In the FinTech family: How crowdfunding is propelling peer-to-peer platform Assetz Capital forward April 8, 2015 Back in 2010, it became clear to the co-founders of Assetz Capital that the banking system was broken. So we set out to make a difference – not just to help restart business lending, but to make a long-lasting change for the better. The desire to develop a platform where businesses could access much-needed funds, [...]
Non-doms pay £6bn in income tax and Labour’s ban could damage the UK’s ability to attract entrepreneurs April 8, 2015 As Labour looks to hit non-doms in one of the few substantive policy announcements of the campaign so far, some experts are warning Labour not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. According to international law firm Pinsent Masons, non-doms paid a whopping £6.18bn in income tax alone in 2012-13 despite the actual [...]
Don’t get burned by the buy-to-let boom: Funding retirement with rental income could turn into a disaster April 7, 2015 The new pensions freedoms are finally here and many savers will be considering taking a lump sum from their savings. Investing in a buy-to-let property to fund retirement may seem like a good idea, but pensions experts are warning of the risks. Eighteen years after the creation of the first buy-to-let mortgage, this form of [...]
Investing in wine: Should I invest in fine wine? April 1, 2015 The principal of investing in wine began hundreds of years ago. Collectors and enthusiasts purchased extra cases or bottles with the mind-set that they would sell some and consume the remainder for a reduced cost or even for free. Over the last 20 years wine has become more commoditised and therefore the fine wine investment [...]
Shore Capital backs UK bid to reform the EU March 31, 2015 BRITAIN needs to take back from Brussels control of financial services, and should challenge the EU over restrictive employment law and red tape, Shore Capital boss Howard Shore told City A.M. yesterday. The investment banking boss’ intervention challenges the perception that City leaders are opposed to the Prime Minister’s promise to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with Brussels, [...]
Crowdfunding: A brief history March 26, 2015 It’s transforming the prospects of small businesses, but it’s still early days for crowdfunding in the UK. By the middle of this month, the Scottish National Party had raised nearly £35,000 on crowdfunding website Crowdfunder. It’s not the only party to turn to crowdfunding to bankroll its General Election campaign – over the past three [...]
Coining it? The case for gold bullion coins March 26, 2015 Gold has had a torrid few years and 2015 is unlikely to be any better. Respected analysts at Brazilian bank Itau Unibanco have forecast that the precious metal will post its third straight annual drop in price in 2015. Having plunged from highs of around $1,900 per troy ounce in 2011, the gold price now [...]
Touching down March 25, 2015 Andy Baker explains how turning to crowdfunding is transforming opportunities for a growing rugby company IN THE complex world of sports development, sustainable funding is a key ingredient for success. In this Rugby World Cup year, this is why we looked to crowdfunding to secure a £150,000 investment in Trys Rugby. We are an adult [...]
General Election 2015: How MPs stepping down at this election could make millions on their second homes March 25, 2015 Exclusive: On 30 March when parliament is dissolved, as the majority of MPs will gear up to embark on the toughest part of their election campaigns, some will bid farewell to the Commons for the last time as they step down from public life. But among the 77 MPs leaving office, many will be left [...]
Profits crumble 63 per cent at investment firm SVG Capital March 23, 2015 INVESTMENT manager SVG Capital’s distributions soared in 2014 despite slow growth, the firm said yesterday. SVG offered shareholders a company record of £330m in distributions for the year, up over £25m since 2013. SVG’s partial selldown of Hugo Boss shares and selling of ProSiebenSat.1 Media contributed to the gains. However, SVG’s 2014 pre-tax profit of [...]