Troubled outsourcer Capita drafts in Carillion adviser Lazard to advise on financing options February 10, 2018 Outsourcing giant Capita, collector of TV licence fees and a major government contractor, has drafted in the adviser which served construction company Carillion in the months before its collapse. Capita, which issued a major profit warning last week wiping almost £1bn off its market value, has hired investment bank Lazard to advise on its financing [...]
Sotheby’s unveils brilliant 100-carat white diamond worth over $30m February 8, 2018 The world’s rarest and most valuable white diamond is going on display at Sotheby’s in London today. The 102.34 carat white diamond is thought to be worth considerably more than the previous auction records for similar pieces which have reached as much as $30m. The reason for its sky-high value is that this piece is [...]
London house prices set to fall again this year as buyers struggle to save for a deposit February 8, 2018 London house prices look set to fall again this year as would-be homeowners struggle to save for a deposit. Chartered surveys expect house prices to fall in London over the next 12 months, according to a survey released this morning by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics). Last year, Nationwide recorded a 0.5 per [...]
Making a meal of it: EAT could close portion of 100-strong portfolio as competition bites February 6, 2018 High street sandwich shop EAT has become the latest food chain to consider closing a raft of stores. The 100-strong chain is looking at restructuring ts portfolio, with a possible company voluntary arrangement (CVA) on the table, according to Sky News. It follows the likes of Byron and Jamie’s Italian, which have both been forced [...]
Planning reform must be bold and decisive for housebuilding to thrive February 5, 2018 Almost all of the noise coming out of Westminster concerns Brexit. But amid the sound of Leavers and Remainers shouting over each other, some ministers are determined to make their voices heard on other matters. Take Sajid Javid, for example. The secretary of state for communities and local government survived the recent reshuffle and emerged [...]
Nick Jones’s Soho House primed for $2bn float on New York Stock Exchange February 4, 2018 Private members' club giant Soho House is plotting a $2bn (£1.4bn) float on the New York stock market. Founded by entrepreneur Nick Jones, the network of clubs, restaurants and workspaces has sites across the world, with recent additions including the City's new hotspot The Ned. The company has now hired bankers from JPMorgan and Goldman [...]
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Shoot Them: We went on safari with Kenya’s top photographer February 2, 2018 Normally at hotels I’m rather picky about who joins me for breakfast, but this time I made an exception. Or as much of an exception you can claim to make when a herd of wild Rothchild’s giraffes wander over uninvited to pop their necks through the lodge’s windows in search of a bite to eat. [...]
Focus On Vauxhall: Donald Trump might not be keen on it, but international investors dig these skyscrapers south of the river February 2, 2018 Vauxhall got dragged through the mud by no less a figure than the President of the United States recently. The US Embassy’s much touted move to the “off location” was supposedly the reason behind Donald Trump’s cancelled visit to the UK, even though the new building has its own moat. Clearly, tech behemoth Apple didn’t [...]
Outraged by Alexis Sanchez’s stratospheric pay? Try rethinking your attitude to capitalism February 1, 2018 Alexis Sanchez has moved to Manchester United on a reported salary of £350,000 per week, rising to £450,000 when his image rights are included, and £600,000 with potential bonuses. While the January transfer window has now closed, football pay has yet again opened a debate which goes to the very heart of capitalism itself. You [...]
Ryanair to roll out Brexit clause in tickets later this year as it says uncertainty hasn’t affected bookings yet January 31, 2018 Ryanair confirmed today it will add a “Brexit clause” to tickets going on sale from September for 2019, as the uncertainty continued over arrangements for airlines after Britain leaves the European Union. Ryanair said tickets for its 2019 summer flights will include a clause explaining flights are “subject to the regulatory environment allowing this flight [...]