New data reveals the top 10 dealmakers of 2021 February 6, 2022 New data, shared with City A.M. has revealed the UK’s top dealmakers of 2021. The figures come on the back of a record year for mergers & acquisitions, which saw the completion of more than $5 trillion worth of deals. JP Morgan’s James Robinson ranked as the UK’s top investment banker, after topping MergerLink’s charts [...]
We need a new law to root out corporate supply chain abuses — wherever they take place March 12, 2021 The now all too familiar, shocking allegations of forced labour at Boohoo factories in Leicester are once again grabbing headlines. Last week Boohoo was hit with a double whammy as US lawmakers are mulling a potential import ban against the company, and UK MPs are asking for a long-term bonus scheme to be linked to supply chain [...]
Cash down the back of the sofa: Loaf readies for £70m sale May 2, 2021 Home furnishings retailer Loaf is reportedly exploring options for a sale as it looks to cash in on pandemic-driven increased demand. Industry sources told The Times that a sale could raise as much as £70m. Read more: Bargain bin: Topshop’s former Oxford Street site on sale for £420m Loaf was born out of The Sleep [...]
LadBible heads for £360m London float December 1, 2021 The millenial and Gen Z digital publisher Ladbible is targeting a valuation of £360m in one of the London stock market’s biggest media industry flotations, according to reports this morning. It is understood that co-founder Solly Solomou is to sell a chunk of his stake, which will be valued at around £200m if an initial [...]
Secondary fundraising by retailers nears £2bn as firms eye M&A opportunities May 10, 2021 Listed retail companies have raised nearly £2bn in the past year as they sought to strengthen their balance sheets amid the pandemic. Now, they are starting to eye M&A opportunities. In recent years, listed firms in the UK have relied less on the public markets with private equity firms often considered a more attractive option. [...]
FTSE 100 closes at three-week low as ministers mull hotel quarantine for arrivals January 25, 2021 FTSE 100 closes at three-week low as ministers mull hotel quarantine for arrivals
Bleak outlook: Asos ‘not keeping up with fast fashion rivals’ after supply chain pressures October 11, 2021 Online retailer Asos’ share price took a bruising yesterday amid a “massive warning shot across the bows of other online retailers.” The fashion firm’s CEO Nick Beighton made a shock resignation yesterday after six years in the role as shares were down 50 per cent on the year. Shares fell by 14 per cent on [...]
Exclusive: The pandemic showed the limitations of an online-only model, says retail guru November 17, 2021 A year of enforced change in buying habits where pretty much everything went online has reverted to ‘the new normal’. The Covid pandemic accelerated the shift to online; but is the future of retail really digital only? While in the short to medium term, there will remain some concerns over the logistics of browsing and [...]
Virgin Money swings to profit on lower bad loan provisions May 5, 2021 Banking group Virgin Money today said it had improved half-year earnings after setting aside less cash to cover Covid-driven loan losses. The bank reported statutory pre-tax profit of £72m the six months ended 31 March, compared to a £7m loss a year earlier when it hade hefty provisions for potential bad loans. Virgin Money took [...]
Made.com doubles London warehouse space with new 350,000 sq ft site, creating 100 jobs May 4, 2021 Online retailer Made.com has announced it will more than double its London warehouse space to meet consumer demand for furniture and homewares. The 350,000 sq ft distribution centre at London Gateway Logistics Park in Tilbury is part of Made’s growth plans and will create up to 100 new jobs. The development, which will be completed [...]