Selfridges: Saudi Arabia’s PIF invests in department store group October 8, 2024 Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is now a joint owner of the business behind upmarket department store chain, Selfridges, it has been confirmed. Thai investor Central Group has announced a deal which will see it own 60 per cent of the group’s operating and property companies, with the PIF owning the rest. Central Group [...]
In The Style: What’s next for fast-fashion label as founder quits and takeover drags on? October 1, 2024 The founder of fast-fashion label In The Style has quit as a drawn-out takeover deal continues to rumble on. Adam Frisby set up the Manchester-based brand from his bedroom in 2013 and served as its chief executive January 2022 but returned as CEO in December that year before again leaving the role 12 months later. [...]
Vodafone and Three hit back at regulator’s concerns in merger battle September 30, 2024 Vodafone and Three have pushed back against the regulator’s concerns over their proposed £15bn merger, insisting that “outstanding issues can be resolved,” following the latest findings from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). In a response published today, the telecom firms said they “remain confident” in the deal, which would combine two of the UK’s [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group tables £83m Mulberry takeover bid after capital raise snub September 30, 2024 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has tabled a £83m takeover of Mulberry and launched a tirade against its board after allegedly being shut out of discussions over a £10m fund raise. The retail giant, which owns a 37 per cent stake in Mulberry, offered £83m for the rest of the luxury fashion brand, valuing each share [...]
Bravissimo: Founder sells up ahead of 30th anniversary September 27, 2024 Lingerie retailer Bravissimo, which was set up by entrepreneur Sarah Tremellen almost 30 years ago, has been sold to a Japanese giant. The Warwickshire-headquartered company has been snapped up by Wacoal’s European division, which is based in Northamptonshire, for an undisclosed sum. Tremellen has owned Bravissimo with her husband Mike since she founded the firm [...]
JTC snaps up Citi Trust as it continues transatlantic takeover spree September 16, 2024 FTSE 250 corporate solutions firm JTC has struck an $80m (£60.7m) deal to expand its financial services division with a new acquisition – the latest in a string of recent takeovers. The London-listed company, which is headquartered in the city, revealed it had bought out the US-based fiduciary business Citi Trust from Citi Bank in [...]
Rupert Murdoch-backed REA Group set to increase takeover bid for Rightmove September 15, 2024 The Australian real estate giant REA Group owned by Rupert Murdoch is reportedly considering upping its bid for the British property platform Rightmove.
Portakabin: Sales surge for Portaloo inventor ahead of £1.5bn sale September 13, 2024 Sales jumped by more than £80m at the group behind modular buildings company Portakabin in the year it sold the brand in a deal which transformed its Yorkshire owners into billionaires. York-headquartered Shepherd Group sold Portakabin in June 2024 to French investor Antin Infrastructure Partners for a price reported to be more than £1.5bn. The [...]
Price rises and smaller data packages: Regulator voices concerns over Vodafone’s £15bn Three merger September 13, 2024 The planned £15bn merger between Vodafone and Three could lead to price increases for tens of millions of mobile customers, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has warned. The watchdog added that the deal, which was first announced last year, could also see customers get a reduced service such as smaller data packages in their [...]
Brooks Macdonald pledges ‘simpler’ business as it offloads international arm for £50m September 12, 2024 Money manager Brooks Macdonald has said it would simplify its business and “reignite growth” as it offloaded its international arm to Canaccord Genuity for £50m. In its annual results for the year to June 2024, the London-listed wealth management outfit said its funds under management had risen seven per cent to £18bn despite shedding some [...]