Independent probe launched into Olympic Stadium controversy July 5, 2011 LEGACY chiefs have responded to fears over the transparency of the decision to award West Ham the Olympic Stadium by commissioning an independent investigation. The Olympic Park Legacy Company, which earlier this year voted unanimously for West Ham’s proposal over a rival bid from Tottenham, has appointed auditors Moore Stephens to carry out the probe [...]
Knight Vinke has plan for Comet July 4, 2011 Kesa Electricals’ largest investor said it has put forward a plan to the retailer’s board for its loss-making Comet business in the UK that it wants considered as an alternative to disposal. Activist shareholder Knight Vinke, which has a 19.3 per cent stake in Kesa, Europe’s third-biggest electrical goods retailer, said yesterday it met with [...]
CBI calls for probe into the cost of ring-fencing proposal July 4, 2011 BRITAIN’S biggest business lobby has demanded an investigation into how much proposals to ring-fence the retail operations of UK-based banks will cost the economy. The CBI called on the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB) to carry out a “rigorous cost-benefit analysis” of the plans, adding it remained “unconvinced” the policy will support recovery. John Cridland, [...]
London defies slow UK real estate market July 4, 2011 GROWING demand for office space and a booming London market are offering some hope for the UK’s ailing commercial property market, a new survey revealed today. And while the residential property sector continues to slump across the UK, house prices at the top end of the London market are expected to rise by nine per [...]
Jon Moulton’s Better Capital to inject a further £3m into Reader’s Digest July 3, 2011 JON Moulton will plough a further £3m into Reader’s Digest after his white-knight £13m bid saved the iconic magazine from bankruptcy a year ago. He told City A.M. yesterday the firm is undergoing radical changes and the cash injection will help it realise its ambitions of turning around its fortunes. He said: “The changes to [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS July 3, 2011 DTZ Catherine Vasseur, who joined the real estate adviser in January 2011, has been appointed as head of UK property management and a member of the UK executive committee. She will continue to focus on seven service delivery areas covering clients, staff engagement and the market perception of the business. Previous roles include president and [...]
Hammers and Tottenham at war after fresh claims fire Olympic Stadium row July 3, 2011 WEST HAM have vowed to take legal action against London rivals Tottenham following a fresh bout of controversy over the future of the Olympic Stadium. The Hammers yesterday mounted a vigorous defence of their successful bid for the Stratford venue after it emerged that a director of the OPLC, the public body that voted for [...]
OXTED, SURREY June 30, 2011 CROYDON ROAD Price: £249,950 This apartment has two double bedrooms, an entrance hall and a fully fitted kitchen. The lounge-diner and kitchen are open plan and the master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom. There are communal gardens and allocated parking that is accessible by electric gates. Contact: 01883 331000 or go to www.cubittandwest.co.uk LITTLE COURT, [...]
OUT THIS WEEKEND June 30, 2011 FILM AS IF I AM NOT THERE Gritty, gripping drama set during the Bosnian War. A SEPARATION A beautifully made, small-scale Iranian drama of life and love. DELHI BELLY A Bollywood gross-out comedy, about three flatmates getting into scrapes in Delhi. DVD SEASON OF THE WITCH Nicolas Cage is a medieval knight – yeah, right [...]
BBA CONFERENCE | HIGHLIGHTS June 29, 2011 The British Bankers’ Association (BBA) annual conference took place at the Guildhall yesterday. Here are some of the highlights: • BBA chief executive Angela Knight (pictured, bottom right) said that some of the many regulations being introduced “simply don’t work right, don’t fit together, are not coherent”, such as the requirement to hold more capital [...]