Looking for a mansion tax loophole? If your house is worth less than £3m, don’t try splitting it up January 28, 2015 In the very late 17th century, when owners of large properties wanted to avoid paying a very unpopular tax, they bricked up their windows. And now, owners of properties that would be affected by Labour’s proposed mansion tax are already seeking ways to get around this 21st-century levy, even though it might not be imposed. [...]
Elis planning a €700m fundraise on French market in February January 28, 2015 FRENCH industrial laundry company Elis, 83 per cent owned by investment group Eurazeo, set an indicative price range for its stock float of €12 to €19 a share yesterday. Elis plans to raise a gross amount of about €700m (£523.2m) from the issue of new shares, as well as €50m from a secondary offering, Eurazeo [...]
Shares take off at Boeing January 28, 2015 BOEING shares rose 5.4 per cent on Wall Street yesterday, after beating cash flow expectations. The airline manufacturer said 2014 fourth quarter profits were up 23 per cent to $1.47bn (£970m) on the back of a record 1,432 net orders for planes last year, which included the launch of its Boeing 787-9 stretched airline. It [...]
English Heritage listed buildings: Protecting our past is a tricky affair January 28, 2015 One Finsbury Avenue squats on the western edge of the Broadgate development at Liverpool Street, like a huge camouflaged army tank under the false illusion that no one can see it. Capped with a large glass roof to allow UBS traders to benefit from as much daylight as possible, the building’s bronze-coloured sides are clad [...]
Drastic Dave reveals 43 Tesco store closures January 28, 2015 TESCO chief executive Dave Lewis yesterday lived up to his nickname “drastic Dave” as the company named the 43 stores it would be closing in a bid to revive its flagging fortunes. The retailer said it would shut 30 convenience stores – including 18 Express outlets and 12 inner-city Metro shops – along with seven [...]
Saga share price boosted by a £26m acquisition of Bennetts motorbike insurer January 28, 2015 Shares in insurance group Saga shot up by 10.8 per cent yesterday after the firm announced it had bought motorbike insurer Bennetts for £26.26m. Saga, which specialises in cover for the over-50s, said the deal was in line with its strategy to expand its offering via broker services. Bennetts, which was previously owned by BGL [...]
Growing Tory anger over plain packs January 28, 2015 MANY Conservative MPs were furious when health minister Jane Ellison made a surprise announcement that plain packaging of cigarettes would be introduced before the election. It’s now thought that over 100 of them are preparing to vote against David Cameron’s plans, amid growing concerns about the cost. Major tobacco firms have threatened to sue the [...]
Eurozone woes can’t hurt IKEA as sales build January 28, 2015 FLATPACK furniture giant IKEA has said its revenues in Europe will keep growing this financial year, despite an underwhelming Eurozone economy. The privately-held Swedish firm was buoyed by a lift in sales at its Spanish, Italian and Portuguese stores, which had picked up in the financial year ended 31 August 2014. Boss Peter Agnefjall said [...]
Ebola cure call lifts final quarter tallies for Irn-Bru drinks-maker AG Barr January 28, 2015 The maker of Scotland’s “other national drink” Irn-Bru reported five per cent sales growth in its final quarter of its financial year. In the three months to 25 January the producer AG Barr said trading performance is expected to have been well ahead of total soft drinks market. Full year revenue is expected to be [...]
H&M misses forecasts after spending spree January 28, 2015 HENNES & Mauritz posted lower than expected fourth quarter earnings yesterday as the Swedish fashion giant splashed out on new ranges and websites in its battle against increasing competition from rivals. The retailer said pre-tax profits for the three months to the end of November rose seven per cent to 7.8bn Swedish kronor (£600m), missing [...]
