FIRST WOMEN GATHER AT GALA TALENT SHOW June 11, 2009 THERE’S nothing a bunch of hard-working businesswomen like better than listening to one of their own knowing how to send herself up in style. So it should come as no surprise that the star of this year’s First Women Awards, held last night in the luxurious surroundings of the Marriott Grosvenor Square, was Deloitte veteran [...]
Lebedev eyes Independent June 11, 2009 RUSSIAN oligarch, and Evening Standard majority stakeholder, Alexander Lebedev is understood to be mulling a deal to buy The Independent and Independent on Sunday. Simon Kelner, the Independent titles’ managing director, and Lebedev have been in discussions over a possible deal for some months, but the process is said to have been accelerated this week. [...]
FOCUS ON: COLCHESTER, ESSEX June 11, 2009 FARTHINGS, GREAT HORKESLEY, CO6 4EQPrice: £1.25mThis imposing 1930s country house is just five miles north of Colchester, which is just under an hour from Liverpool Street. The accommodation is split over three floors and there are five bedrooms. From the first floor landing is a conservatory, leading out to a covered balcony. The drawing room [...]
Central flats are the future of luxe London living June 4, 2009 THERE is something distinctly un-British about city apartment living. The Americans and the Europeans see it as perfectly normal, even desirable, but we Brits like our houses, simply because it is what we are used to. We would much rather have a small house with smaller garden and a longer commute to work, instead of [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS May 20, 2009 SVG CapitalThe private equity firm has appointed Lynn Fordham as its new chief executive officer and Tony Dalwood as chief executive of SVG Advisers, its advisory arm. Fordham joined the SVG Capital board as finance director in July last year, having previously held positions with Barratt Developments, BAA, Boots, Man Group and Chubb. Dalwood joined [...]
Barratt rules out rights issue May 13, 2009 Housebuilder Barratt Developments quelled talk of an imminent cash call yesterday, saying debt was in line with its plans. The group also said it expected to be able to meet loan covenants, helped by an “acceptable” start to 2009. Barratt, the UK’s fifth largest housebuilder by market value is saddled with £1.42bn debt as of [...]
Builders set for mega loss on portfolios September 8, 2008 Homebuilders Barratt and Redrow are expected to report a £300m loss on their portfolios later this week. Barratt chief executive Mark Clare will announce they had to write £160m off the value of their land bank and work in progress. Despite Barratt boosting its shares earlier in the summer when refinancing debts and covenants, shares [...]
Going short is not necessarily the answer September 2, 2008 A medium or long term approach may be wisest just now, says Katie Hope Its’ like a grim version of “when I were a lad…” working in the City at the moment. Everyone’s trying to out-do themselves in describing just how bad things have got. Going to school barefoot barely makes the grade in terms [...]
Taylor Wimpey profits hit by £1.5bn writedown August 28, 2008 Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey’s first half profits fell sharply after writing down a massive £1.5bn loss on the value of its property assets. The new homes specialist, which earlier in the year warned it would breach its banking covenant over the full year, said yesterday that it was still in talks with its bankers about revising [...]
Develop your tactics to win in hard times July 15, 2008 When the going gets tough, the tough stick to their trading strategies, says Katie Hope Everybody harbours a secret desire to be an investment legend. The so-called “Sage of Omaha” Warren Buffett, George Soros, whom it is obligatory to refer to as “the man who broke the Bank of England” and even fictional red-braced trader [...]