GFG ALLIANCE faces insolvency hearings after Credit Suisse ended settlement talks with the troubled British metals and renewable energy group, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday (10).
The holding company of British Indian billionaire Sanjeev Gupta, which was rocked by last year's collapse of its main lender, Greensill Capital, owes more than $1 billion (£810 million) to Credit Suisse investors, according to the newspaper.
A source close to the matter said GFG could face preliminary hearings in an insolvency procedure.
A judge will decide whether GFG's problems are due to Covid or deeper issues, which would lead to the unwinding of the group, the FT said, citing unnamed people with knowledge of the process.
A GFG Alliance spokesperson said in a statement that the group's "core international businesses continue to generate strong returns and achieve record production levels."
"We remain committed to repaying all creditors and continue to make positive progress toward a consensual debt restructuring that's in the best interest of all stakeholders," the statement said.
Credit Suisse declined to comment.
The Swiss bank has been rattled by its multi-billion-dollar exposure to Greensill and another collapsed fund, Archegos.
Credit Suisse has returned $6.75 bn (£5.48 bn) to investors over Greensill's downfall.
Since the collapse of Greensill, which specialised in short-term corporate loans via a complex and opaque business model, GFG has scrambled to cut costs and raise funds in order to survive.
GFG Alliance offices have been raided by authorities in France and Britain.
Britain's Serious Fraud Office launched an investigation into suspected fraud and money laundering last year.
French investigators are probing suspicions of money laundering and abuse of corporate assets.
(AFP)
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Deliveroo posts first annual profit after 12 years
Mar 13, 2025
FOOD DELIVERY app Deliveroo announced on Thursday (13) its first annual profit as orders and revenue rose, while the 12-year old company sees further growth despite exiting Hong Kong.
The milestone follows sizeable full-year losses owing to high investment costs since American Will Shu founded the company in 2013 and made Deliveroo's first delivery in London.
Deliveroo, which earlier this week said it was exiting Hong Kong owing to growing competition in the Chinese city, posted profit after tax of £2.9 million ($3.8m) last year following a loss of £31.8m in 2023.
Revenue grew two per cent to nearly £2.1 billion, while orders also grew two per cent, according to an earnings statement.
"Whilst the consumer environment remains uncertain, I am confident that we can continue to deliver growth," Shu said in the release.
Going forward, Deliveroo said its focus would include "supporting restaurant partners to meet untapped consumer demand around new occasions", while expanding grocery and retail offerings.
Deliveroo is present in the UK and Ireland, Belgium, France, Italy, Kuwait, Qatar, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
However, in recent years it has exited Australia and the Netherlands due to competition.
It also left Spain after it became the first European Union nation to give food delivery riders labour rights, requiring that they be recognised as employees instead of being considered self-employed freelancers.
Deliveroo, which experienced surging demand during the Covid pandemic from lockdown-hit customers, has tens of thousands of self-employed riders -- a status that continues to cause controversy.
In late 2023, the UK Supreme Court ruled that Deliveroo riders were not entitled to trade union rights such as collective bargaining.
The company has faced questions also over its sustainability, highlighted by its failed stock market debut in 2021.
Its initial public offering had been London's biggest stock market launch for a decade, valuing the group at £7.6bn.
But its share price tumbled on launch day by almost one third from the IPO price of £3.90 as investors questioned Deliveroo's treatment of its self-employed riders.
Despite the profit milestone, its share price slid 4.7 per cent to £1.19 in early London deals.
"It's been a long hard slog but Deliveroo has finally climbed the tough summit of reaching annual profitability," noted Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown.
"But it's not going to be freewheeling from here and the uncertain economic environment points to a wobbly ride ahead."
(AFP)
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JLR had initially planned to manufacture more than 70,000 electric vehicles at the facility. (Photo: Getty Images)
JLR halts plan to build EVs at Tata’s India plant: Report
Mar 12, 2025
JAGUAR LAND ROVER (JLR) has put on hold plans to manufacture electric vehicles at Tata Motors’ upcoming £775 million factory in southern India, according to a news report.
The decision was influenced by challenges in balancing price and quality for locally sourced EV components, three of the sources said. They added that slowing demand for electric vehicles was also a factor.
“All the work (on JLR electric vehicles) in India has stopped. Everything has been suspended since about two months ago,” a supplier source told Reuters.
Automakers worldwide are adjusting their electrification strategies due to increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers, rising demand for hybrid vehicles, and changing government policies on emissions and EV sales targets.
JLR’s move is expected to delay Tata Passenger Electric Mobility’s plan to launch its premium Avinya models, sources told Reuters.
The Avinya models were to be built on the same platform as JLR’s electric vehicles, with some components jointly sourced.
Tata started construction of the new factory in September. The plant, which will manufacture both electric and non-electric vehicles, is expected to reach full capacity in 5-7 years, producing over 250,000 cars annually.
JLR had initially planned to manufacture more than 70,000 electric vehicles at the facility, while Tata’s EV unit was set to produce 25,000, according to sources.
Tata, in a statement to Reuters, said that production timelines and model selection for the new Tamil Nadu plant will align with the company’s broader market strategy.
Tata is the leading EV manufacturer in India but faces increased competition from JSW MG Motor and Mahindra and Mahindra, which have introduced new models with extended driving ranges.
Tesla is also preparing to launch EVs in India, where annual car sales total 4 million, with electric vehicles making up about 2 per cent of the market.
Economic challenges
JLR had held discussions with local suppliers in Mumbai last November, sharing plans and exploring options for sourcing components locally.
Some suppliers were asked to provide preliminary pricing information, but these discussions have now been halted, sources said.
JLR primarily manufactures its vehicles in Britain, Europe, and China but assembles some models, such as Range Rover SUVs, at Tata’s Pune plant in Maharashtra.
