JD Sports mulls equity raise to fund acquisition spree January 26, 2021 JD Sports has confirmed it is considering tapping shareholders for extra cash to fund acquisitions, following reports that it is mulling a £400m equity raise. The retailer announced this morning that it is “exploring additional funding options” which could involve an equity placing. It said it is seeking to increase its “flexibility to invest in [...]
FTSE 100 closes at three-week low as ministers mull hotel quarantine for arrivals January 25, 2021 FTSE 100 closes at three-week low as ministers mull hotel quarantine for arrivals
Fashion victims: What next for the high street after Topshop and Debenhams go online-only? January 25, 2021 Topshop and Debenhams are set to disappear from the high street after e-commerce giants Boohoo and Asos swooped on the beleaguered retailers, reflecting the dramatic impact the pandemic has had on the UK retail sector. The decision to take former high street stalwarts Debenhams and Topshop digital-only strengthens experts’ predictions that the growth of online [...]
Octopus outfoxed: Challenger brand tops Which? energy survey January 25, 2021 A small provider has ended Octopus’ two year reign at the top of Which’s annual survey of energy companies. Outfox the Market, which was only founded in 2017, rose from 19th in the table last year to top the rankings in Which’s energy satisfaction survey. The small energy provider frequently offers some of the cheapest [...]
Shock to the system: Ofgem proposes new body to run electricity network January 25, 2021 Ofgem has this morning submitted proposals for the creation of an independent body to run the UK’s electricity network, in what would be a radical shake-up of the way the country’s power is managed. Such a body, the watchdog says, could save consumers up to £4.8bn by 2050, while leading the country’s charge towards net [...]
Asos shares jump as retailer confirms exclusive talks to buy Topshop January 25, 2021 Shares in Asos jumped more than five per cent this morning after the online retail platform announced it is in exclusive talks to buy Topshop – the jewel in the crown of Sir Philip Green’s collapsed business empire. Asos said this morning that it is in discussions with Deloitte – Arcadia’s administrator – to buy [...]
Boohoo buys Debenhams brand and website for £55m – but stores set to close January 25, 2021 Online retail giant Boohoo has announced it will buy Debenhams’ brand and website for £55m, but will not rescue the high street chain’s stores or jobs. The deal – announced this morning – means Debenhams’ remaining 118 department stores will close down and could result in up to 12,000 job losses. Boohoo said the acquisition [...]
Premier Oil appoints new finance chief to helm Chrysaor merger January 25, 2021 Premier Oil has appointed a new finance chief who will join the firm upon the completion of its merger with fellow oil explorer Chrysaor. Alexander Krane, a 20-year industry veteran, will join the newly-minted Harbour Energy from 15 April. He replaces Richard Rose, who will step down from the role of interim chief executive and [...]
Topshop set for discount sale price after Next pulls out of race, analysts say January 22, 2021 The bidders circling Sir Philip Green’s collapsed retail empire Arcadia could bag a good deal to buy Topshop, after Next – a frontrunner to rescue the firm’s “crown jewel” – pulled out of the race. Restructuring experts said Next’s exit from the sales process will put the other bidders in a stronger position, making it [...]
Next pulls out of plans to buy Topshop-owner Arcadia January 21, 2021 Next has backed out of plans to buy Sir Philip Green’s collapsed retail empire Arcadia Group, potentially putting up to 13,000 jobs at risk. In a statement, the high street chain said it had withdrawn from plans to buy the Topshop owner because it was “unable to meet the price expectations of the vendor”. “Next [...]