VNV Global AB (publ) (“VNV Global”) has announced that the previously disclosed Gett transaction will not proceed to closing. As a result, VNV Global will remain a shareholder in Gett.

Despite extensive efforts to complete the transaction, VNV Global and other existing Gett shareholders together with the prospective buyer have now taken the decision to not move forward to close the transaction.

VNV Global is excited to remain a shareholder for the next chapter of Gett’s journey. 

The company continues to see strong operational momentum and has delivered gross bookings of approx. USD 520 million [1] and EBITDA of approx. USD 17 million [1] during the last twelve months ending March 2025.

Cash and cash equivalents exceeding USD 60 million [1] as at March 31, 2025.

Given Gett’s strong performance and cash generation, VNV Global expects the company to make a one-off dividend distribution to shareholders later this year, whilst continuing to invest in sustainable long-term growth.

As an active and significant minority shareholder, VNV Global remains committed to working alongside Gett, its management, and other shareholders to drive value creation for all stakeholders.

[1] As per Gett’s management accounts (unaudited)

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A joint operation between Wakefield Council and West Yorkshire Police on May 12 led to the suspension of five taxi vehicles for serious safety breaches, underscoring a commitment to public safety and licensing standards.

Out of 26 taxi vehicles inspected in Ossett and Stanley during the day of action, five were immediately taken off the road. 

Violations included critical safety failures such as the absence of a fire extinguisher and faulty lights. Additionally, four drivers were issued formal warnings for failing to display their identification licence badges.

Councillor Daniel Wilton, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, emphasised the paramount importance of passenger safety. "Passengers’ safety must always come first. Whilst we know that the vast majority of vehicles we license are in good condition we are determined to ensure that the minority that aren’t are tackled," Cllr Wilton stated.

This targeted operation is part of an ongoing effort, with joint partnership checks now taking place weekly across the district. Taxis from all areas are subject to inspection by police and enforcement officers to ensure compliance.

PC Simon Lovidge from Wakefield North West NPT hailed the operation as a success. "The operation held with partners was a success, and not only did we prosecute people committing offences, but we also educated vehicle users around the law and their responsibilities," PC Lovidge said. 

He added that such initiatives "not only keeps road users safe, but also ensures people are operating businesses in accordance with the correct rules and regulations." 

Further operations are planned for different areas of the Wakefield district in the coming months.

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Taxi drivers in Dunfermline are facing an increasingly hostile environment, battling rampant verbal abuse and frequent fare dodging, leading to a significant loss of experienced drivers.

The owner of a local taxi company has spoken out, revealing the severe impact these issues are having on the profession.

"We don’t get any respect in society because we’re taxi drivers. It’s as if somebody with a certain type of job can say whatever they want, and we just have to shut up and listen," the unnamed owner stated, highlighting the pervasive disrespect drivers encounter. 

He lamented the departure of skilled personnel, saying: "So many good drivers just don’t have the stamina to put up with it."

The businessman stressed the vital, yet undervalued, role of taxi drivers: "Without taxi drivers, good luck when you’re drunk and you need to get home. We’re working and paying tax, but we’re bottom of the list because of our profession." 

He added: "The way we're being treated is horrible, and that’s when we have cameras. Imagine if we didn’t."

Alarmingly, the verbal abuse frequently escalates to physical violence. Recent years have seen shocking incidents, including a drunk passenger choking a taxi driver at 70 miles per hour and, more than a decade ago, a driver suffering a cardiac arrest after a knife attack. 

"I’ve got a thick skin, and so do most of my drivers, but when someone puts their hands on you, enough is enough," the owner asserted.

Fare dodging, however, remains the most common and frustrating issue. The owner claims that support from authorities is virtually non-existent. 

"I’ve reported around ten incidents, and never had a penny back. It’s always that police can’t find the person involved," he revealed, adding: "It all adds up, but you can’t do anything. The situation is far worse than when I started it 2017."

The lack of effective police response has left drivers feeling abandoned. "We don’t want to phone them, they come and take a statement, then it’s phone call after phone call, but nothing else," he said. 

He suspects a staffing issue within the police force, noting: "I don’t know whether it’s a lack of staff and police officers, but it’s been worse since Covid. There was always trouble, but before there was a bit of help. Now nobody will turn up."

Police recently confirmed they are investigating an alleged assault on a taxi driver during a journey from Dunfermline to Rosyth, a testament to the ongoing challenges faced by these essential workers.

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Compelling new TfL research that the number of people killed and seriously injured on borough roads in London reduced by 34 per cent following the implementation of the 20mph speed limit between 1989 and 2013. The report, the first of its scale in London, analyses more than 150 20mph schemes between 1989 and 2013, examining the three-year periods surrounding the implementation of each 20mph scheme.

