its sights on expanding its London team, as well as its Munich, Shanghai and New York offices, following a £110m funding round. The platform’s latest capital rally, led by Guidepost Growth Equity, will see Atheneum’s UK headcount swell from 50 to 200 over the next 12 months. “We are excited [...]
