WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING August 3, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES BARCLAYS OFFLOADS LOANS IN STRUGGLING CONNAUGHT Lenders to Connaught have started selling their loans to the company, in a sign of their concern about the state of the embattled social housing maintenance group. Barclays, one of Connaught’s syndicate of banks, which is led by Royal Bank of Scotland, on Monday night sold its [...]
Spice rejects Cinven again July 6, 2010 UTILITIES services company Spice will talk with its largest shareholders today after knocking back an improved takeover offer from Cinven, the private equity house. The FTSE 250 firm rejected a second approach of between 62p and 65p per share, worth up to £230m, as it revealed full-year results in line with expectations yesterday. Spice delivered [...]
Merger mania grips the City July 21, 2010 A SUMMER flurry of corporate activity gathered pace yesterday as SSL, the maker of Durex condoms, agreed a £2.5bn takeover offer from Reckitt Benckiser, and the owners of United Biscuits put the firm up for sale. Shares in SSL soared 33.5 per cent to £11.77 after the board recommended the FTSE 100 household goods company’s [...]
The ascent of prime London’s new hotspot July 15, 2010 FITZROVIA, the area around the BT Tower, bordered by Oxford Street, Tottenham Court Road, Great Portland Street and Euston Road, should be Londoners’ idea of property heaven. The West End is on your doorstep, as is Regent’s Park. The ever-more exciting restaurant and bar scene of Goodge and Charlotte Streets, and the more established prettiness [...]
US banks face fresh home loans inquiry May 24, 2010 A COMMISSION set up by the US government to investigate the roots of the global financial crisis is probing the banks’ sales of billions of dollars worth of bad home loans. The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (FCIC) is understood to be planning to help an investigation by the New York Attorney-General into whether banks caused [...]
Barratt profit on target as house sales rise May 12, 2010 HOUSEBUILDER Barratt Developments said it will deliver a profit in the second half as it reported improved sales rates since February. The UK’s third largest housebuilder by market value, said its average selling price is expected to rise by 15 per cent by June 30, thanks to a shift in the type of houses being [...]
Goldman and TPG close in on Ontex July 4, 2010 GOLDMAN Sach’s private equity wing is close to completing the purchase of nappy-manufacturer Ontex in partnership with American buy-out house TPG for more than €1.2bn (£990m), reports the Sunday Telegraph. The deal to purchase Ontex from Candover nearly collapsed when Goldman Sach’s original equity partner pulled out, but the late addition of TPG has kept [...]
The City is back but under new management December 21, 2010 BRITAIN’S financial landscape has been transformed since we last shone a light on the City’s most powerful figures two years ago. The City A.M./CityJet Power Hundred 2011 list ranks the most influential figures in UK finance as we head into the new year. It should be no surprise that it is very different from 2009. [...]
The City is back but under new management December 21, 2010 BRITAIN’S financial landscape has been transformed since we last shone a light on the City’s most powerful figures two years ago. The City A.M./CityJet Power Hundred 2011 list ranks the most influential figures in UK finance as we head into the new year. It should be no surprise that it is very different from 2009. [...]
Q&A CURRENCY June 24, 2010 CAMILLA DELL MANAGING PARTNER AT BLACK BRICK Q.Dear Camilla, I am a London property developer and in light of this week’s Budget, what will the week’s announcements mean for the capital’s housing market? A.Well, the rise in capital gains tax (CGT) was far, far less than everybody expected, which is a great relief for those [...]