Exclusive: Roland Garros Star and ATP Chief in £450,000 Tennis Fund Raise
A French performance start‑up, TIVA, secured a £450,000 (≈ $570,000) pre‑seed round to launch grip‑enhancing cosmetics for tennis players. The round includes French Open champion Elina Svitolina and ATP Tour chief Eno Polo, alongside APEX fund, former Adidas vice‑president Alberto Uncini Manganelli and Oaky co‑founder Lars Jonker. TIVA’s products – Ultimate Dry Grip and Performance Grip Wax – aim to optimise hand‑to‑racket friction for marginal gains. The company plans to expand from Paris and Bayonne into the UK market this year.
Fintech Firms Grew Four Times Faster than Traditional Banks in 2025
Fintech firms grew four times faster than traditional banks in 2025, posting a 22% average revenue increase and reaching half a trillion dollars in global revenue, according to BCG’s Global Fintech Report 2026. Europe led the surge with 24% growth,...
House Prices Will Fall by Two per Cent This Year – the Most Since the Financial Crisis
Savills forecasts UK house prices to decline by 2% in 2026, the first nominal drop of that magnitude since the 2008 financial crisis. The downturn is driven by sharply higher mortgage rates after the Iran war, with two‑year fixed rates...
UK Music Tech Faces Scale-Up Crunch as Growth Funding Collapses
Britain’s music‑tech sector is confronting a severe scaling crunch as growth‑stage funding collapsed by roughly 90% over the past five years, dropping from $128 million in 2020 to just $12.7 million in 2025. While total investment reached $1.03 billion and seed capital more...
BCG, Bain and Alvarez to Ramp up Entry Level Hiring Despite AI Fears
UK’s three largest consultancies—Bain, Alvarez & Marsal, and BCG—are increasing graduate hiring despite industry fears that AI will cut entry‑level roles. Bain aims to boost graduate intake by 25% year‑over‑year, targeting triple‑digit numbers. Alvarez & Marsal is forging campus alliances in the...
Chaos at Heathrow as Burst Water Pipe Causes Train Cancellations
A ruptured water main at Heathrow’s Terminals 2 and 3 on Saturday forced TfL to shut down the Elizabeth line between Hayes and Harlington, leaving the airport’s primary rail links inoperable. The flooding also knocked out Heathrow Express services, while the Piccadilly...
Easyjet Attracts Takeover Interest From US Private Credit Firm
Easyjet, the UK‑based low‑cost carrier valued at roughly $3.8 billion, has attracted takeover interest from US private‑credit firm Castlelake, which manages about $36 billion in assets. Castlelake disclosed it is in the early stages of evaluating a possible offer but has not...
Fortegra Completes Acquisition by DB Insurance
Fortegra Group announced the completion of its acquisition by South Korea’s DB Insurance, following regulatory and shareholder approvals. Fortegra will continue operating independently, preserving its leadership team, distribution channels, and underwriting discipline. The deal positions Fortegra to broaden its geographic...
IFF Enters Into Agreement to Sell Its Food Ingredients Business to CVC
International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) agreed to sell its Food Ingredients business to funds advised by CVC Capital Partners for an enterprise value of about $4.3 billion, retaining a 10 percent minority stake worth roughly $200 million. The divestiture, part of a broader...
Reeves’ Summer of Fun Won’t Deliver Growth
The UK Labour government announced the Great British Summer Savings scheme, a temporary VAT cut from 20% to 5% for selected family leisure activities and free bus travel for children aged five to 15, costing roughly £300 million (about $375 million). The...
AAHI’s SLA-SE Adjuvant Technology Powers Lilly’s Acquisition of Curevo’s Next-Generation Shingles Vaccine
Eli Lilly has agreed to acquire Curevo Vaccine, securing its Phase‑3‑ready shingles shot CRV‑101, which incorporates Access to Advanced Health Institute’s (AAHI) proprietary SLA‑SE adjuvant. The adjuvant is designed to boost T‑cell immunity while maintaining a favorable safety profile, positioning the...
Ask the Expert: Should I Invest Instead of Buying a Home?
Fidelity specialist Marianna Hunt advises a London‑based twenty‑somethings that, given today’s market, investing a £20,000 (≈$25,400) savings pool may outpace buying a modest flat. She notes that after inflation UK home values have slipped over the past three‑to‑five years, while...
KBRA Releases Research – Coming of Age: The Evolution of European Middle Market CLOs
KBRA’s new research charts the early‑stage growth of European middle‑market collateralised loan obligations (CLOs). The study notes that only a handful of publicly rated transactions have been completed, yet recent issuances indicate rising interest from managers and investors. Unlike traditional...
English Wine Has Moved up a Notch – Here’s Why
English wine is gaining momentum as counties forge distinct regional identities. Kent’s Wine Garden of England collective, launched in 2018, unites nine vineyards for joint tours and events. In 2022 Sussex earned the UK’s first wine‑specific PDO, raising quality standards...
Gen Z Craze Toy Maker Jellycat Launches Legal Action Against Next and Hamleys
British plush‑toy maker Jellycat, a Gen‑Z favorite, has filed three separate trademark lawsuits in the London High Court against Next Retail, Hamleys of London and online retailer Bessie London. The company, owned by Jelly Holdings, reported a 66% revenue surge to...