Klarna considering a listing but not ‘right now’ August 18, 2021 Swedish fintech Klarna Bank, which offers ‘buy now and pay later’ loan plans to shoppers, may consider listing as early as 2022. The firm does not have “immediate plans” for an IPO amid “very volatile” markets, chief executive and co-founder Sebastian Siemiatkowski told Bloomberg in Warsaw. Klarna was valued at $45.6bn in its latest funding [...]
Yodel reports most successul year yet after online retail rockets August 13, 2021 Delivery group Yodel has reported its most successful year on record as shoppers turned online during the pandemic. The Liverpool-based company said total volumes had grown by 28 per cent in the twelve months to June 2021 compared to 2020. There was a 12 per cent overall increase in volumes in the last quarter to [...]
Startups urge caution over buy now pay later regulation July 26, 2021 British startups have urged caution over the City watchdog’s plans to regulate the £2.7bn buy now pay later market. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is set to crack down on companies such as Klarna and Clearpay after the number of BNPL transactions across the UK tripled last year. But a lobby group representing startups has [...]
FTSE 100 sees slight fall as energy giants face downturn July 15, 2021 London’s FTSE 100 fell slightly this morning as the energy sector and domestically focused companies both faced losses. The capital’s premier index fell by 0.02 per cent, owing to losses in energy stocks, notably BP and Royal Dutch Shell. Just Eat and JD Sports also saw losses as Covid-19 cases soar across the country. The [...]
Klarna snaps up London ecommerce tech startup Hero July 11, 2021 Klarna has acquired London-based ecommerce tech startup Hero in a deal worth a reported $160m (£115m). Hero, which was founded in 2015, offers virtual shopping services to retailers and counts Harvey Nichols, Levi, Nike and JD Sports among its clients. Klarna said it will introduce Hero to its 250,000 retail partners, allowing them to access [...]
JD Sports director and remuneration chair Andrew Leslie ousted by shareholders July 1, 2021 JD Sports shareholders have ousted Andrew Leslie as a non-executive director at the retailer’s latest general meeting, but passed all resolutions relating to senior pay. In today’s annual meeting Leslie did not receive the required votes to maintain his position within the company, meaning JD Sports will now start looking for a successor. On the [...]
FTSE 100 climbs as Sunak outlines post-Brexit financial services roadmap July 1, 2021 London’s FTSE 100 surged this afternoon as investors digested the Chancellor’s post-Brexit roadmap for the UK’s financial service industry. The capital’s premier index climbed 1.25 per cent in afternoon trading to reach 7,125. The rally came after Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlined plans to make the UK financial services industry more competitive on the global stage. [...]
JD Sports raises profit outlook and announces board change July 1, 2021 Britain’s largest sportswear group raised its profit outlook for the full year to “no less than” £550m in a trading update today. JD Sports said sales in the immediate period after lockdown reopening had been “particularly encouraging”. Most of the fashion retailers 3,300 stores around the world are now open, bar some in the Asia [...]
JD Sports to buy majority stake in Spain’s Deporvillage for €140.4m June 28, 2021 Sports retail chain JD is set to buy 80 per cent of issued shares in Spain’s Deporvillage, the retailer confirmed today, through its holding company Iberian Sports Retail Group (ISRG). The deal will be worth around €140.4m, of which €40.4m has been deferred and will be paid if the business performs well in the months [...]
Retail software firm Itim goes public in £48m London float June 28, 2021 Itim, a specialist software firm that provides services to retailers, has gone public through a £48m stock market float in London. The tech firm, which was founded in 1993 by veteran retail executive Ali Athar, will list today on London’s junior Aim market. Itim has raised £8m through the placing of 5,194,806 new ordinary shares [...]