Flying taxis could help smart transport take off October 23, 2018 Flying taxis have this week moved one step closer to take-off, as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) opens a consultation for new rules to govern drone-filled skies. And not a moment too soon. Last month, a drone capable of carrying human passengers was trialled in Gloucestershire, while another British firm is working on electric [...]
Hamleys’ Chinese owner eyes exit with strategic review of toy shop October 21, 2018 Hamleys’ Chinese owner is considering a sale of the toymaker a week after it posted a 500 per cent decrease in profits. C.banner, which acquired Hamleys for around £100m in 2015, has started a strategic review after being approached by potential buyers. Read more: Hamleys replaces finance chief after disappointing results However it is unlikely [...]
Theresa May ‘drinking in last chance saloon’ as MPs demand she appears in front of influential 1922 committee October 21, 2018 Theresa May is facing a fight for her leadership as she was warned she is "drinking in the last chance saloon" and MPs lashed out at the the Prime Minister over her Brexit negotiations. Conservative MPs have demanded May appears before the 1922 committee on Wednesday night to be grilled on Brexit and the state of the Government, according to [...]
Canadian pension fund circles Gatwick as deal nears October 20, 2018 A Canadian pension fund is preparing a bid for a stake in Gatwick Airport which could be worth £3bn, Sky News reports. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is reportedly part of a consortium in talks to buy out Global Infrastructure Partners, Gatwick’s largest shareholder, in a deal that could be valued at £3bn. Sky reports [...]
Saudi-backed fund plans investment in British digital bank Oaknorth October 18, 2018 The world’s largest technology fund could pump hundreds of millions of dollars into British unicorn Oaknorth. The deal would make Saudi Arabia’s sovereign investment fund an indirect shareholder in the digital bank. Read more: Acorn OakNorth rises to $2.3bn valuation as it closes fresh $100m fundraise Softbank’s Vision Fund, in which the Saudis are the [...]
DEBATE: Subscribers have surged, but are we nearing ‘peak Netflix’? October 18, 2018 Subscribers have surged, but are we nearing ‘peak Netflix’? Jon Tipple, chief strategy officer at FutureBrand, says YES. Netflix is an amazing success story. Its content, valuation, and subscriber numbers all say so, especially after Tuesday’s results. Our FutureBrand Index also confirmed it last week – we reorder the PwC Global Top 100 firms to [...]
New Look confirms China exit plans October 18, 2018 Fashion chain New Look confirmed today that it was planning on pulling the plug on its operation in China. The company said it has been gradually reducing its number of stores and now intends to close its remaining 120 stores in the country by the end of December 2018. Its Shanghai head office will close [...]
Four Seasons adviser quits amid corporate governance row October 16, 2018 A city firm advising under-pressure Four Seasons Health Care has left its role because it is unable perform after the care company made a string of governance changes. PJT Partners believes it cannot do the job due to series of changes on the boards of Four Season’s operating companies, sources told Sky News. Read more: [...]
Brexit: 23 answers to investors’ questions October 16, 2018 The UK’s scheduled departure from the EU is fast approaching. Many observers are hopeful for an orderly withdrawal. But plenty of potential pitfalls between now and Brexit-day which could result in a chaotic divorce. The only near-certainty at present is that the UK will cease to be a full member of the EU on 29 [...]
Disney moves to pacify EU regulators with concessions on $71bn Fox deal October 15, 2018 Walt Disney has made commitments it hopes will please European regulators, allowing its acquisition of Twenty-First Century Fox to go ahead. The concessions, filed Friday with the European Commission, will be considered by EU antitrust authorities, before a decision is reached by 6 November. Read more: Fox and Disney to sell minority Sky stake to Comcast [...]