Bite-size news and insight from UK business and tech – including funding, deals and appointments
Published: January 16, 2026 at 1:46 pm
Auction Technology Group (ATG) has moved closer to a potential takeover after FitzWalter Capital said it is considering an astonishing 12th approach to acquire the company.
The group’s largest shareholder is plotting a cash offer of 400p per share, valuing the London-listed firm at £491 million.
The latest proposal represents a 48% premium to ATG’s undisturbed share price of 270p on 2nd January and marks an escalation in a long-running standoff between the company and its biggest investor.
That 270p share price has now been dwarfed, with the FTSE firm’s shares currently trading at around 365p as of 1:30pm today.
It has once again been boosted by an update in the saga, with its stock up by over 13% so far today.
FitzWalter has made repeated approaches in recent months, with ATG confirming earlier this month that it had rejected 11 proposals since September 2025, including an offer of 360p per share on 23rd December 2025.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 1:13 pm
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Published: January 16, 2026 at 12:25 pm
Ninety One has reported assets under management (AUM) of £159.8 billion on 31st December 2025, up from £152.1bn at the end of September.
The figure is also higher than the £130.2bn it reported a year earlier.
The London and South Africa-headquartered firm will publish its Q4 FY26 AUM update on 16 April 2026.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 11:58 am
Essentra has reported a solid finish to FY25, with revenue growth in the final quarter and improving order intake, as it continues to target faster-growing markets such as energy transition and digital infrastructure.
The global components manufacturer expects full-year revenue to rise 2.5% on a constant currency like-for-like basis, with adjusted operating profit in line with market forecasts of £32-32.4 million.
Growth was led by EMEA, supported by a strong performance in Turkey, while the Americas saw modest gains and APAC dipped slightly due to tougher comparisons in China.
The Oxford firm also highlighted progress on its acquisition of US cable protection specialist Device Technologies.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 11:37 am
Gutology, the oral health startup behind a gut-friendly toothpaste, has raised £1.8 million to support international growth.
The business was founded by former radio presenter and Gutology Podcast host Ollie Gallant, who launched the brand after years of digestive health issues led him to focus on the role of “good bacteria” in overall wellbeing.
Its Oral Biome+ toothpaste is designed to support the mouth’s microbiome and is now a top 10 product on Amazon UK, as well as the best-selling toothpaste at Planet Organic.
The funding, from Mercia Ventures-backed Midlands Engine Investment Fund II alongside Active Partners and angel investors, will help the London-based business expand into the US and Germany, build new retail partnerships and increase clinical research as it grows its wider oral care range.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 11:17 am
Ionech, an Oxford-based technology company developing a way to generate electricity from ambient air, has secured £2 million in seed funding.
The business says its system uses high-voltage pulses to create superoxide ions and convert thermal energy from the air into usable power.
It plans to apply the technology to energy-hungry equipment such as commercial fridges, air conditioning and ventilation units, which it says account for more than a quarter of global energy use.
The funding, led by Elbow Beach alongside an Innovate UK grant, will help Ionech scale up and run real-world pilot projects, including work with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners to cut the footprint of drinks coolers.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 10:50 am
Blackburn-based eCommerce and logistics specialist Staci has won a new contract with Waldencast Brands, the beauty and wellness group behind Glaze, Whind and Coats.
The move comes as the firm looks to scale across the UK and Europe.
The partnership, which started in August 2025, will see Staci provide fulfilment support alongside real-time reporting and dashboards to help improve stock visibility and reduce storage costs.
It will also work with Waldencast’s team on forecasting for product launches and promotional activity, including campaigns driven by TikTok and other social channels, to help keep deliveries on track.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 10:31 am
CTI Digital has appointed Vivian Spencer as its new CTO as the Manchester-based agency looks to support further growth.
Spencer brings more than 20 years’ industry experience and joins from senior roles at Pitchfire and Creation Agency, where he worked on building scalable systems and driving innovation.
In his new role, he will shape CTI Digital’s technology roadmap, helping to link new tech with the agency’s wider commercial priorities.
His appointment also comes as the business sees growing demand for AI-focused services, including strategic consulting and new areas such as GEO and agentic workflows.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 10:06 am
Basingstoke-based Genus has reported a strong first half of FY26, with adjusted profit before tax is expected to come in at around £50 million, ahead of its own expectations.
Including a £5.6m milestone payment linked to its China porcine joint venture, adjusted profit before tax for the six months to 31st December 2025 is expected to be around £55.6m.
The listed animal genetics group said it now expects full-year FY26 adjusted profit before tax (excluding the milestone payment) to be moderately above the top end of current market forecasts.
The update comes after the joint venture received regulatory approval in December, triggering the final $7.5m payment from partner BCA.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 9:42 am
ITM Power has appointed Jürgen Nowicki as non-executive chair.
He replaces Sir Roger Bone, who has retired from the position after serving as chair since 2019 and as a non-executive director since 2014.
The company credited Bone with guiding the company’s shift from a development-stage business into an established commercial player in the electrolyser market, alongside strengthening governance.
CEO Dennis Schulz said Nowicki’s sector experience will support the board as it focuses on operational delivery and executing its growth strategy.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 9:22 am
THG has appointed independent non-executive director Milyae Park as chair of its sustainability committee.
She will replace senior independent director Sue Farr, who will remain on the committee as a member.
Park has been with the Manchester firm for just over a year and has previously served as chair of the subsidiary board of the London Museum.
