Private equity firm TPG to move offices to Mayfair’s Park House June 16, 2015 Private equity firm TPG has signed a deal to relocate its European headquarters to a new development opposite Selfridges department store on Oxford Street. The US-based firm, which is currently based at 5-7 Carlton Gardens in London’s St James, has agreed to take the entire fifth floor of Park House on a 15-year lease, the [...]
Our verdict June 16, 2015 Since the Eurozone crisis began unfolding back in 2009, investors have been cautious about the region. This was understandable, given that it lurched from crisis to crisis every week, and Portugal’s, Greece’s and Ireland’s economies all had to be propped up with multi-billion euro rescue plans. Italy, Spain and France have also been a cause [...]
Simple ways to save your heirs from an inheritance tax headache June 16, 2015 Nearly 10 per cent of deaths will be subject to inheritance tax (IHT) by 2018-19, up from 4.8 per cent in 2013-14, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. Originally designed to only be levied on the very richest, a combination of rising house prices and successive governments’ failure to substantially lift the threshold at [...]
Forget the doom-mongers: Investing in infrastructure is as safe as it sounds June 15, 2015 Received wisdom says that infrastructure is a safe and boring haven for long-term investors looking for yield in a low interest rate environment. Recently, however, the asset class has come under attack for being more risky than the low-yielding government bonds for which it is touted as an alternative home for investors’ cash. Even the [...]
Budget 2015: Institute of Chartered Accountants says George Osborne should simplify taxes June 15, 2015 The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) is calling upon chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne to simplify the tax code in his forthcoming summer Budget. With the Conservative Budget just three weeks away, the ICAEW said today that the government’s previously-announced plans to cut red tape and reduce costs to British [...]
Grind looks to Crowdcube for £1.5m crowdfunding coffee fix June 15, 2015 Coffee chain Grind is looking to tap up latte and espresso lovers through crowdfunding service Crowdcube for its next phase of expansion, after launching a £1.5m bond issue today. Grind was founded four years ago by Australian DJ and musician Kaz James and entrepreneur David Abrahamovitch, who were unsatisfied with the quality of the espressos [...]
As new pension rules take hold, these seven cities are worth a look if you’re planning on investing in global property June 12, 2015 UK pensioners and investors could cash in by buying property in cities such as Miami and Berlin, according to research from IP Global. The company identified seven cities a being ripe for investment, including far-flung locations such as Miami and Melbourne. The government’s pension reforms have freed up savings, and many pensioners have already used [...]
Crowdfunding a bespoke car: Elemental explains how it raised capital for its road-legal track car, the Rp1 June 10, 2015 Elemental's Rp1 is built around a custom-designed carbon composite tub and race pedigree chassis Having received much acclaim for its development car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last year, Elemental Automotive Group was ready to find the funding to scale. Established in 2012, its team, all seasoned F1 and super car engineers and [...]
The UK’s first national steel strike in 30 years could happen this month after Unite schedules Tata Steel action for June 22 June 8, 2015 The UK is facing its first national steel strike for 30 years, after union members voted for action against Tata Steel. Unite the union announced today the strike – agreed last week – would go ahead on June 22. It is part of an ongoing dispute over pensions, with the manufacturer telling workers [...]
Online farmers market Farmdrop receives funding from Zoopla founder Alex Chesterman June 7, 2015 Farmdrop, the online farmers’ market for Londoners, has received significant funding from Alex Chesterman, the man behind Zoopla, It is also preparing to launch another major crowdfunding campaign. This is expected to launch in the next two to three weeks. Chesterman, who also founded LoveFilm, invested £100,000 in the final quarter of 2014. Farmdrop founder, [...]