Pearson lands largest private education provider in Brazil December 3, 2013 British publishing company Pearson has agreed to acquire Grupo Multi, the largest provider of private language schools in Brazil. Pearson will acquire the group for £440m in cash and the assumption of £65m of debt. The acquisition will significantly expand the group's presence in emerging markets. Group Multi serves over 800,000 students across 2,600 franchised [...]
Pension giant lands air traffic control stake November 19, 2013 ONE OF Britain’s biggest pension schemes has bought a stake in the national air traffic controller Nats for £143m. Universities Superannuation Scheme, which handles the pensions of around 300,000 higher education workers, has bought the holding from transport companies Thomas Cook, Tui Travel, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic. USS will own a 49.9 per cent stake [...]
Bottom Line: Roll the dice in the land of opportunity November 26, 2013 WHEN BRITONS think of New Jersey, their minds tend to drift to one of a few stereotypes: brash, drunk Italian-Americans (Jersey Shore); violent mafiosos (The Sopranos); or the long journey into Manhattan from its out-of-town airport (Newark). Yesterday it added to that list, by becoming the most populous US state to allow online gambling – [...]
130,000 homes sold at a loss since 2007 February 26, 2013 MORE than 130,000 British families have sold their homes at a loss since the financial crisis began, according to a report released today. The figures lay bare the damage done to house prices since 2007, with 41 per cent of homes bought and sold during the last six years reaching less than the seller paid for [...]
Royal Mail rival lands 63 per cent profit increase November 20, 2013 UK Mail group has reported 63 per cent increase in half year pre-tax profits. The private postal company reported profit before tax of £11.9m and post tax profit of £9.3m. The improving economy and rises in parcel revenue were major factors contributing to the company's bumper profits. Group revenues reached £243.4m compared with £225.7m, in [...]
WOMEN TAKE MORE SEATS ON FTSE 100 BOARDS July 24, 2012 THE proportion of women on the boards of FTSE 100 firms has risen to 16.7 per cent from 12.5 per cent in 2011, according to new figures from the Department of Business. The news will add steam to business secretary Vince Cable’s insistence that quotas to force board diversity are unnecessary. Recent appointments include Lucinda [...]
British Land asset value rises November 15, 2011 UK developer British Land posted rises in first-half net asset value (NAV) and underlying pretax profit, and said it was well positioned to capture upside in both income and capital when the economy improves. British Land booked a 4.2 per cent rise in first-half NAV to 591 pence a share, while its underlying pre-tax profit [...]
Brit Land buys Mayfair estate July 25, 2012 BRITISH LAND revealed yesterday it has acquired the Clarges Estate on Piccadilly for £130m from the low profile Latvian Sebba family. The group plans to develop the entire site opposite the Ritz and Green Park in Mayfair, into a 200,000 square feet scheme with shops, offices and luxury flats. The whole site will be worth [...]
Letters to the editor February 6, 2013 Labour’s record [Re: Why Labour is the natural party of small business and entrepreneurs, Wednesday] While Chuka Umunna’s vision for small business is admirable, his ideas smack of the same old political rhetoric. Half-baked measures and ill thought-out plans are hardly sufficient to mend the problems facing British business. A temporary VAT cut will not [...]
France can land another Champion Stakes but value with Morandi not Cirrus October 17, 2013 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY FRANKEL has lit up tomorrow’s QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot for the last two years but his retirement has left the door open for a new name to make the headlines. Many are expecting admirable French gelding Cirrus Des Aigles to do just that with [...]