Evri and DHL in Merger Talks & The Return Of The U.K. Investor Visa

15th May 2025

Evri and DHL are set to merge to give a boost to the UK delivery industry, a much-welcome improvement. The UK once had an investor visa, but it scrapped it only to bring it back. UnitedHealth is under criminal probe the day after their CEO said "Toodles". The S&P 500 is back in the green, and HBO's Max is now HBO Max in its 5th rebrand. all this and more in today's read it and eat!

Major Headlines

• UK Plans Investor Visa Aimed at Boosting Strategic Sectors

• The UK is working on a new investor visa aimed at drawing wealthy individuals to fund strategically important sectors like artificial intelligence, clean energy, and life sciences. The plan is still in early development, but it reflects Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s goal of revitalizing the economy while responding to recent tax and immigration changes. The visa could offer a path into the UK for those investing significant sums in innovation-driven industries.

  This comes as the government tries to balance economic growth with public concerns over immigration and tax fairness. Recent moves — including the end of “non-dom” tax breaks and a hike in national insurance — have triggered backlash from wealthy residents and businesses. Hiring has slowed, and business confidence has taken a hit. While immigration is being tightened, officials say they still want to attract the best talent and investment to fuel long-term growth.

  The investor visa is being positioned as a more targeted, carefully controlled successor to the UK’s former Tier 1 visa, which was shut down in 2022 due to concerns about abuse and money laundering. This time, ministers are considering guardrails like limiting investment to key sectors and excluding property, alongside rigorous checks to prevent financial misconduct.

  Although no final decision has been made, the message is clear: the UK wants to remain a competitive destination for global capital and innovation. As other countries, including the U.S., roll out investor-friendly programs, Britain is looking to craft a version that supports economic priorities while avoiding the pitfalls of the past. Bloomberg

• Evri and DHL Join Forces to Reshape UK Parcel Delivery Market

• Parcel delivery firm Evri is set to merge with DHL eCommerce UK, the logistics arm of the DHL Group, in a move that signals further consolidation in the parcel delivery sector. Once the merger is complete, the combined group will handle over a billion parcels and another billion business letters each year, supported by a network of 30,000 couriers and 12,000 office staff. As part of the agreement, DHL Group will take a “significant” minority stake in the newly formed Evri Group.

  Martijn de Lange, CEO of Evri, said the merger brings together Evri’s scale and innovation with DHL eCommerce’s premium van network. “We’re creating the pre-eminent parcel delivery group in the UK,” he noted. De Lange also highlighted that the partnership will boost Evri’s access to European and global e-commerce markets. Last year, Evri saw its revenue rise to £1.68 billion, up from £1.46 billion, reflecting the ongoing boom in online shopping.

  Evri, formerly known as Hermes, has seen rapid growth over the past decade, despite facing challenges with customer satisfaction—it was ranked lowest in Ofcom’s most recent survey. In 2024, the company was acquired by private equity firm Apollo for £2.7 billion, having previously been owned by Advent International. The new group plans to tap into DHL’s global network to speed up deliveries across key international markets like Europe, the U.S., and India.

  This tie-up is the latest in a wave of mergers reshaping the UK logistics landscape. In April, InPost acquired rival Yodel, becoming the country’s third-largest delivery service. Around the same time, Royal Mail’s parent company was bought by EP Group for £3.6 billion. Meanwhile, DPD has expanded through recent acquisitions of CitySprint and Absolutely, positioning itself to meet growing demand in the e-commerce space. CityAM

• UK Posts Surprise Growth Surge, Faces Tougher Road Ahead with Taxes and Tariffs"

• The UK economy kicked off 2025 with a surprising burst of momentum, offering a welcome boost to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Official figures show the economy grew by 0.7% between January and March — a sharp pickup from the modest 0.1% rise at the end of 2024. March alone saw unexpected growth of 0.2%, defying forecasts for flat performance. The pound nudged higher against the dollar following the announcement.

  Chancellor Reeves called the data a sign of resilience, noting that the UK outpaced the likes of the U.S., Canada, and major European economies in the first quarter. Her efforts to rev up the economy have included infrastructure spending and targeted reforms aimed at spurring business investment. However, she faces mounting pressure from critics over April’s increase in social security contributions and the higher minimum wage — measures that businesses warn could weigh on hiring and growth.

  Looking ahead, there are signs that this early momentum may be short-lived. The Bank of England expects growth to cool, forecasting just 1% expansion for the full year. Economists, including ICAEW’s Suren Thiru, say the first-quarter performance could be the peak, with new U.S. trade tariffs and domestic tax hikes likely to dampen activity. Donald Trump’s renewed trade wars, especially tariffs on British exports, add another layer of uncertainty, though a recent deal softening U.S. steel and aluminium duties may cushion the blow slightly.

  Despite the headwinds, consumers seem relatively unfazed — spending rose through March and April. The services sector was the main growth driver, but manufacturing also bounced back. Business investment surged 5.9% from the previous quarter, partly boosted by aircraft imports. Importantly, real GDP per person — a better indicator of how growth is felt on the ground — rose by 0.5% after two quarters of decline, suggesting some of the benefits may finally be reaching households. Bloomberg

• UnitedHealth Faces DOJ Criminal Probe Over Medicare Practices

• UnitedHealth Group is reportedly the subject of a criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, focusing on its Medicare Advantage business, according to a Wall Street Journal report. While the company says it has not been officially notified about this investigation, the news has added to existing pressures and concerns around its practices. Following the report, UnitedHealth’s stock fell by 8% in after-hours trading.

  This investigation comes amid a turbulent period for UnitedHealth. Just days earlier, CEO Andrew Witty unexpectedly stepped down, and the company suspended its 2025 financial forecast due to rising medical costs. The announcement caused shares to plunge nearly 18%, hitting a four-year low. Former CEO Stephen Hemsley has returned to lead the company during this challenging time.

  The Department of Justice’s healthcare-fraud unit is overseeing the probe, which has been active since at least last summer. UnitedHealth has disclosed involvement in various governmental investigations but has not shared many details. In February, a civil fraud investigation into its Medicare practices was reported, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley also launched an inquiry into the company’s Medicare billing.

  The scrutiny of UnitedHealth is part of a broader investigation into the Medicare Advantage program, which covers nearly half of the 65 million Americans on Medicare. Earlier this month, the DOJ filed a lawsuit accusing major health insurers of paying kickbacks to brokers to steer patients toward their Medicare Advantage plans, highlighting growing regulatory attention on the industry as a whole. Wall Street Journal

Minor Headlines

• Standard Chartered Expands US Private Equity Team Amid Investment Banking Growth Strategy. Reuters

• S&P 500 Inches Up as Investors Weigh Trade Developments and Await Economic Data. CNN

• Commerzbank CEO and Employees Rally to Resist UniCredit Takeover Ahead of Shareholder Meeting. Bloomberg

• eToro Surges 30% in Nasdaq Debut, Offering Fresh Optimism for IPO Market. Morning Brew

• Amazon Cuts Jobs in Devices and Services Division. Financial Times

• Donald Trump Praises Saudi Arabia While Announcing AI and Defense Agreements. Financial Times

• M&S Cyber Insurance Claim Could Reach £100 Million. Financial Times

• Microsoft to Reduce Workforce by 3%. CBNC

Gen Z Word of the Day

Hits Different

When something is unique or better than the usual.