Second-hand market ripens as China’s $3bn platform plots US IPO July 5, 2021 Tencent-backed online second-hand marketplace Beijing Zhuanzhuan Spirit Technology (BZST) is plotting a $400m funding round ahead of an initial public offering, according to reports. BZST, currently valued at $3bn, is trying to gauge interest from private equity and strategic investors, Bloomberg first reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The second-hand retailer is eyeing a [...]
‘Rushed’ policy: Those facing financial hardship could get discounts on UK quarantine bills July 5, 2021 Incoming travellers from red list countries may soon be able to apply for discounts or waivers on quarantine costs if they are facing financial hardship, according to reports. UK government lawyers said the Department of Health and Social Care was “currently in the process of refining their scheme to allow persons entering the managed quarantine [...]
UK management consultancy industry smashes forecasts with £12bn revenue July 5, 2021 The UK’s management consultancy industry has grown at double the rate expected for this year, with revenue hitting £12bn, according to the industry’s representative body. The report by the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) found exports have doubled, despite working from home orders across the UK. “The global attractiveness of the UK consulting sector, the second biggest in [...]
Top pay at US law firms climbs to over £150k for London’s new solicitors July 5, 2021 Legal practice for the elite has thrived in London despite the pandemic, as an increasing number of US law firms have upped their pay for new solicitors. Houston-based firm Vinson & Elkins last month confirmed its new starting pay of £153,400, up four per cent from the year prior. The Texan firm topped the ranks [...]
Hipgnosis throws $1bn at latest song-buying spree, as TikTok rallies revenues July 5, 2021 Hipgnosis has thrown over $1bn during its latest stint of song-buying which spans 84 freshly bought back catalogues from the industry’s biggest names. Like-for-like valuation for Hipgnosis’ portfolio has grown 10.4 per cent during the year to 31 March 2021. Meanwhile, streaming income has lifted 18.4 per cent in the second half of the year. [...]
Lockdown sparks more leave and paid benefits for some working parents July 2, 2021 Lockdown sparks more leave and paid benefits for some working parents
Millions of Brits may be barred from Europe due to India-made AstraZeneca jab July 2, 2021 Up to five million Brits who are looking to travel in Europe could be turned away due to being given India-made versions of the AstraZeneca jab
Ryanair traffic balloons to 5.3m in June as the green list calls travellers July 2, 2021 Ryanair’s traffic numbers have surged since the green list got the go-ahead, ballooning from 0.4m in June last year to 5.3m this month. There was also a clear traffic jump from May to June, climbing from 1.8m to over 5m just a month later. The pandemic and its restrictions have suppressed flight and passenger numbers [...]
Wizz Air passenger numbers triple in a year as the industry eyes recovery July 2, 2021 Wizz Air carried around 1.5m passengers this month, a welcomed change from the some 500,000 it ferried in June last year. The Hungarian airline is set to open a sixth Italian base in Naples, which offers passengers 18 new international and domestic routes, as the industry eyes recovery. Wizz Air has also confirmed two new [...]
Online materials retailer CMO valued at £95m in London AIM listing July 2, 2021 Online-only building materials firm CMO has bagged a sturdy valuation of £95m ahead of its London AIM listing, the company confirmed this morning. CMO said it is trying to rally around £45m in a share placement for 132p per share on London’s junior AIM market. Last week, the online retailer announced its intention to list [...]
