Dilosk Agrees Sale to Pepper Advantage July 17, 2026 Dilosk DAC, trading as Dilosk and ICS Mortgages (“Dilosk”), a leading Irish residential mortgage origination and servicing platform, today announces that it has entered into an agreement for the sale of the business to Pepper Advantage, which is wholly owned by J.C. Flowers & Co., a global private investment firm specialising in financial services. Following [...]
Frasers slams ‘nonsense rumours’ over Harvey Nichols bid July 16, 2026 The boss of Frasers has hit back at “nonsense rumours” that retail brands are reluctant to work with the group, which is known for making aggressive plays to take control of rival companies. The group, which owns Sports Direct and Flannels, gatecrashed the auction to buy luxury department store Harvey Nichols last week, despite some [...]
Retailers urge Burnham to slash tax and back youth employment July 16, 2026 Retailers have called on Andy Burnham to slash their taxes and help them to employ young people in a raft of demands for the Prime Minister-to-be. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), a trade body representing the UK’s biggest retailers, has urged Burnham to “buy into retail” as part of his pledge to back local communities [...]
BNPL regulation is proof that industry and regulators can work together successfully July 15, 2026 It’s often argued that government regulation can hamper innovation, growth and competition. However, new regulations on Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL), which come into force today, demonstrate that government, regulators and industry can successfully collaborate to improve consumer outcomes, while also supporting retail and tech sectors. Since Clearpay launched in the UK in 2019, we’ve [...]
Burnham risks ‘breaking manifesto’ without business rates reform July 14, 2026 Andy Burnham has been warned that he risks breaking Labour’s manifesto if he does not go further in his plans to overhaul the business rates system. The Prime Minister-to-be has been urged by hospitality and retail industry figures to expand his plans to modify a business rates system which they say unfairly disadvantages high street [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers muscles in on Harvey Nichols sale July 14, 2026 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has gatecrashed the sales process for Harvey Nichols, defying the initial objections of the luxury department store’s brand partners. The fashion group, founded by billionaire Ashley, has successfully entered into the auction for the high-end retail group after demanding it be allowed to take part, City AM understands. Harvey Nichols had [...]
Tax online businesses more to save Britain’s struggling high streets July 14, 2026 Labour promised to reform business rates to level the playing field between online and physical businesses. It's time to make true.
Debenhams owner could sell brands to slash debt July 14, 2026 Debenhams Group could sell off some of its brands in a bid to eliminate its £90m debt, as the fashion firm continues its turnaround. The group, which owns the eponymous former department store as well as Boohoo and Pretty Little Thing, plans to slash its debt to below the level of its pre-tax earnings and [...]
Could an England World Cup win boost the markets? July 14, 2026 The equity markets of World Cup-winning countries frequently outperform immediately after victory. A Goldman Sachs study of tournaments from 1974-2014 found that every winner except Brazil in 2002 subsequently enjoyed a period of market outperformance, says Helen Thomas If football finally came home, what might it do for financial markets, aside from a late start [...]
Burnham urged to go further to fix ‘broken’ business rates July 14, 2026 Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham must broaden his plans to reform the “broken and unsustainable” business rates system, hospitality and retail industry leaders have warned. The former mayor of Greater Manchester has already pledged to slash business rates for high street firms but a coalition of trade bodies has urged him to go further. Ros [...]