Square Foot Mile: Corporate office space deals surged by 25 per cent in 2022 December 23, 2022 Big corporate deals for London HQs has caused office leasing volumes to surge by almost 25 per cent. The post-pandemic return to the office is in full swing, with central London take-up rising by 24 per cent this year. Of the increase, demand for high-quality space in the capital has skyrocketed with 60 per cent [...]
Narrow Escape: Sam Bankman-Fried released on $250m bail December 23, 2022 Disgraced FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried avoided prison on Thursday after posting a $250m recognised bond before awaiting trial for charges of fraud and money laundering. The US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York has charged Bankman-Fried with eight criminal counts, including fraud and money-laundering offences. The previously heralded crypto hero reportedly used [...]
London flexible office occupancy rates recover to pre-pandemic levels December 22, 2022 Flexible office spaces in central London have seen their occupancy rates recover to pre-pandemic levels, new data shows. A majority (86 per cent) of the world’s top 30 flexible workspace providers have seen now seen occupancy rates in their central London offices surpass levels of 60 per cent, a survey by Knight Frank shows. A [...]
Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group agrees £340m debt terms with lender December 22, 2022 The Restaurant Group has announced an amendment and extension of its debt facilities, with a revised £340m package. On Thursday, the owner of the Wagamama and Frankie & Benny’s brands said the new deal comprised of a £220m term loan facility and a £120m revolving credit facility with its existing lenders. The new terms represented [...]
Rishi Sunak hires Evercore investment banker as new ethics adviser December 22, 2022 Rishi Sunak has hired a new independent ethics adviser, after the last two holders of the post quit during Boris Johnson’s premiership. The Prime Minister has appointed Sir Magnus Laurie CBE, a senior investment banker at Evercore and chair of Historic England, as Number 10’s new independent adviser on ministers’ interests. Sunak said in a [...]
Apology after postal strikes meant just 16 per cent of energy vouchers redeemed December 22, 2022 Royal Mail has apologised after just 16 per cent of energy bill support scheme (EBSS) vouchers were delivered by post this December. The company which has been crippled by strikes this month said sorry after cold Brits were left in the lurch, unable to get hold of energy metre vouchers. Vouchers are claimed by customers [...]
Half of UK firms find trading with EU difficult post-Brexit, says new survey December 21, 2022 More than half of UK businesses who trade overseas are finding it difficult to trade goods with the EU post-Brexit, according to a new survey. A new poll from the British Chambers of Commerce found that 56 per cent of firms “face difficulties adapting to the new rules for trading goods” with the EU and [...]
Sadiq Khan to run for third term as London mayor in 2024 election December 20, 2022 Sadiq Khan will seek a third term as London mayor, after being selected as Labour’s candidate for the 2024 election. Khan, who would be the first London mayor to win three elections if victorious in 2024, said it would be a “very tough election” and that “there’s still so much more to do.” There have [...]
Bunzl acquires four firms and sells healthcare arm December 20, 2022 Bunzl has acquired four businesses and has agreed to sell its UK healthcare division. The specialist distribution group, which sells global businesses a variety of products from coffee cups to cafes, food wrap to supermarkets, and cleaning materials to hospitals, said the transactions would be profit neutral. The FTSE-100 firm said it would sell its [...]
Despite Brexit: Octopus’ Bulb deal could trigger EU involvement, says lawyers December 19, 2022 Octopus Energy's takeover of Bulb could breach EU state aid rules, according to senior competition lawyers.