Arise, Sir Pickles: Former DCLG chief to be knighted May 22, 2015 Former secretary of state for communities and local government Eric Pickles is to be knighted, 10 Downing Street announced today. Although the Conservative MP lost his role in the cabinet reshuffle which took place after the election, he is to be honoured for services to local government, the Prime Minister said today. It'll be Sir [...]
Scottish Tory leader asks Irish to say I Do to same-sex marriage May 19, 2015 SCOTTISH Tory leader Ruth Davidson has recently seen her star rise, with the referendum prompting an increased focus on politics north of the border. Now she is setting her sights across the sea to events in Ireland. Davidson, and her Irish girlfriend Jen Wilson, have called on voters in the country to say yes to [...]
Office vacancies in south east at 14-year low May 12, 2015 VACANCY rates across the south east office market are at their lowest since 2001, driving rental growth to record highs in towns across the region, Knight Frank reported yesterday. The property advisory firm’s annual M25 office market report revealed that availability fell by 13 per cent across all types of office space in the first [...]
No problems for Spotify chair May 7, 2015 WHAT do you do when a hip-hop mogul tries to muscle in on your territory? If you’re Spotify chairman and co-founder Martin Lorentzon you hit them with a zippy one-liner. When asked what he would do about Jay-Z, given the rap king’s push into music streaming with his Tidal service, Lorentzon said: “I would say [...]
UBS disputes activist claims over funding May 5, 2015 UBS yesterday rebuffed claims by activist investor Knight Vinke that it subsidises its investment bank, amid a longrunning campaign by Knight to have UBS hive off the unit. Knight Vinke, founded by Eric Knight, has called on UBS to reveal the funding rate of the bank at its annual meeting this week, amid claims the [...]
When raiders strike: Are US activist investors in City boardrooms a force for good or a costly nuisance? April 30, 2015 When US investor Nelson Peltz walks into a boardroom carrying a piece of paper you know there’s going to be trouble. Peltz, best known in the UK for bouncing Cadbury’s into a series of spin-outs and mergers, has a tried and tested tactic for effecting change: meet a chief executive, present him with a [...]
Zoopla share price soars as it buys uSwitch in £160m deal April 30, 2015 Property website Zoopla has snapped up price comparison website uSwitch in a £160m deal sending shares surging. The group, which also owns Prime Location, is aiming to become a one-stop shop for property buyers and those moving house. "The acquisition of uSwitch is a significant step in Zoopla's mission to be the most useful resource for [...]
Sky high: Introducing the most expensive homes in the world April 30, 2015 For the super rich, a trophy home isn’t simply a place to live, it’s a savvy investment; the discreet market in prestigious properties is booming and they’re selling for record-breaking prices. The cities that are home to these super-luxe homes also get an ego boost, as their ability to attract some of the wealthiest individuals [...]
Entrepreneur David Johnson is building an empire in the British Virgin Islands to rival Richard Branson’s Necker April 30, 2015 When Sir Richard Branson arrived in the British Virgin Islands, he was sufficiently smitten that he bought his own island, Necker. It’s easy to see why. This Caribbean tropical paradise enjoys a sunny season stretching to 10 months of the year, while gentle waves from a clear blue sea lap the BVI’s many sandy beaches. [...]
Home building unlikely to reach pre-recession levels this year April 27, 2015 The prospects for UK house building are grim, according to a survey of homebuilders published yesterday by estate agents Knight Frank. Only nine per cent of home builders said it was possible to build more than 200,000 residential units a year. The maximum number that could be built was around 180,000 or less, according to [...]