The evidence in this new report will be instrumental in TfL’s work toward achieving the Mayor's Vision Zero goal to eliminate death and serious injury? from London's transport network and to enable more walking and cycling in the capital.

TfL carried out this new extensive analysis to fully understand the impact of road safety measures across the city over a longer time span. The report shows that, with the exception of motorcycle fatalities, which did not change, 20mph schemes led to fewer fatalities and less severe injuries across every mode of travel.

The report shows that 20mph schemes significantly reduced the number of deaths and serious injury, including:

•   A 40 per cent reduction in the number of people killed (from 15 to 9), compared against the background trend of 7 per cent fewer fatalities across borough roads
•  A 34 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured (from 395 to 260), compared against the background trend of a 15 per cent fall in people killed or seriously injured across borough roads
•  A 75 per cent reduction in the number of children killed (from 4 to 1), compared with no change across the control group. Additionally, a 50% reduction in children’s casualties (from 517 to 280), against the background trend within the control group of 20%.
•  A 35 per cent reduction in collisions and 36 per cent reduction in casualties on borough roads, against a background trend of 12 per cent fewer collisions and casualties across all borough roads 

The report acknowledges other road safety improvement measures implemented between 1989-2013 and recognises that the implementation of 20mph schemes on borough roads is not the sole cause of improved road safety in this time. 

For this reason, the report compares against the background trend seen across all borough roads in this period to provide compelling evidence that 20mph schemes reduce the number of casualties regardless of all other road improvement.

The report demonstrates the positive impact of slower speeds on safety and supports the importance of similar measures in future plans to further improve safety in the capital. London boroughs have made excellent progress reducing the default speed limit on their roads to 20mph, with 21 out of 33 boroughs now having a default 20mph speed limit. TfL expects this number to grow in light of the positive impact these schemes are having on collisions. 

TfL also provides sustained support to London Boroughs though the £87.6m Local Implementation Planning (LIP) funding that was confirmed for 2025-26, which works towards introduction of further 20mph zones and other road safety measures.  

London has been leading the way in implementing lower speed limits to cut death and injury on its roads. Since 2018, TfL has introduced more than 264km of 20mph speed limits, and over half of London's roads now have 20mph speed limits. Not only do 20mph schemes reduce the number of fatalities and casualties on the road, they also support more people to walk, wheel and cycle and reduce noise pollution, without impacting air quality or journey times.

TfL is committed to lowering speed limits across London, with plans to continue to roll out 20mph on its road network next year. TfL will also be publishing further research on the impact of 20mph schemes across London.

Speed is the single most important factor in the likelihood and severity of a collision, with collision data showing that the faster a vehicle is travelling, the more likely a collision will occur and the more severe any injury resulting from the collision will be. In 2023, speed was a contributory factor in around half of fatal collisions and over a third of all injury collisions in London.

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The cost of operating a taxi in Liverpool is poised to increase for the first time in over a decade, as the city council moves to raise licensing fees and implement tighter restrictions on vehicle advertisements. 

The proposed changes come amidst concerns over a significant number of private hire licences being granted to drivers with Liverpool postcodes by Wolverhampton Council.

Currently, a single-year hackney carriage or private hire driver's licence in Liverpool costs £60, or £150 for three years. The city council is now proposing to increase these fees to £75 for a year and £180 for three years. 

According to committee documents, a "full calculation exercise" was conducted, and the proposed increase is considered minimal, with officials stating it will have "very little impact on licence holders and customers." 

The report added that the figures are "comparable with core cities so it is highly unlikely that many private hire drivers and licence holders will be motivated to license themselves elsewhere."

The move also addresses a growing trend revealed by a Freedom of Information request to Wolverhampton City Council, which disclosed that in 2024 alone, 479 private hire driver licences and 695 private hire vehicle licences were issued to applicants with Liverpool postcodes. These vehicles are now a common sight when booking journeys in Merseyside through apps such as Uber.

In recent years, Liverpool has seen a decrease of 131 hackney carriage drivers, while the number of private hire drivers has surged by an additional 1,063. Since 2021, there has been a 92% increase in new private hire operators across Liverpool, totalling 77.

In addition to fee hikes, committee members will be asked to approve new rules regarding vehicle advertising. While commercial advertising will generally be permitted, new conditions will prohibit the promotion of e-cigarettes and gambling.

These proposals will be considered by the general purposes licensing committee next week. If approved, they will mark the first increase in taxi licensing fees in Liverpool since 2011.

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