Bloomberg Russian pipelaying vessel Fortuna has started working at the Nord Stream 2 construction site in Danish waters, defying new US sanctions against the controversial gas-pipeline project. The work being done in the Danish exclusive economic zone is “performed in line with relevant permits” and precede the actual construction of the gas link, a spokeswoman for Nord Stream 2 AG …

Bloomberg Danish utility Orsted A/S took a final investment decision on its first hydrogen project as it expands beyond wind power. The world’s biggest producer of electricity from turbines at sea will use the technology at its Danish demonstration project H2RES to produce green hydrogen. It’s a small, but concrete step for the company that could help it stand out …

Bloomberg Dr Martens owner Permira Holdings and other shareholders are looking to raise as much as 1.3 billion pounds ($1.8 billion) in an initial public offering of the shoemaker on the London Stock Exchange, betting on the enduring popularity of its cult leather boots. The company doesn’t plan to raise any money itself in the IPO. Private equity firm Permira …

Bloomberg Air France-KLM’s Dutch unit will keep operating long-haul flights as it reached a deal to have staff undergo a rapid Covid-19 test upon return to the Netherlands, eliminating the risk of leaving crews behind. KLM urged the Dutch government to exempt its staff from a new requirement for mandatory pre-departure virus testing. It said it would otherwise halt all …

Bloomberg India’s domestic civil aviation operations continue steadily and the sector is nearing pre-pandemic levels, according to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. As many as 257,613 passengers flew locally as on January 22, compared with 30,000 passengers that traveled by air when such flights were restarted on May 25, Puri said in a Twitter post. “We are now within …

Bloomberg Shiseido Co is in advanced talks to sell its shampoo and affordable skincare business to CVC Capital Partners for 150 billion to 200 billion yen ($1.45 billion-$1.9 billion), as the Japanese cosmetics maker shifts its focus to premium beauty products, people with knowledge of the matter said. The board of Shiseido is preparing to vote on the divestment soon, …

Bloomberg Online fashion retailers Boohoo Group Plc and Asos Plc are seeking to rescue ailing UK retail mainstay brands like Debenhams and Topshop. Boohoo said it’s buying the Debenhams brand for 55 million pounds ($75 million). Separately, Asos Plc said it’s in exclusive talks with administrators of Philip Green’s Arcadia Group Ltd to buy the UK retailer’s Topshop brand and …

Bloomberg Foreign tourist arrivals into Thailand plunged to the lowest level in at least 12 years after the country closed its borders to contain the coronavirus outbreak, with a resurgence in infections now undermining efforts to reopen the industry. Tourist arrivals slumped to 6.7 million in 2020 from 39.9 million a year earlier, data from the Ministry of Tourism and …

Bloomberg European banks probably failed to live up to US peers’ record fourth-quarter profits as they set aside more money for troubled loans and missed out on the rally in equities trading. Ten of Europe’s biggest lenders probably set aside $15 billion for doubtful credit in the fourth quarter, taking the year’s total to $61.5 billion, the highest since 2012, …

Bloomberg HSBC Holdings Plc’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Noel Quinn is set to appear before the UK Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee to answer questions over the lender’s moves to freeze accounts of activists in Hong Kong, according to an exiled lawmaker. Quinn is listed as a participant, along with Colin Bell, the bank’s chief compliance officer, at private and public …