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🧙Wicked pay gap debunked 🛫 2025 travel list 🎁 GFY gift guides + £50 from GFY to you

🧙Wicked pay gap debunked 🛫 2025 travel list 🎁 GFY gift guides + £50 from GFY to you

The 99 - 2nd December 2024

December 02, 2024

Good afternoon and welcome to The 99: the home of financial news and insights made simple. You can count on accessible, trustworthy, and unbiased news insights every Monday.

This week’s explainer is replaced by an annual favourite; the GFY Crowdsourced Gift Guides. A series in which we look to you for the best gift ideas and purchases of 2024.

Also, see here and below for a £50 Christmas gift from GFY to you.

Alice x

GFY is partnering with Nous to give members of the GFY community an exclusive £50 sign-up bonus.

Update: Last week Nous made someone in the GFY community a saving of £457 🎉

How do I get the £50?

Sign up using this link. You do not need to pay anything or sign up to premium.

Once Nous sorts your first switch you’ll get a £50 welcome bonus, in addition to the savings they find for you.

What is Nous?

Nous is a brilliant new AI-powered tool that saves a typical household £500+ a year, plus hours of time (and tonnes of stress) by managing your bills for you. It’s free to use.

What do they do?

They manage household bills including energy, broadband, mortgages and mobile in one place, finding you fair deals and handling all the hassle of changing providers.

Why do we rate them?

Alice, GFY’s founder, has trialled the service and can vouch for them being brilliant.

We particularly love the fact you can link up your inbox so they find your providers and details for you

It takes minutes to sign up and they've got an excellent 4.7 Trustpilot score.

How do I get the £50?

Sign up using this link. You do not need to pay anything or sign up to premium.

Once Nous sorts your first switch you’ll get a £50 welcome bonus, in addition to the savings they find for you.

£4.9 Million

The sale price of the banana that was just eaten by its new owner. A cryptocurrency entrepreneur has followed through on his promise to eat the fruit from the artwork he beat six bidders to buy at Sotheby's auction house in New York.

"It's much better than other bananas", he said.

What’s Up With Jaguar’s Big Rebrand?

Jaguar, the 102-year-old British carmaker, is making waves with its latest rebrand—a move that has sparked fierce debates online.

The Rebrand That Got Everyone Talking

📽️ Jaguar’s 30-second rebranding video racked up a staggering 160 million views on X in just 4 days.

💛 The ‘Copy Nothing’ campaign video features bold colours, fashion-forward models, and… no cars.

🐈‍⬛ Gone is the classic “growler” cat emblem, replaced by a minimalist ‘monogram’ badge.

🧼 Jaguar also wiped its entire social media history/archive.

Why Rebrand Now?

Jaguar is in survival mode. The company hasn’t been consistently profitable for decades, and the numbers paint a bleak picture:

Jaguar sold just 13,528 cars globally last year, compared to 58,000 Range Rovers and 28,700 Defenders from its sibling brands under Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).

In 2023, Jaguar accounted for only 15% of JLR’s total sales.

The company’s new strategy, first announced in 2021, is all about shaking things up:

⏸️

Jaguar stopped selling new cars in the UK as of November 2024, marking the first production halt since 1948.

💸

The brand is investing £15 billion across the Jaguar Land Rover group over 5 years to transform into an all-electric, ultra-luxury carmaker.

🗓️

This means prospective buyers won't be able to snag a Jag in the UK until at least mid-2026, with prices starting at around £100,000, rather than the currently listed £40,000 - £60,000 range.

Jaguar’s Chief Creative Officer Gerry McGovern summed up their vision, but the brand’s ability to stand out will depend on how it executes this risky transformation.

“recapturing the essence of Jaguar […] but making it relevant for a contemporary audience”

- McGovern

Is All Press Good Press?

Jaguar’s rebrand has ignited a fierce debate online, drawing everything from admiration to outright mockery.

💬 Elon Musk asked on X: “Do you sell cars?” in response to the ad that seemed more about art than cars.

