Elegance and opulence in Rutland December 20, 2012 Built for George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham in the 17th century, Rutland’s Mansion House was severely damaged by Parliamentarians in the civil war. It was resurrected by Daniel Finch, second Earl of Nottingham and sixth Earl of Winchelsea, in 1694. The “new house” was built over the next six years. It was even considered for [...]
Crispin Odey boosts Ashley’s hopes of a £39m bonus pot December 13, 2012 CRISPIN ODEY, the influential hedge fund tycoon and Sports Direct investor, said yesterday he was fully in favour of the retailer reintroducing a bonus scheme that could hand its founder Mike Ashley a £39m windfall. Odey Asset Management is Sports Direct’s second largest shareholder after Ashley and holds a 6.58 per cent stake in the [...]
Ashley’s naked ambition could help him win Sports Direct vote December 13, 2012 A man prepared to offend thousands of hardened Geordie football fans by renaming their place of worship the Sport Direct Arena (now plain old St James’s Park again) won’t be too bothered about entering into a renewed battle with City institutions over executive pay. But more than a handful of other executives will be interested [...]
Concrete Returns? December 10, 2012 CONCRETE returns are expected from Travis Perkins when it updates shareholders tomorrow. The builders merchant recently joined forces with Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd to supply materials for 6,300 new homes. Shares are just off their five-year highs, and a positive update may encourage traders to dig in and lift prices to a level not seen since [...]
UK employment figures likely to show a rise in claimants last month December 9, 2012 UK employment figures are this week predicted to remain steady, in line with the weak economic background. “We forecast the October unemployment rate unchanged at 7.8 per cent and the November claimant count to increase by 6,400,” said Blerina Uruci from Barclays. Investors will this week be looking to America, where the Federal Reserve is [...]
The schlocky horror show December 6, 2012 FILM THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS Cert 18 *** Written AND directed by Wu-Tang founding member and long time buddy of Quentin Tarantino, the RZA, The Man with the Iron Fists sails dangerously close to the point at which geeky fanboy genre pastiche turns into plain, simple rubbish. The Man with the Iron Fists [...]
The digital printing duo with a thriving portfolio December 2, 2012 NICK and Tim Green are executive director and chief executive respectively of Tangent Communications, an alternative investment market (AIM)-listed digital printing and marketing company. They have gone against the old adage that you should never go into business with family to set up businesses that have made waves within their industries. Indeed, having made plans [...]
Minimalist running: is less really best? November 26, 2012 Minimalist SHOES are having quite the moment right now, helped, in part, by the success of the Vibram Five Finger shoe. The “barefoot” running shoe has appeared on the feet of high flyers, most notably actor Shailene Woodley, who ill advisedly sported a pair with a designer frock at this year’s Golden Globes. Their popularity, [...]
Getting insured for your ski holiday is snow joke November 22, 2012 You’re heading to the ski slopes for a well-earned break from City life. Your passports have been rediscovered, your flights booked, and your bags packed. But have you arranged your travel insurance? A survey of winter holiday-makers by the AA found that a third of those buying travel insurance did not check the level of [...]
L&G secures big retail lettings November 20, 2012 Legal & General Property yesterday revealed it has secured Swedish retail giant H&M and restaurants Wasabi and Kim Chee Korean as tenants at its Covent Garden estate on the Strand. The group said it has also signed New Look, Pandora and Sports Direct to its Jackson Square shopping centre in Bishop’s Stortford, which it bought [...]