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Frasers has lifted its Hugo Boss stake towards 48% today. The increase deepens its exposure to the German fashion group while its €38-a-share takeover offer remains opposed by Hugo Boss management.
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Late-paid DBT invoices totalled £28.2m across three recent years. Freedom of Information figures show 1,449 invoices were paid late between April 2023 and May 2026 as government tightens wider payment rules.
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Ingenico has secured new capital to reset its balance sheet. A PIMCO-led investor group is providing €150m as the payments company increases investment in products, cloud infrastructure, and customer support.
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EU bankruptcies rose while new business registrations slipped last quarter. Eurostat recorded a 5.7% increase in bankruptcy declarations alongside a 0.5% decline in registrations, with substantial differences between sectors.
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Ultimate Finance’s parent has agreed to acquire Time Finance outright. The £55.13m cash transaction would create a specialist SME lender with a combined net loan book approaching £650m.
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Au Vodka is in advanced talks over a possible sale. US drinks group Sazerac is discussing a transaction worth up to £500m, potentially delivering a major exit for the Swansea-founded brand’s founders after a decade of rapid growth.
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The FCA is examining banks connected to unregulated loan-note schemes. Scrutiny is growing over whether regulated institutions adequately assessed high-risk counterparties and suspicious payment flows as collapsed investment schemes leave consumers facing potentially substantial losses.
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BP’s North Sea sale process is attracting several potential bidders. Neo Next+, Adura, and Ithaca Energy are among likely contenders for a portfolio valued around £2.5bn as BP reshapes its asset base and UK offshore operators consolidate.
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JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon has renewed warnings on bank taxation. His intervention comes as Chancellor John Healey prepares for an October Budget and financial-services groups argue that higher sector-specific taxes could weaken investment and employment in the UK.
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Entain’s UK growth offset pressure from higher online gambling taxes. UK and Ireland net gaming revenue rose 8%, but group underlying EBITDA fell 2% as increased tax costs weighed on earnings.