💭 British TV host Bev Turner added her critique, claiming the ad looked like “the wokest, most pretentious, gender-ambiguous piece of self-satisfied A-level art,” suggesting the campaign feels detached from the brand’s heritage.

📜 Far From Tradition 📜

Critics argue the move strips away Jaguar’s elegance and recognisability. One fan even called the new design “soulless.”

🎯 Appealing To The Wrong Audience 🎯

The rebrand’s focus on younger, trend-focused demographics risks alienating its loyal customer base without guaranteeing success with Gen Z or millennial audiences.

A Genius Marketing Move?

👊 Despite the backlash, Jaguar has stood by its creative direction.

🎤 When asked where the cars were in the ad, the company teased: “Pulling up. The story’s still unfolding—stay tuned.” They also dismissed claims the rebrand would tarnish their reputation, calling it a “renaissance.”

👀 Forbes thinks it’s genius, noting that the move has garnered the brand more attention than any automotive company in history. All eyes are now on Jaguar ahead of its new concept car reveal tomorrow.

✅ Whether the rebrand succeeds or flops, it’s already one of the most talked-about campaigns in recent automotive history - and maybe that’s the point.

Your opinion on the rebrand?

What Is ‘De-Listing’ & Why Is Just Eat Doing it?

🎶 Did somebody say 🎶 …… de-list?

What’s the Deal with ‘Delisting’?

Delisting simply means that a company’s shares will no longer be available to trade on a specific public stock exchange.

Voluntary Delisting 🙋

This happens when a company decides it no longer wants to be listed. Maybe the costs or complexity of staying on the exchange outweigh the benefits.

Involuntary Delisting 💥

This is forced upon a company when they fail to meet the exchange’s requirements (like share price or financial reporting standards).

🤙 For Just Eat, this is a voluntary decision, meaning they made the call themselves, not because they had to.

🇳🇱 Their shares will no longer trade on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) after December 24, 2024, and will only be available on Euronext Amsterdam from December 27, 2024.

Why Would a Company Choose To ‘Delist’?

Famous companies that have gone private….

Reduced Admin/Compliance 😪

Being listed on a major exchange comes with costs (compliance, reporting, etc.), and if a company feels like it’s not worth it, they may delist.

Free From Public Pressure 🔎

Going private also frees a company from the constant scrutiny of public shareholders, allowing them to restructure or grow without worrying about quarterly earnings reports.

💷 Just Eat explained that they were facing high costs and organisational complexity with maintaining their LSE listing. Delisting means cutting down on the administrative burden of LSE’s reporting requirements.

🌎 Despite being headquartered in Amsterdam, they were still trading in London, and it just wasn’t adding up financially. The low number of shares being traded on the LSE meant they weren’t getting much out of staying listed here.

🇺🇸 They’ve also already delisted from the US Nasdaq exchange last year for similar reasons.

Does Delisting Affect You? 👀

If you own Just Eat CDI shares (a type of UK-based shareholding), you have the option to sell them or transfer them to the Amsterdam stock exchange. However, you should talk to an adviser to figure out the best approach for your situation.

What Happens If More Companies Delist?

Claire Trachet, CEO of a business advisory firm, raised a point of concern: London’s market volume and liquidity have seriously dropped over the years.

53% of business leaders in a recent survey expect the LSE to experience net delistings for the next 5 years.

It’s a worrying trend that could mean fewer big companies choosing to list in the UK, making it harder for London to maintain its status as a global financial hub.

Universal Disputes

Wicked Pay-Gap Drama

A Popular Rumour

Social media recently erupted with rumours that Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were paid vastly different salaries for their acting roles.

Some TikTok, Reddit, and X (formerly Twitter) users speculated that Grande earned $15 million, while Erivo made only $1 million, and this was picked up by some news outlets.

Universal has now firmly denied the claims, calling them “completely false” and “internet fodder.” According to the studio, both actresses were paid equally for their work on the film.

While Universal hasn’t shared exact salary figures, they’ve made it clear there’s no truth to the pay disparity buzz.

