Thames Water’s cash crunch intensifies as bailout rumours swirl August 15, 2025 Thames Water faces a race against time to avoid collapse even after securing a short-term cash injection. The UK’s largest water company is set to run out of money as soon as September 2026 should it fail to secure a financial lifeline in the form of a recapitalisation deal. The utility company said the second [...]
Sky announces largest-ever Premier League sponsorship deal August 15, 2025 Sky has this morning claimed the “largest-ever Premier League sponsorship deal” ahead of the season returning this evening. The Sky Sports coverage of the Premier League – which will this season see the broadcaster show 215 games, potentially rising to 225 – will be sponsored by a record six brands, with Guinness, Uber Eats, Coca-Cola [...]
Klarna’s losses worsen as provisions jump ahead of IPO August 14, 2025 Buy now, pay later giant Klarna reported a surge in losses for the second quarter as provisions for possible bad loans climbed higher. The Swedish fintech unicorn posted a 64 per cent jump in provisions to $174m (£128m), up from $106m for the same period in 2024. This helped offset revenue growth of 20 per [...]
Are nicotine pouches the future of Big Tobacco? August 14, 2025 Nicotine pouches are all the rage at the moment. Sometimes erroneously described as ‘snus’ – this only refers to tobacco-based products – the pouches are mainstay of Square Mile pubs, start-up offices and even Premier League football pitches. But are they a passing fad, or the new cornerstone of ‘Big Tobacco’? And, for an industry [...]
David Beckham-backed Guild Esports put up for sale on insolvency marketplace August 14, 2025 An esports company backed by David Beckham has been put up for sale on an insolvency marketplace, City AM can reveal. Guild Esports, which owns a multi-story gaming venue in Shoreditch, is seeking offers from prospective buyers with a bid deadline of Friday. Founded in 2018, the company employed esports teams which competed in popular [...]
Mark Kleinman: Thames Water’s fate now sounds like a dripping timebomb August 14, 2025 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his weekly City AM column Thames Water’s fate now sounds like a dripping timebomb There are few more irritating sounds than that of a dripping tap you cannot fix. That, writ large, is the headache facing the Labour government as it [...]
Chanel chief Leena Nair joins Tech Titans investor group at London Spirit August 13, 2025 Chanel chief executive Leena Nair has joined the Tech Titans group of investors who now own 49 per cent of London Spirit. The British-Indian executive was at Lord’s last week for the first game of this year’s Hundred competition between Spirit and Oval Invincibles after reaching out to Nikesh Arora, the chief executive of Palo [...]
Labour lines up advisers for Thames Water administration August 12, 2025 Labour ministers have reached out to top insolvency practitioners in the scenario Thames Water falls into special administration, it has been reported. The UK’s largest water company is at a crisis point after private equity giant KKR pulled out of a multi-billion pound investment deal that could have offered it a lifeline given Thames Water [...]
S&U shares jump as bank predicts profit ‘resurgence’ August 12, 2025 Shares in specialist lender S&U rallied as markets opened on Tuesday after the bank said its “resurgence in profitability” had begun to materialise. The London-listed firm’s stock was up over three per cent in early trading to 1,940. The jump came after the lender provided an upbeat trading update, anticipating building momentum for the second [...]
Tasmania holiday ideas: Beaches, mountains, wildlife and food August 11, 2025 A poster catches my eye while I’m waiting to catch my connecting flight from Sydney Airport. It shows four hikers – a family, perhaps, or maybe just a close group of friends – standing on the summit of a small mountain draped in moss. Warmed by the orange glow of an early sunrise, the hikers [...]