Britain avoids global prime property slip May 13, 2012 THE VALUE of prime property in the world’s major cities dropped in the first three months of 2012, industry figures revealed today – the first time prices have fallen since 2009. Knight Frank’s prime global cities index registered a 0.4 per cent fall, led by Tel Aviv’s 6.6 per cent drop, Kiev’s fall of 6.4 [...]
Ex-slickers cooking up a storm May 13, 2012 Poncho 8 FOUNDERS Nick Troen (formerly a consultant at KPMG); Frank Yeung (formerly a trader at Goldman Sachs); Nick Birkett (formerly an investment analyst at BlackRock). BUSINESS The first Poncho 8 in Spitalfields opened in September 2009 with the aim of being the first of a fast-casual Mexican chain. www.poncho8.com WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING May 9, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES CRH to build on stake in China CRH blamed bad weather in Europe in the first quarter and volatility caused by the Eurozone debt crisis for reduced earnings in the first four months of the year in spite of a stronger recovery in the US market than expected. The Irish building materials group said [...]
BAFTA’S PICCADILLY HEADQUARTERS FOR SALE May 2, 2012 BAFTA’S landmark headquarters on Piccadilly are to be put up for sale for £76m. Aviva Investors Property Trust has instructed property consultancy Knight Frank to sell the 81,000 square foot building known as Princes House, which is also home to the Princes Arcade, the Tramp nightclub, a screening room, casino and three-storey town house.
RAPID responses May 2, 2012 Fresh appeal [Re: Why Boris Johnson is by far the best choice for Londoners, yesterday] It’s good to see support for a candidate on the basis on his character, the worth of his policies, and how those coincide with the nature of London itself. There’s no better example of how directly-elected mayors can rejuvenate politics [...]
Contradictions in new bank rules create fresh risks May 1, 2012 ECONOMIC issues will dominate political discussions about the votes taking place across the EU in the coming month. As well as our own local elections, there are local elections in Germany and Italy, presidential elections in France and Hungary, a general election in Greece and a referendum in Ireland on the EU’s new fiscal treaty. [...]
Private equity rides to rescue of failing firms April 29, 2012 PRIVATE equity firms were once known as Barbarians at the Gate – after KKR’s $25bn leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco in 1988 was immortalised in a bestseller of that name – but their image has picked up, at least according to one expert. Peter Hemington, M&A partner at BDO, said buyout firms are no longer [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS April 29, 2012 SPC The Society of Pensions Consultants has announced that Roger Mattingly has been elected society president, with effect from 1 June. He succeeds Kevin LeGrand, head of technical services at Buck Consultants. Mattingly is a board director at JLT Benefit Solutions and has sat on the SPC council for the past thirteen years. R3 Lee [...]
FOCUS ON: ASCOT April 26, 2012 EASTWAYS Price: £4.95m A spacious seven bedroom home set in landscaped gardens overlooking Sunningdale Golf Course. It features a library, drawing room, breakfast room and utility room as well as a cinema room. Also has a triple garage. Contact Knight Frank on 01344 642 732 TWO CEDARS Price: £1.38m Five bedroom house located in the [...]
A rollicking outing for Marvel fans April 26, 2012 FILM AVENGERS ASSEMBLE Cert: 12A ***** A team of super heroes being brought together from three different blockbuster movie franchises. An alien invasion. A shadowy Chancellor Palpatine-style intergalactic villain. A shady government organisation with dubious plans. Various back stories and sub plots. Joss Whedon has a lot of plates to keep spinning with Avengers Assemble. [...]