A WonderfulResponse

Record-Breaking Numbers

Now let’s talk about the real numbers. Wicked flew out of the gate with a box office debut that proves musicals are far from dead.

With a budget of $150 million and a massive marketing campaign, according to Collider Mag the film needs to hit somewhere between $300- $350 million globally just to break even.

Lego Collab

Starbucks Collab

Domestically (US), it brought in $114 million, with global earnings soaring to a total of $164 million during its opening weekend.

On Monday, the movie smashed the November Monday box office record by earning $15.8 million, outpacing hits like Frozen II and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

It’s off to a magical start, but the coming weeks will reveal if Wicked can sustain this momentum.

Let’s really hold space for that...

Thoughtful Travel 2025

Your “No Go” List + Great Alternatives

According to Fodors, some destinations need a break. Their "No List" highlights places struggling with overtourism, trash, pollution, water shortages cultural degradation + many more aspects. Some argue we need to rethink how we travel and what impact we leave behind.

Here’s why Fordors argues these destinations are better left off your itinerary next year and some alternatives…

Bali, Indonesia

The Problem

Over 5.3 million international visitors in 2023 led to 1.6 million tons of waste annually, with less that 50% of responsibly managed. This results in 33,000 tons of plastic polluting rivers, beaches, and marine life every year.

The alternative

Meghalaya, India

Famous for its living root bridges and lush landscapes, Meghalaya offers eco-friendly tourism and a peaceful alternative to overcrowded Bali.

The Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia

A remote archipelago perfect for sun, sea and adventure seekers.

Barcelona + Mallorca (Spain), Venice (Italy), the Canary Islands or Lisbon (Portugal)

The Problem

Residents are growing increasingly unhappy with the millions of tourists causing soaring housing costs and overcrowding.

60% of Lisbon properties are now vacation accommodations, leading to a 30% population drop since 2013.

The average rent in Barcelona has gone up by 68%.

Anti-tourist protests are becoming common, and experiencing a city where locals resent visitors can sour your trip.

The alternative

Mérida, Mexico

A vibrant city with colonial architecture, delicious food, and warm hospitality, plus it’s far more budget-friendly once you’re there.

Nikko, Japan

A UNESCO World Heritage Site with serene temples, forests, and waterfalls - perfect for history and nature lovers.

Mount Everest, Nepal

The Problem

Around 58,000 visitors annually generate 1,742 pounds of waste daily during peak season, leaving trash and loads of human waste on its trails and slopes, not to mention the controversy surrounding Sherpa exploitation and ethical local funding.

The alternative

Colca Canyon, Peru

Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, this breathtaking destination combines stunning views with local culture, minus the environmental chaos.

Hermanus, South Africa

If you want to stay active, this area is known for whale watching and it’s beautiful coastal trails.

Koh Samui, Thailand

The Problem

A landfill overflow crisis with 200,000 tons of waste (and counting), unregulated development and a drunken party population threaten its natural beauty.

The alternative

Siwa Oasis, Egypt

A hidden gem in the Sahara Desert offering natural springs, ancient ruins, and eco-friendly accommodations.

Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

Explore lush rainforests, waterfalls, and caves in this untouched paradise.

The 2024 Crowdsourced Gift Guides

It’s GFY’s annual gift guide series! A crowdsourced project where we look to you for the best gift ideas and purchases of 2024.

How the lists work

You submit the best purchases you've made and gifts you've received on Instagram stories.‍
We count responses and list up to 10 items per price range.
Where possible, we find an independent retailer to link to in addition to a mainstream retailer. See the 'Indie' link for this.
Where affiliate links are available, we will use them but this will not inform what is featured.
We have found the best prices at the time of publication.

Sources/Read More:

What’s Up With Jaguar’s Big Rebrand?

What Is ‘De-Listing’ & Why Is Just Eat Doing It?

Universal Disputes Wicked Pay-Gap Drama

Thoughtful Travel 2025 - Your “No Go” List + Great Alternatives