Category : Corporate


UK M&A: Value Up 12%, Volume Down 12% in 2025

UK merger and acquisition activity saw deal value increase by 12% to £131bn in 2025 despite a 12% drop in volume, driven by demand for digital and energy infrastructure assets amid AI growth.

Barclays and Natwest in £2bn Bidding War

Barclays and Natwest prepare competing £2bn+ bids for Evelyn Partners, as UK banks pivot toward wealth management for stable fee-based income amid falling interest rates.

Barclays and NatWest to Bid for Evelyn Partners

Barclays and NatWest are set to table formal bids for Evelyn Partners, a £2bn wealth manager, as an auction concludes this week, with both banks aiming to strengthen their wealth management divisions.

Shell CEO Could Get £19m Pay Package

Shell plans to increase CEO Wael Sawan's pay, with a new long-term incentive worth £13.8m potentially boosting his total package to over £19m annually.

Santander's UK Profit Lags as US Deal Sealed

Santander reports record €20.9bn global profit for 2025, but UK operations are hampered by a £295m motor finance provision. The bank also announces a $12.2bn acquisition of Webster Financial in the US.

Baird Targets European M&A Market After Hiring Spree

Baird, the US investment bank, is aggressively targeting the European mergers and acquisitions market following a significant hiring spree, aiming to capitalise on cross-border deal opportunities.

Epstein's Silicon Valley Links Exposed in Emails

Newly released emails show Jeffrey Epstein maintained connections with tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos years after his prison release for sex offenses, attending exclusive dinners.

Odey Hedge Fund Ignored HR Law, Claims Report

Crispin Odey, founder of Odey Asset Management, reportedly told his executive committee that human resources law did not matter at his hedge fund, sparking controversy and scrutiny over workplace practices.

Netflix CEO Grilled by Senators Over Warner Bros Merger

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos testified before a Senate subcommittee, facing intense questioning on competition, job losses, and accusations of promoting 'woke' content to children during the Warner Bros Discovery acquisition hearing.

SpaceX Merges With xAI in $1 Trillion Deal

Elon Musk's SpaceX has acquired his AI startup xAI in a landmark $1 trillion merger, creating the world's most valuable company valued at over $1.25 trillion.

Disney Names Josh D'Amaro as New CEO

Disney has announced Josh D'Amaro as its next chief executive, marking a significant leadership transition after Bob Iger's return to stabilise the company following a problematic succession.

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