KNIGHT VINKE TURNS UP HEAT ON GLENCORE July 3, 2012 Activist fund Knight Vinke, a top-20 shareholder in miner Xstrata, yesterday backed a surprise call from fellow investor Qatar for better terms in a takeover offer from commodities trader Glencore, led by Ivan Glasenberg (pictured).Knight Vinke yesterday said the deal does not represent fair value for Xstrata on current terms and also objected to the [...]
Knight and the BBA put banker bash on hold July 2, 2012 Angela Knight, the departing chief executive of the British Bankers’ Association, was yesterday forced to cancel the industry body’s summer party amid the continuing furore over the Libor interest rate scandal. News of the scrapped banker bash came via an email from Ben Andersen-Tuffnell to invitees, advising them that the shindig, planned for tomorrow on [...]
You wouldn’t buy a car without a few gadgets in it – why should it be any different for your home? June 28, 2012 The “internet of things” is big news right now. It’s the idea that anything with an electrical plug can become a “smart” device, connected to the web. Companies like Intel have been busy showcasing everything from smart gas metres to intelligent washing machines but it is only recently this smart technology is moving out of [...]
London still outperforms the rest of the country June 28, 2012 Q What is happening to London prices at the moment? A London property continues to outperform the rest of the UK market. The latest official data showed that average house prices across the capital are up 5.1 per cent year on year, compared to a one per cent fall across England and Wales. The average [...]
Versace’s place is for sale at $125m… here are Europe’s rival celeb homes June 28, 2012 GOLFE POENTE Quinta do Lago, Portugal Artyon Senna, the late Brazilian race-driver, used this house as his European bolthole when competing in Europe. It’s a nine-bedroom estate with a flood-lit football pitch and tennis court, sunken trampoline, dog kennel and a spacious layout. Senna, born in a ritzy part of Sao Paulo in 1960, was [...]
FOCUS ON: GUILDFORD June 28, 2012 THE GROVE Price: £695,000 A four bedroom townhouse with open plan living space, three bathrooms and accommodation over three floors. It has designer bathroom suites and traditionally styled kitchens with stone worktops. Contact Knight Frank on 020 7861 1033 or go to knightfrank.co.uk. BOXGROVE AVENUE Price: £895,000 A family home with accommodation arranged over three [...]
FOCUS ON: GUILDFORD June 28, 2012 ALBURY HEIGHTS Price: £4.95m Albury Heights is a substantial family home recently built in the Georgian style. It includes six bedrooms and six en suite bath/shower rooms, reception hall, drawing room, dining room, family room and office. Contact Savills on 01483 796 820 or go to savills.com. ENNISMORE AVENUE Price: £1.85m A five bedroom double-fronted [...]
Well-handicapped Mabait has a big chance in Royal Hunt Cup at a massive 25/1 June 19, 2012 TODAY’S big betting race is the Royal Hunt Cup (4.25pm) and a maximum field of 30 means the draw often plays a big part. However, there didn’t look to be any real bias yesterday and hopefully the straight course will continue to ride fairly over the next few days. James Fanshawe pulled Primaeval out of [...]
Quintain partners with Hong Kong firm June 18, 2012 QUINTAIN ESTATES revealed yesterday it has struck up a joint venture with Hong Kong billionaire Henry Cheng Kar-Shun, in a deal that will help kick-start one of the UK’s biggest housing projects. The regeneration specialist said Cheng’s investment vehicle Knight Dragon has taken a 60 per cent stake in its Greenwich peninsular project, sending shares [...]
EPISODE 59 – A QUIET-ISH MOMENT June 18, 2012 If the Queen gets cross with someone, dad, can she just cut off their head?” “I don’t think the Queen’s ever actually cut off anyone’s head Noel.” “So does she have someone to do it for her? Like soldiers? And then she can watch. And laugh at them. And not get loads of blood all [...]