Pandora heads for growth this year as online sales boom February 4, 2021 Jewellery maker Pandora anticipates its first sales growth in three years this year despite many high street shops enduring a harsh pandemic sales dip. 2021 looks to be a year of growth for Pandora, the company said this morning, with thanks to a boost in online sales pushing a strong final quarter in 2020. The [...]
Millions of NatWest customers to see Visa debit card switch to Mastercard February 4, 2021 Millions of NatWest customers will see their debit cards switch as the British bank plans to start using Mastercard over Visa, despite Mastercard’s plans to hike EU fees. NatWest has become the latest bank to adopt Mastercard, which has prior agreements with Santander UK, HSBC’s First Direct and Monzo. The move will divert around 16m [...]
City Moves for 3 February: Who is switching jobs in the Square Mile this week? February 3, 2021 Snakes and Ladders provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. New head of UK business for BNP Paribas REIM French firm BNP Paribas Real Estate Investment Management (BNP Paribas REIM) has appointed a new UK business head to manage its multi-billion-pound real estate [...]
United Utilities pockets £88m for stake in Estonian water company February 3, 2021 United Utilities has agreed to a £88m cash deal to sell its 35.3 per cent stake in the largest water utility company in Estonia, Tallin Water. The utilities company will sell the stake to a consortium led by the Estonian city of Tallinn, which is an existing partner of United Utilities, alongside company Utilitas. Company [...]
Number of FTSE 100 top positions held by black people drops to zero February 3, 2021 There is not a single black business leader at any FTSE 100 company in the UK despite businesses pledging to do more for racial inequality. Research by executive recruitment consultancy Green Park has found that the number of black people filling leadership positions of chairman, chief executive or finance chief at FTSE 100 firms is [...]
EU watchdog wants Apple to pay €13bn in back taxes after all February 1, 2021 EU competition enforcers are filing to overturn a verdict which they claim was a legal mistake when it abandoned an order for Apple to pay €13bn (£11.46bn) in Irish back taxes. The decision forms part of the European Commission’s clampdown on ‘aggressive’ tax planning by multinationals. The Commission said in 2016 that two Irish tax [...]
UK orders 100m doses of Valneva’s Covid-19 vaccine ahead of clinical approval February 1, 2021 French vaccine manufacturer Valneva said this morning that the government has ordered an additional 40m doses of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate, boosting vaccine orders to 100m. Lined up for 2022, the additional vaccines should provide a buffer, particularly if any of the population require revaccination. Interim chair of government’s vaccines taskforce Clive Dix said: “The [...]
China will no longer recognise Hong Kong citizens’ British overseas passports January 29, 2021 China said today it will “no longer recognise” British National Overseas (BNO) passports for Hong Kong citizens as the UK prepares to welcome those fleeing the National Security Law. A foreign ministry spokesperson for the Chinese government said: “From January 31, China will no longer recognise the so-called BNO passport as a travel document and [...]
Boohoo confirms talks with Philip Green’s Arcadia over high street retail deal January 29, 2021 Boohoo has confirmed this morning it is in exclusive talks with Philip Green’s Arcadia group over the acquisition of Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Burton. Topshop owner Arcadia collapsed at the beginning of December, launching 13,000 jobs into uncertainty and becoming the biggest retail casualty of a harsh year on the high street. Boohoo said in [...]
SNP MP admits to travelling 170 miles out of constituency, twice January 28, 2021 An SNP MP has been caught travelling 340 miles during two trips from his second home to his constituency, just days after writing against privileged Covid rule ‘flounters’. East Lothian MP Kenny MacAskill confirmed he has been staying at his second home in Banffshire, 170 miles away from his constituency. With a house in Banffshire [...]
