Finance news. Credit: Pavel Danilyuk, Pexels
The latest finance, business, and tech news from Spain and the UK.
Rolser trolleys
SPANISH shopping trolley brand Rolser, founded in 1966, now sells in more than 60 countries, with 63 per cent of Spanish homes owning one, Monocle reports. Co-CEO Vicent Server said, “We have very special ties to this land… we threw our support behind the people of this area and tried to foster an industry that wasn’t tourism.”
This summer, Rolser launched a campaign to celebrate walking and conscious lifestyles. Once seen as old-fashioned, are trolleys now stylish?
BBVA Growth
BBVA has set out plans to grow its business in every market between 2025 and 2028, aiming for around €48 billion in profit, the bank announced on August 25. In Spain, lending is forecast to rise 5 per cent annually. Net interest income is forecast to rise, while revenues should see low to mid single-digit growth. BBVA also targets an efficiency ratio of 30–33 per cent and a 4 per cent return on risk-weighted assets.
Micro-LED surge
LONDON-BASED Haylo Labs has acquired Plymouth’s Plessey Semiconductors, the UK specialist in embedded micro‑LED display technology, Semiconductor Today reports. Haylo Labs plans to invest over £100m in the UK over the next five years to boost production capabilities and expand the workforce.
David Hayes, Haylo Labs’ CEO and co‑founder, says, “Plessey has built the world’s most advanced micro‑LED platforms … with technology and talent that surpasses rivals anywhere globally.”
This acquisition could mark a turning point for UK tech.
Cybersecurity clash
SPAIN’S government has suspended a €103m cybersecurity contract awarded to MasOrange after a legal challenge from Telefónica, Economía Digital reports. The dispute centres on Lot 3 of the CORA III project, covering interconnection of state data centres and digital security. Telefónica argues the tender process lacked transparency and fairness.
With public cybersecurity at stake, should mega-contracts like this be spread more widely for resilience?
Taqa buys GS Inima
ABU DHABI’S Taqa will acquire Madrid-based GS Inima, a leading desalination and water treatment firm, for $1.2bn (€1.025bn), La Vanguardia reports. The deal, agreed with South Korea’s GS Engineering & Construction, is expected to close in 2026 pending approvals.
GS Inima runs around 50 projects in ten countries and last year posted €389m in revenue and €106m EBITDA. The acquisition strengthens Taqa’s global water portfolio, boosting desalination, wastewater, and industrial treatment capacity.
Hospitality hit
UKHospitality says restaurants, pubs, bars and hotels have lost 89,000 jobs since October – 53 per cent of national losses. Chair Kate Nicholls called the figures “staggering” and warned closures could match Covid levels unless taxes and business rates are urgently cut.
TikTok UK revenue
TIKTOK’S UK revenues jumped 38 per cent in 2024 to $64bn, filings show, as TikTok Shop became the nation’s fourth biggest beauty retailer. With 30m UK users, 1.5m businesses and 3,000 staff, the app’s future remains under political scrutiny.
Gas export
MOROCCO became Spain’s biggest gas client in June 2025, buying 858 GWh – 35.5 per cent of exports. France followed with 14.6 per cent. Despite exports falling 40 per cent year-on-year, analysts say Morocco’s growing share signals closer Madrid-Rabat energy ties amid shifting global markets.
Statistic of the week
The total value of Spanish startups has exceeded 110 billion euros for the first time, doubling its size since 2020.
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