Value of private equity-backed ‘carve outs’ triples due to Covid and war in Ukraine September 20, 2022 The value of private equity-backed “carve out” deals, through which funds buy up an entire business line, subsidiary, or unit, has more than tripled over the past year. The value of carve out acquisitions by private equity funds jumped threefold from £3.8bn last year to £13.4bn in the year running up to 31 August 2022, [...]
Von der Leyen sets out £120bn energy windfall plan and says Ukraine may join single market September 14, 2022 The European Union has set out plans to raise more than £120bn with a windfall tax and revenue cap on energy suppliers, as its commissioner reiterated the bloc’s backing for Ukraine. The body announced it would cap revenues for non-gas energy suppliers in a bid to reverse the fuel problem in Europe, sparked in part [...]
Wave of optimism and excitement across Ukraine as Russian Army suffers defeat after defeat in dozens of villages September 13, 2022 The sombre mood that has dominated Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, at the beginning of February, is rapidly making way for a wave of optimism and excitement after days of successes by the country’s army. Reports yesterday from the Ukrainian military stated that home forces successfully freed more than 20 settlements in [...]
As Ukraine makes key gains, Zelensky says Kremlin’s goal is now ‘to deprive people of light and heat’ September 12, 2022 Ukraine’s president has accused Russia of having a “goal is to deprive people of light and heat”, as the Kremlin fights back against Kyiv’s surging eastern counteroffensive. Moscow allegedly launched a series of strikes against infrastructure in the eastern recaptured city of Kharkiv, including water and thermal power facilities. Accusing Russia of deliberately targeting infrastructure [...]
Ukraine reports major gains in counteroffensive against Russia September 10, 2022 Ukraine has reported major gains in a counteroffensive against Russian forces, officials have claimed today. Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko suggested troops had retaken Kupiansk, cutting off supplies to the Russian front line. The Security Service of Ukraine, known as the SBU, posted a message which it said showed its forces in Kupiansk, further [...]
Solicitors watchdog to crack down on SLAPP lawsuits, SRA chief says September 8, 2022 The head of the UK’s Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has vowed to crack down on the use of spurious lawsuits to silence legitimate criticism. In an article in The Times, SRA chief executive Paul Philip said the watchdog is “committed to cracking down” on law firms using so-called ‘strategic lawsuits against public participation’ (Slapps). The [...]
World heading towards a ‘perfect’ cybercrime storm, cybersecurity experts warn September 6, 2022 THE COMBINATION of mounting geopolitical tensions, the looming economic downturn and the push to digitalise business processes is creating a “perfect storm” for hackers, cybersecurity experts told City A.M. NCC chief executive Mike Maddison said the digitisation agenda on the back of the global pandemic has created new opportunities for hackers in opening up new [...]
Zaporizhzhya: Concern as Europe’s largest nuclear plant shelled by Russia before inspectors arrive September 1, 2022 Major concerns have been raised over Russian attacks on Europe’s biggest nuclear reactor in south-eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin’s forces conducted military operations near the route for officials visiting the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today. The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said Moscow targeted the city of Enerhodar and territory [...]
Head of Russia’s biggest private oil producer, who criticised the war in Ukraine, dies after ‘falling out of hospital window’ September 1, 2022 The head of Russia’s biggest privately held oil producer, who criticised the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, has died after reportedly falling out of a hospital window. Ravil Maganov, chair of the board of LUKOIL, died this week in mysterious circumstances, according to Russian-language site Interfax, as reported by the FT’s Moscow correspondent. The company is [...]
Uniper asks Berlin for more help, raising bailout to £16bn August 29, 2022 German energy giant Uniper has asked Berlin’s government for additional funding, raising the total bailout sought to €19bn (£16bn). The company said its current liquidity was impacted by the West’s standoff with the Kremlin over energy supplies and the consequent surge in costs. “As Russia does not honour its supply contracts, we have to buy [...]