US executive to leave Softbank’s $100bn Vision Fund February 5, 2020 A top US executive is leaving Softbank’s $100bn Vision Fund after expressing concerns about “issues” at the Japanese investment giant, which has been hit by a series of setbacks over the past few months. Michael Ronen, a former banker at Goldman Sachs who joined Softbank in 2017, told the Financial Times he was leaving and [...]
Combined Just Eat and Takeaway.com shares start trading February 3, 2020 The combined shares of Just Eat and Takeaway.com began trading this morning, despite a competition watchdog probe into the merger. Just Eat’s shares were suspended this morning and the merged company Just Eat Takeaway.com began trading on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker Jet. However, a full integration of the two takeaway platforms is [...]
The ethical executive is coming to a boardroom near you February 3, 2020 We are undergoing a paradigm shift in our political, economic, and commercial worlds — and it’s truly stranger than fiction. Donald Trump, Brexit, Cambridge Analytica, the weaponisation of data, deep fakes, and artificial intelligence (AI) — phenomena that would have seemed inconceivable a decade ago are now our day-to-day reality. While some businesses are ahead of [...]
Nissan plans to increase UK market share in Brexit contingency plan February 2, 2020 Nissan has drawn up a contingency plan to pull out of Europe if Brexit leads to tariffs on car exports, but will double down on the UK. The Financial Times reported that according to two people involved in the plan, drawn up last year, Nissan would close its Barcelona van facility and stop manufacturing in [...]
Brexit Day celebrations: How the UK is marking 31 January January 31, 2020 After nearly four years since the EU referendum in June 2016, Brexit Day is upon us. Great Britain will finally cut its ties with the European Union on 31 January after that date was repeatedly delayed. The original Brexit date was 29 March 2019. But that was pushed back to 31 October and then 31 [...]
Sadiq Khan interview: The London mayor talks tech tax, Brexit, Labour and Uber January 30, 2020 There can be no doubt that last year’s General Election redrew Britain’s political landscape. But for an example of just how different things have become, consider that next week a Labour mayor of London will warn a Tory chancellor against imposing new taxes on multinational tech giants. Sadiq Khan tells me he enjoys a good [...]
City Moves for 29 January – Who’s switching jobs at TalkTalk, Countryside and SDL? January 29, 2020 Today’s City Moves includes TalkTalk, Countryside and SDL TalkTalk TalkTalk has hired the former BBC journalist and campaign strategist, Lucy Thomas, as director of corporate affairs. Lucy joins from the communications agency, Edelman, where she was senior director, leading campaigns and advising major brands like Uber, Sainsbury’s and Coca Cola on corporate reputation, PR, political [...]
Just Eat bags deal to deliver McDonald’s January 28, 2020 Just Eat today became the second UK delivery firm to partner with McDonald’s after signing a multi-million-pound deal with the fast food chain. The delivery giant, which is set to enter a £6bn merger with Dutch firm Takeaway.com, said the partnership will hit the road later this year. It comes as a blow to rival Uber [...]
Addison Lee secures rescue deal as banks take over January 28, 2020 Addison Lee has secured a rescue deal as its banks struck a deal to take control yesterday. The struggling cab firm’s lenders have agreed to inject £45m of cash into the business, according to The Telegraph. It wipes out US private equity firm Carlyle’s investment which bought the taxi operator for £300m in 2013. The [...]
Citymapper appoints advisers amid takeover interest January 28, 2020 Public transport app Citymapper has tapped advisers from US bank Raine after receiving overtures from several global tech firms. Sources told Sky News that the platform, which is available in 41 cities, brought Raine on board last week to guide it through discussions with several suitors. The expressions of interest, which were unsolicited, relate to [...]