London retains crown as best European city for real estate investment September 25, 2019 London has been ranked as the best European city for long-term commercial real estate investment potential for the third year running, helped by the strength of its tech sector. London was ranked first across five of six categories – inspiration, innovation, interconnection, infrastructure and investment – and was ranked second for the final category, inclusion. [...]
Forever 21 exits Japan amid bankruptcy reports September 25, 2019 Forever 21 will reportedly close all 14 stores and its online shop in Japan amid reports that the fast fashion retailer is considering filing for bankruptcy protection. The firm will end all of its Japanese operations by the end of October, according to the Nikkei Asian Review. Read more: Forever 21 in UK launch It [...]
Why as an investor I’m looking through Brexit fears September 24, 2019 Following the twists and turns in Westminster of the past few weeks I expect many more market participants will simply place UK equities in the “too difficult” basket. Anecdotal stories of overseas investors selling their last UK stocks could start doing the rounds again. Brexit and political uncertainty have been a drag on UK equities, [...]
Blockchain startup Everledger raises $20m in funding round led by Tencent September 24, 2019 UK-based blockchain startup firm Everledger has raised $20m (£16m) in a series A funding round led by Chinese investment firm Tencent. Everledger also received backing from startup funder Graphene Ventures and Fidelity Investments. Read more: Santander issues first end-to-end $20m blockchain bond Founded in 2015 by Australian business woman Leanne Kemp, Everledger uses blockchain technology [...]
Is shared ownership right for me? Your questions answered September 23, 2019 Nick Lieb, head of operations at Share to Buy, explains who is eligible to buy a shared ownership home and what they should consider before they do Who is eligible for shared ownership?To be eligible for shared ownership, you must either be a first time buyer or you must not currently own a property. Purchasers [...]
Timeline – Thomas Cook’s humble beginnings to a billion-pound collapse September 23, 2019 Thomas Cook’s insolvency has left hundreds of thousands of people stranded abroad, and cost tens of thousands of jobs in the UK. But it has been a long time coming. With debts ballooning over the last 10 years and a near-miss in 2011, Britain’s oldest travel firm has endured a bumpy ride in recent years [...]
Pub companies: Is now the time to invest in a cheap pint? September 23, 2019 Investors in Greene King are raising a glass in celebration after Hong Kong’s richest man, Victor Li, agreed to buy the UK’s largest publicly-listed pub and brewery company for £4.6 billion (including net debt). A unit of Li’s investment vehicle, CK Asset Holdings, has bid 850 pence per share – more than a 50 per [...]
World High Life buys British cannabis firm Love Hemp September 23, 2019 Medical cannabis investment firm World High Life is set to buy British cannabis oil company Love Hemp in a £9m deal. World High Life is hoping the deal will help them weed out the competition and expand its UK and European business. The company also announced a share placing intended to raise up to £5m. [...]
Mike Ashley kicks off £4m takeover for Goals Soccer Centres September 23, 2019 Goals Soccer Centre has said it is discussing a takeover bid with high street tycoon Mike Ashley after his Sports Direct said it wanted to take the company private, valuing it at £3.76m. Sports Direct, of which Ashley is the main shareholder, said it was offering 5p a share for the just over 80 per [...]
M&S finance boss heads for the exit September 22, 2019 Marks & Spencer has confirmed it is parting ways with its finance chief less than two years after he took on the role. The retail giant’s group chief financial officer Humphrey Singer is leaving the business in the latest high-profile departure to rock the company. Read more: UK retail sales unexpectedly fall in August Coming [...]