Thames Water: KKR makes £4bn offer for majority stake February 19, 2025 KKR has offered £4bn for a majority stake in the crisis-hit utility Thames Water, according to a report. Sources close to the matter told Bloomberg that KKR had no plans to sell any assets should its offer succeed. Deliberations are ongoing, and there is a guarantee a transaction will happen, they added. The US asset [...]
Aviva Investors warns three funds failing on performance February 19, 2025 Aviva Investors has flagged three of its funds as failing to deliver value for customers on performance, though it said no changes will be made to the funds. Aviva, which manages 15 investment funds, revealed in its latest Assessment of Value report that three funds are struggling to beat their benchmark. Asset managers are required [...]
GXO-Wincanton deal would raise costs for supermarkets, says CMA February 19, 2025 Logistics firm GXO’s takeover of Wincanton is likely to reduce competition and bump up costs for supermarkets stocking up shelves, according to the UK’s competition watchdog. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Wednesday published its initial assessment into the £762m deal following a year-long investigation. The regulator noted GXO and Wincanton are currently two [...]
Spudway: Subway expands into jacket potatoes in bid to boost UK sales February 19, 2025 Subway has revamped its menu in the latest change to its marketing strategy as it looks to boost UK sales. The fast-food giant will trial a customisable jacket potato in 170 UK stores, citing the humble potato’s social media “renaissance” and “fame on social media”. Deniz Safa, Director of Innovation & Culinary at Subway EMEA, said [...]
London house prices stagnant in 2024 February 19, 2025 This meant the average property in the capital remained stuck at £549,000. Factoring in inflation, London properties lost 2.7 per cent of their value.
Trainline shares tumble as further rail ticketing plans unveiled February 19, 2025 Trainline shares tumbled almost nine per cent on Wednesday as the government unveiled more details on how sweeping railway reforms will impact the ticketing sector. Great British Railway (GBR), the arms-length body that will oversee the UK’s railway system, is set to bring together individual train operator’s onto a single website. The Department for Transport [...]
Business secretary accused of false CV claim to be a solicitor February 19, 2025 Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been accused of falsely claiming that he was a solicitor before being elected as an MP, despite only being a trainee. The cabinet minister – who is responsible for the UK’s businesses and international trade – has previously described himself as a solicitor, including on his LinkedIn profile, according to [...]
Glencore: FTSE 100 miner mulls ditching London February 19, 2025 Glencore became the latest company to warn it could ditch its London listing today in a move that has been described as a “sucker punch” to UK markets. Speaking to the media after the miner’s results today, Glencore chief Gary Nagle said that questions had been raised over whether the UK was the right place [...]
How will inflation impact Bank of England interest rate decisions February 19, 2025 The first inflation figures of the year confirmed what many had already known: Inflation will rise significantly in 2025.
Treasury confirms shift to one-day settlements as Rachel Reeves calls in City bankers February 19, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that the UK will move to a ‘T+1’ standard for settling securities trades from 2027. She is meeting with chiefs of investment banking and asset management firms today to discuss the overhaul. The government has set 11 October 2027 as the date for the UK to transition to a one-day [...]