CMA to investigate Google over anti-competitive ‘Sandbox’ behaviour January 8, 2021 The competition watchdog has launched an investigation into alleged anti-competitive behaviour following proposed changes to its so-called ‘Privacy Sandbox’. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) probe was launched following a string of complaints, including from the Marketers for an Open Web group, which argue Google is abusing its market power. “Google’s Privacy Sandbox proposals will [...]
Blackstone secures Bill Gates support in bidding war for Signature Aviation January 8, 2021 The Blackstone Group has the support of a big-name backer – Bill Gates- the largest shareholder in Signature Aviation, strengthening the firms bid to buy the private-jet servicing company. The support comes in opposition to rival bidder Carlyle and strengthens Blackstone’s $4.29bn (£3.16bn) offer alongside Gates’ Cascade Investment. Blackstone and Cascade, which own a near [...]
Scotland’s fishermen halt EU exports amidst post-Brexit ‘catastrophe’ January 8, 2021 Scottish fishermen have reportedly frozen exports to the EU due to a sudden rise in export costs and skewed delivery times after post-Brexit delays at ports. Fishing export businesses are faced with the introduction of health certificates, customs declarations and other paperwork increase export costs and timings. “Our customers are pulling out,” Santiago Buesa of [...]
Cemented: Firestone Building unit sold to LafargeHolcim in multi-billion-dollar deal January 7, 2021 LafargeHolcim has snapped up commercial roofing leader Firestone is to be sold to in a hefty $3.4bn (£2.5bn) deal.
Close to 4,000 UK financial firms ‘at risk of collapse’ after first Covid-19 lockdown January 7, 2021 The UK’s first Covid-19 lockdown threatened the viability of around 4,000 financial firms, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said this morning. The financial watchdog surveyed 23,000 smaller financial firms to greater understand the financial impacts of Covid-19 and found that 59 per cent of firms expected blows to their profits due to the pandemic. Others’ [...]
London First CEO Jasmine Whitbread leaves for Travis Perkins January 6, 2021 London First announced this morning that CEO Jasmine Whitbread will step down after four years at the non-profit. Whitbread plans to succeed Stuart Chambers as non-executive chairman at building material and equipment giant Travis Perkins at the end of March. “I’ve had four exhilarating years at the helm of London First, grappling with the impact [...]
Bigamy, corruption and £202m-worth of bribes: Chinese banker sentenced to death January 6, 2021 A disgraced Chinese banker has been handed the death sentence after he admitted to accepting more than £200m in bribes. Lai Xiaomin was also found guilty of bigamy after living “as man and wife long periods” outside of his marriage. Lai confessed to the crimes in an extraordinary TV interview with a state broadcaster before [...]
