BDO’s global ambitions help revenues soar November 21, 2012 MID-TIER accountancy group BDO’s ambitions in Asia appear to be paying off, with the firm posting 14 per cent annual revenue growth across its global businesses, propelled by expansion in the region. BDO, the sixth-biggest accountant in the UK and fifth-largest worldwide, said revenues across all of its member firms increased 14 per cent to [...]
Signia Wealth swoops on rival to hire right hand man to founder November 21, 2012 SIGNIA Wealth, the wealth management group, has hired Rupert Robinson, former chief executive of Schroders UK Private Bank, to be the right hand man to founder Nathalie Dauriac-Stoebe, according to industry sources. Robinson, whose impending hire is being viewed as Signia’s most senior appointment to date, will be based in the group’s London office, where [...]
Intermediate Capital hit by impairments November 21, 2012 INTERMEDIATE Capital Group (ICG) profits have slumped due to impairments and a lethargic investment market, but the specialist financier has still managed to attract €2.3bn (£1.8bn) to its latest fund. ICG said pre-tax profits for the six months to the end of September fell 64 per cent to £39.6m, after it booked impairments of £64.8m [...]
UK’s online retailers prepare for record breaking Cyber Monday November 21, 2012 CHRISTMAS is expected to result in the biggest day in online retailers’ history this year, with visits to shopping websites due to top 100m for the first time. Retailers have flagged Monday 3 December – dubbed “Cyber Monday” as the most intense day of Christmas shopping this year. This is down to a combination of [...]
UK Mail hopes to pick up clients in wake of Royal Mail shake-up November 21, 2012 FTSE-listed delivery firm UK Mail is snatching market share from Royal Mail and other operators, it said yesterday after posting an 11.9 per cent jump in revenues for the six months to the end of September. Pre-tax profits before exceptional items rose 7.8 per cent on a year ago to £7.3m. The firm offers parcel [...]
Capital & Counties moves one step closer to Earls Court plan November 21, 2012 CAPITAL & Counties (Capco) yesterday cleared another hurdle after its £8bn regeneration plans at Earls Court were approved by Kensington and Chelsea council. The Sir Terry Farrell-designed scheme will see the Earls Court Exhibition Centre and several housing estates demolished and replaced with 7,500 new homes creating a “new London district”, according to the developers. [...]
Mike Slade’s giant Barts Square scheme in the City approved November 21, 2012 PLANS for one of the largest ever regeneration projects on the former St Bartholomew’s Hospital site in the City have been approved. Helical Bar, the property developer run by industry veteran Mike Slade, yesterday said the City planning committee has given the go-ahead to build 215 flats, 230,00 square feet of offices and 27,000 square [...]
How much Christmas shopping will you do online? November 21, 2012 CHRISTOPHER JENNER SWISS RE I’ll probably do about 85 per cent of it online due to laziness. Compared to last year, I do think my Christmas online shopping has progressed substantially. I mainly order vouchers for people and get my shopping done throughout December. PAMELA HARTLEY STANDARD BANK I imagine I’ll do about 50 per [...]
Minoan snaps up Classic Travel November 21, 2012 Scottish travel group Minoan yesterday said it would buy specialist travel agency Classic Travel as well as the Golf Concierge brand. AIM-listed Minoan said it would pay a maximum of £600,000 for the Classic Travel business, dependent on it meeting targets over the next two years of trading. Separately, it also bought the Golf Concierge [...]
Unite Group launches retail bond November 21, 2012 Unite Group, the UK’s biggest student accommodation provider, yesterday become the latest firm to launch a retail bond. With £2,000 as the minimum investment, the bond pays a coupon rate of 6.125 per cent and matures on 12 June 2020. The group aims to raise £50 to £75m from the bond to fund expansion. Investec [...]