BP’s Net Zero push has crashed into reality February 12, 2025 I remember when I first encountered a hard copy FTSE 100 annual report. I was a first year undergraduate and my achingly left-wing lecturer in Business and Politics dropped copies in front of us in a seminar room, and asked us to rank the directors “on a fat cat scale.” I can still recall the [...]
BP to target shareholder returns as firm plans fundamental reset February 11, 2025 Oil and gas giant BP has promised to “fundamentally reset” its strategy and improve its performance after profit crashed last year. On Tuesday, the group reported a near 50 per cent decline in profit for the fourth quarter due to a collapse in profit at its refining arm. The results prompted boss Murray Auchincloss to [...]
BP shares top the FTSE 100 as Elliott stake ignites breakup chatter February 10, 2025 BP shares jumped to the top of the FTSE 100 this morning as a rumour emerged that an activist hedge fund had taken a position in the stock. Shares in the blue-chip oil giant jumped eight per cent in early deals on the news activist hedge fund Elliott Investment Management had built a position in [...]
Cut taxes for BP and Shell to protect UK from Trump’s trade war, Rachel Reeves told February 6, 2025 Oil giants such as BP and Shell who operate in the North Sea should be given huge tax breaks to help protect the UK against Donald Trump’s burgeoning trade war, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been told. Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce is calling on the UK government to reduce the 78 per cent tax [...]
Octopus Energy: Profit slashed as Greg Jackson’s giant battles rising costs February 4, 2025 Profit has been slashed at Octopus Energy as rising costs and falling sales ate into its margin during the giant’s latest financial year. For the 12 months to 30 April, 2024, the group reported a net profit of £83m, down from the £203m it posted in the prior year. Its revenue also dipped from £12.54bn [...]
Thames Water seeking approval of £3bn emergency restructure plan February 3, 2025 Embattled water giant Thames Water is at the High Court today seeking for a judge's approval of its £3bn restructuring plan to avoid renationalisation
Probe launched into £2.1bn takeover of Electricity North West by ScottishPower owner January 29, 2025 The competition watchdog has launched a probe into a £2.1bn deal to takeover Electricity North West by the owner of ScottishPower. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking into the deal which was first announced by Iberdrola in August last year. The watchdog said it was investigating whether the deal may affect competition in [...]
Ovo Energy buys brand from billionaire founder in £150m deal January 28, 2025 Ovo Energy has bought its brand from the company’s billionaire founder in a £150m deal. The Bristol-based firm, which is the country’s fourth-biggest household energy supplier, has made the move as part of a wider reorganisation. It was reported last Summer that Ovo Energy was close to hiring bankers to explore fundraising options which could [...]
UK sale of collapsed Bulb to Octopus under microscope in legal battle January 21, 2025 The UK government's sale of collapsed energy firm Bulb is at the centre of focus of an appeal today as British Gas and E.ON seek a judicial review on the deal
ScottishPower: Court grants appeal against HMRC over £28m tax bill January 17, 2025 Energy giant ScottishPower has been granted an appeal to allow it to deduct £28m in fines by Ofgem for corporation tax purposes