Press Digest: British Business - Dec. 13

Icosavax

13/12/2023 24:16

Dec 13 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on
the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not
verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. 
    
    
    The Times
    - The maker of Marmite and Hellmann's mayonnaise, Unilever
 ULVR.L , is to be investigated by the UK's competition watchdog
over concerns that consumers are being misled by "green" claims
on a number of its essential household products.
    - UK City regulator, Financial Conduct Authority  has told
investment and pension platforms to stop profiteering from the
interest they are earning on customer cash balances after the
industry enjoyed a boom from higher rates.
    
    
    The Guardian
    - Britain's biggest drugmaker, AstraZeneca  AZN.L  is buying
its first vaccine company Icosavax  ICVX.O   in a $1.1 billion
deal that will expand the vaccine and immune therapy business it
set up during the Covid pandemic.
    - UK's Thames Water has apologised to a House of Commons
committee for causing confusion by describing a 500 million
pound ($628.40 million) shareholder loan as equity.
    
        
    The Telegraph
    - The U.S. owner of Boots  WBA.O  is weighing a 7 billion
pound  ($8.80 billion) UK listing of the high street pharmacy
chain in plans that could provide a much-needed boost for
London's ailing stock market.
    - Telegraph bidder RedBird IMI has edged ahead in the race
to buy the British production company behind TV shows such as
Gogglebox and The Traitors, expected to fetch at least 1 billion
pound ($1.26 billion) in the auction. 
    
    Sky News
    - A coalition which includes some of Britain's best-known
banks is demanding representation in a Labour Party financial
services policy review which is dominated by the bosses of FTSE
100 companies.
    - The private equity firm Mayfair, which has backed Ovo
Energy and the maternity wear chain Seraphine is in advanced
talks to acquire a big stake in Trusted Housesitters, the
pet-sitting business of about 100 million pounds  ($125.68
million).  
    
    The Independent
    - UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has secured victory in a
crunch vote on his flagship Rwanda policy,  after MP's on
Tuesday evening approved the Safety of Rwanda Bill at second
reading by 313 votes to 269, majority 44. 
    
    
    


($1 = 0.7957 pounds)

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