Tata’s EV division had planned to finalise supplier contracts by January but is now making design changes as the financial viability of the plan has been affected by JLR’s decision, two sources said.
In January, Tata pushed back the launch of the Avinya EV to 2026-2027 from an earlier target of this year. It remains unclear if the latest developments will cause further delays.
“As part of our rigorous product development process, we continuously evaluate key factors such as design, supply chain readiness, and unit economics to ensure a competitive and high-quality offering,” Tata said in its statement.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Under the agreement, Jio will offer Starlink equipment through its retail outlets and support customer service, installation, and activation. (Photo: Reuters)
Mukesh Ambani’s Jio to offer SpaceX’s Starlink internet in India
Mar 12, 2025
JIO Platforms, owned by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has signed an agreement with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to provide Starlink’s satellite internet service to customers in India.
The announcement came a day after rival telecom company Bharti Airtel signed a similar agreement.
The launch of Starlink, which delivers high-speed internet via low Earth orbit satellites, has been a subject of debate in India over issues including pricing and spectrum allocation.
Ambani’s Jio and SpaceX have now partnered to facilitate the adoption of satellite broadband in the country.
Under the agreement, Jio will offer Starlink equipment through its retail outlets and support customer service, installation, and activation, according to a statement.
"The parties will leverage Jio's position as the world's largest mobile operator in terms of data traffic... to deliver reliable broadband services across the country, including the most rural and remote regions of India," the statement said.
The deal is contingent on SpaceX securing regulatory approvals to operate Starlink in India. Media reports last month suggested that the company’s licence application was close to initial approval.
Jio is also developing its own satellite broadband services. In 2022, it formed a joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES to provide internet access using a combination of geostationary and medium Earth orbit satellites.
The agreement follows Musk’s meeting with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in Washington last month.
While Musk's business presence in India is currently limited to social media platform X, Tesla is preparing to enter the Indian market.
The company recently began hiring in India, with job postings for a store manager and service technicians in New Delhi and Mumbai.
(With inputs from AFP)
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Keir Starmer (R) and Rachel Reeves host an investment roundtable discussion with members of the BlackRock executive board at 10 Downing Street on November 21, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Frank Augstein - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Government to abolish payments regulator to boost growth
Mar 12, 2025
PAYMENTS REGULATOR will be abolished and its remit absorbed by another financial regulator, the government said on Tuesday (11), as it aims to cut red tape in favour of growth.
The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), which oversees systems including MasterCard and bank transfers, tackles problems such as fraud, excessive fees and lack of competition among banks and payment providers.
The government said its decision to axe the PSR followed businesses complaining that the UK's financial regulatory system was overly complex due to the country's three financial regulators - the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Bank of England's Prudential Regulatory Authority and the PSR.
Prime minister Keir Starmer said the move is the latest step in the government's efforts to stimulate the economy and increase living standards for working people.
"For too long, the previous government hid behind regulators – deferring decisions and allowing regulations to bloat and block meaningful growth in this country," Starmer said. "And it has been working people who pay the price of this stagnation."
According to a statement, businesses have complained that the current regulatory framework is overly complex, with payment system companies having to engage with three different regulators. This complexity has been particularly burdensome for smaller businesses trying to grow, as they face disproportionately higher costs.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves stressed the government's commitment to reducing regulatory obstacles.
"The regulatory system has become burdensome to the point of choking off innovation, investment and growth. We will free businesses from that stranglehold, delivering on our Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth and put more money into working people's pockets," Reeves said.
Government clarified that no immediate changes will occur to the PSR's remit or ongoing work. The regulator will retain its statutory powers until Parliament passes legislation to implement these changes. In the meantime, the PSR and FCA will work together to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities while maintaining market competitiveness.
This move follows several earlier deregulatory measures, including lifting the onshore wind ban, introducing the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, launching a review of the water sector, setting financial services regulators on a growth agenda, and initiating a review of all environmental regulations.
Labour's focus on regulatory reform was highlighted in a recent speech by Starmer at the International Investment Summit, where he called for regulatory regimes to be updated for the modern age.
Also, the prime minister, chancellor and business secretary have asked regulators to propose at least five reforms each that would boost economic growth. Chancellor subsequently held meetings with regulators in January to scrutinise these proposals.
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Boohoo’s shares, which have fallen by about 20 per cent this year, dropped 4 per cent on Tuesday. (Photo: Getty Images)
Boohoo rebrands as Debenhams after 21 per cent sales drop
Mar 12, 2025
BOOHOO has rebranded itself as Debenhams Group after sales from its young fashion brands, including Boohoo, MAN, and PrettyLittleThing, declined by 21 per cent to £947 million.
The move comes amid strong competition from Shein and a shift towards second-hand clothing among younger shoppers, The Guardian reported.
Dan Finley, Boohoo’s chief executive, said, “We lost our way,” and acknowledged that investments were diverted from marketing into infrastructure at a time of increasing competition.
He added that while a turnaround for its younger brands could take time, the company still sees potential in them.
Debenhams, which Boohoo acquired for £55m in 2021 after its collapse, has been transformed into an online department store.
Finley said, “Debenhams is back,” calling it a successful turnaround. The rebrand aligns with the company's strategy to use Debenhams' operating model to revive its other brands.
The company reported a 16 per cent revenue drop to £1.2 billion and expects adjusted underlying profits of about £40m.
It has cut £50m in costs, including job reductions, the closure of its US distribution centre, and writing off £40m in surplus stock.
Boohoo’s finance director, Phil Ellis, has been appointed as chief financial officer, replacing Stephen Morana.
The group’s portfolio remains under review, with potential label sales not ruled out. Boohoo’s shares, which have fallen by about 20 per cent this year, dropped 4 per cent on Tuesday.
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