
The UK government has unveiled the “Sterling 20” initiative. It brings together 20 of the country’s largest pension funds to channel capital into domestic infrastructure, affordable housing, and high-growth sectors including AI. The move marks a coordinated effort to boost long-term investment in the British economy.

Kering will sell its beauty division to L’Oréal for €4 billion. The deal marks a strategic shift for the luxury group, which is refocusing on fashion and easing a debt load built up through recent acquisitions and property investments.

This week’s M&A activity spanned industrials, logistics, infrastructure, and professional services. From a £1.3 billion carve-out in manufacturing to a landmark logistics portfolio transfer, the UK remained a focal point for global buyers refining strategy, scale, and sector exposure.

Over 400 UK firms have been recognised for prompt payments. The Fair Payment Code aims to combat late payments costing the UK economy £11 billion annually. Businesses must demonstrate transparent payment practices to qualify for awards under the scheme.

Rachel Reeves has admitted both tax rises and spending cuts are being considered. The chancellor told Sky News she was “looking at tax and spending as well,” confirming for the first time that both options are on the table as she works to address the UK’s growing fiscal gap.

Cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler uncovered an unsecured database. The breach exposed nearly 180,000 files containing personal and financial data. Invoicely, a global billing and accounting platform, faces scrutiny over a large-scale data exposure that included tax IDs, addresses, and payment details.

This week’s UK M&A activity spanned engineering, wealth, insurance, and technology. From WSP’s £363 million purchase of Ricardo to Lloyds’s move for Schroders Personal Wealth, dealmaking reflected global appetite for regulated and technical sectors, where scale, integration, and specialist expertise continue to shape the direction of corporate consolidation.

Zilch CEO promises innovation in fintech as IPO scene heats. Philip Belamant, CEO of Zilch, has expressed excitement over the burgeoning fintech IPO market, highlighting Klarna’s successful debut as a positive indicator. Zilch plans to introduce unique offerings to public markets amid product expansions.

Worldly acquires GoBlu to unify sustainability data systems. Worldly has acquired GoBlu, enhancing its capacity to track social and environmental performance in consumer goods supply chains, aiming to create a more cohesive and efficient system….

WSP finalises its £363 million purchase of Ricardo PLC. The transaction brings the British environmental consultancy under Canadian ownership and strengthens WSP’s position in sustainability and infrastructure advisory services, following regulatory approvals and delisting from the London Stock Exchange.