Wednesday newspaper round-up: Brexit, BP, Harry Ramsden's, Deloitte

Boris Johnson is heading into the crunch period for Brexit negotiations with the UK economy potentially on the brink of recession and as global economic growth falters, according to a Guardian analysis of economic news over the past month. The prime minister faces the challenge of breaking the deadlock with Brussels to avoid a no-deal Brexit on Halloween, just as the outlook for the economy deteriorates at home and abroad. – Guardian

A British energy firm lighting up homes in Africa with pay-as-you-go solar power has secured £40m to extend its reach to Asia with the help of Japan’s Mitsubishi. The conglomerate has taken a stake in off-grid solar company BBOXX through the start-up’s latest funding round, which will power the Africa-focused company deeper into Asia. – Guardian

BP is selling its entire Alaska business to private oil and gas firm Hilcorp Energy for $5.6bn (£4.6bn), ending six decades of operating in the US state. The move comes as the British oil major is planning to divest $10bn of assets over the next two years to strengthen its balance sheet and pay for its acquisition of BHP’s US shale assets. –Telegraph

Famed fish and chip shop chain Harry Ramsden’s has been swallowed up by Deep Blue Restaurants, taking it over from rival chain Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG). Deep Blue, which already has a 26 fish and chip shops, will acquire Harry Ramsden’s 34 sites, as well as its brand, in a debt-free deal. Further details including the value of the deal have not been disclosed, although BRG will retain a stake in Harry Ramsden’s. – Telegraph

Partners at Deloitte are in line for their biggest payday in a decade despite greater regulatory scrutiny of auditors and calls to break up the Big Four accountants. The 699 equity partners of Deloitte’s British arm will receive an average payment of £882,000 for the year to the end of May, £50,000 more than for the previous year, its results show. The rise in partner pay comes amid increased political scrutiny of the sector after a series of corporate failures, including BHS, Carillion and Patisserie Valerie. – The Times

The boss of Britain’s third largest pharmacy chain says it has spent £7 million building stocks of medicine to prepare for a potentially disruptive Brexit, contrary to government advice. John Nuttall, chief executive of Well Pharmacy, said the company had decided it was a “prudent measure” and stressed he wanted to reassure the public it “didn’t need to panic because we have built stocks behind the scenes”. – The Times