She led womenswear business Tricouni from 2014-2016 and brings retail experience from key roles at M&S and Tesco.
The appointment comes just days after THG reported positive Q4 results but saw its share price dip.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 9:13 am
The BBC is reportedly preparing to make programmes specifically for YouTube for the first time, as it looks to boost revenues as audiences shift to streaming platforms.
According to the Financial Times, the tailored content would later also appear on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, with an announcement potentially coming as early as next week.
The move is expected to focus on younger viewers and allow the broadcasting giant to earn more by running advertising on the shows outside the UK.
The agreement would cover the BBC’s domestic public service arm and formalise its existing relationship with BBC Studios.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 9:09 am
Student living platform Housr has stepped up its US expansion plans by announcing two new office openings in New York and Chicago.
It follows last year’s news that the Manchester-based startup had raised £7.5m in private financing to accelerate its product innovation and expansion across the UK and US.
The round included backing from Ashta Capital and Juniper Equity, two Texas-based investment firms known for supporting high-growth operating companies.
Housr, which grew revenues by 186 per cent year-on-year, is on a mission to modernise student housing through technology.
Founded in 2021 by Harry Panter and Ben Clayton while studying at the University of Manchester, the company’s free-to-use app has become a digital ecosystem for student life, offering rentals, local deals, roommate-matching and ride-sharing, all in one place.
Co-founder Harry Panter said: “2026 is the year Housr becomes a market leader in the US, while continuing aggressive growth in the UK and entering new European markets.
“At the start of Q2, I’ll be relocating to New York. This is a deliberate move that reflects our ambition and long-term commitment to building the most important rental and living platform in the US.”
Published: January 16, 2026 at 9:03 am
Sportsbook and casino operator Midnite has raised $35 million (£26.1m) in fresh funding as it ramps up plans to become a “tier-1” challenger brand.
The London-based firm’s Series C round was led by Raine Partners IV, the growth equity fund of The Raine Group, a global investment and advisory business focused on sectors including gaming, sport, tech and entertainment.
Existing investors Play Ventures, Discerning Capital, Makers Fund and Big Bets also backed the round, taking Midnite’s total equity funding to more than $75m.
The company also secured a $100m credit facility earlier this year to support marketing and wider growth initiatives.
It said the new capital will be used to scale operations, speed up development of its in-house sportsbook and casino products, as well as support international expansion.
A large portion of the investment will go into hiring, with the business planning to further build out its product and engineering functions.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 8:39 am
Red tape that is holding back robotics and defence innovation in the UK is set to be reviewed under an expanded remit for the government’s Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO).
The watchdog, launched in October 2024, has named robotics and defence as new priority areas as it looks to tackle regulation it believes is outdated or duplicative and is slowing emerging technologies from reaching the market.
The RIO said it has already spoken to more than 150 businesses and is working on reforms across sectors worth more than £100 billion.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 8:23 am
Sulnox has secured a new patent in Vietnam as it continues to expand across Asia.
The London-based EnviroTech develops fuel conditioners and emulsification technology designed to cut fuel costs and reduce emissions without requiring upfront capex, across marine fuels and blended diesel and petrol.
It said Vietnam is a key growth market, supported by its trade links with hubs such as Singapore and proximity to Indonesia and China.
Published: January 16, 2026 at 8:09 am
The Sunday Times has published its second annual league table of Britain’s fastest-growing companies in both software and hardware.
The tables rank private UK-headquartered tech companies on the growth in their annual revenues, measured over three years.
The 2026 Sunday Times 100 Tech is led by Abound, a lending FinTech company which just yesterday completed its latest acquisition to move into mortgages.
Founded in 2020 by Michelle He and Gerald Chappell, Abound uses AI to help borrowers bypass traditional lending through its technology-driven loans platform.
The company now employs 120 people and has a small office based in Bermondsey, London. Over the past three years, it has grown by an impressive 490% a year, generating £66.8 million in sales last year.
Published: January 15, 2026 at 4:53 pm
Revolut, Mastercard and Visa have failed in a High Court challenge to stop the UK’s payments regulator from consulting on a cap for overseas card fees.
The firms launched a judicial review after the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) confirmed plans in December 2024 to explore limits on interchange charges.
Those fees have risen sharply since Brexit, with debit card rates increasing from 0.2% to 1.15% and credit card fees from 0.3% to 1.5%.
Judge John Cavanagh ruled that the regulator, now part of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), does have the powers to pursue the proposed price cap and threw out the case.
Published: January 15, 2026 at 4:33 pm
The BBC has confirmed that hit show Dragons’ Den will return later this month for its 23rd series.
Four guest investors will join long-standing Dragons Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman and Steven Bartlett as the programme recommences on 29th January.
Gary Neville will return as a guest investor after previously featuring on the programme in 2024.
He will be joined by three first-time guest Dragons, who have been revealed as rapper Tinie Tempah, Tropic Skincare founder Susie Ma and REFY CEO Jenna Meek.
Seven new episodes have been scheduled initially and further instalments are due later in the year.
Published: January 15, 2026 at 4:26 pm
Ofcom said Snapchat has “materially improved its illegal content risk assessment” to better protect UK users, particularly children.
The regulator raised concerns that Snapchat’s original assessment underestimated how likely illegal activity was to occur on the platform and warned it was considering enforcement action.
The social media giant initially submitted revisions that still fell short, before committing to a full overhaul, including a complete reassessment of risk levels across all identified harms.
Ofcom has now placed the company into a formal “compliance remediation” process, giving it a final chance to meet requirements.
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