Veolia sells UK water unit to Rift for £1.2bn June 28, 2012 FRENCH utility Veolia Environnement has sold a majority stake in its regulated UK water business for £1.24bn including debt, notching a milestone in its overhaul aimed at returning to profitability and cutting debt. It is the first significant divestment since chairman and chief executive Antoine Frerot announced a reorganisation in December to cut debt that [...]
Everything Everywhere faces a takeover bid from its ex-chief June 17, 2012 EVERYTHING Everywhere is the target of a private equity takeover bid fronted by its former chief executive Tom Alexander. Private equity firms KKR and Apax are understood to have put forward a collective £3bn to buy the British telecoms company – a hybrid of Orange and T-Mobile, the UK brands of France Telecom and Deutsche [...]
What is in store for 2012? January 5, 2012 From initial reservations about the strength of the property market at the start of the year to the unexpected uplift in house prices as the year progressed, 2011 was not an easy year to predict. Against a continuing environment of uncertainty, we ask the experts what they think we have in store this year and [...]
Persimmon and Bovis see demand rise November 8, 2011 TWO of the UK’s biggest housebuilders yesterday reported a boost in demand as the sector picked-up with first time buyers helping to lift the gloom. Persimmon said the number of first-time buyers has risen by over 35 per cent since the same period last year, a welcome boost to the industry that has seen first-time [...]
China’s thirst is beginning to quell July 9, 2012 CHINESE domestic demand isn’t keeping pace with its industrial production. According to figures released at the weekend, Chinese June consumer price index-based inflation figures (CPI) fell to 2.2 per cent year on year, down from 3 per cent in May. Chinese macro statistics are notoriously unreliable, with suspicions that the communist government smoothes figures by [...]
UK mortgage approvals jump December 8, 2011 Loans for home purchases hit their highest since December 2009 in November, according to data out today from e.surv chartered surveyors, thanks largely to loose mortgage conditions. Purchase approvals rose from 52,743 in October to 54,658 in November on a seasonally adjusted basis – an increase of four per cent, and 15 per cent higher [...]
UK mortgage approvals jump December 8, 2011 Loans for home purchases hit their highest since December 2009 in November, according to data out today from e.surv chartered surveyors, thanks largely to loose mortgage conditions. Purchase approvals rose from 52,743 in October to 54,658 in November on a seasonally adjusted basis – an increase of four per cent, and 15 per cent higher [...]
What to look out for in the Budget March 20, 2012 ● PERSONAL TAXES The tax-free personal allowance was originally due to go up £630 to £8,105 as part of a long-term plan to take everyone earning below £10,000 out of income tax. That increase will be accelerated – almost doubled, in fact – as part of a plan to help low-earners more. But the scheme is [...]
WHAT DOES THE CHANCELLOR’S BUDGET MEAN FOR YOU? March 21, 2012 CATHERINE GANNON, 50,MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LAW FIRM GANNON Catherine lives with her children, aged nine and 11, in a home she owns with a mortgage. She set up her firm nine years ago and worries about red tape and taxes. When travelling to meet clients, she uses the tube. She earns over £100,000, and has [...]
Profit of £4m suits sellers of Moss Bros stake May 29, 2012 A TRUST headed by menswear chief Simon Berwin yesterday sold its stake in Moss Bros – the once ailing suit hire firm formerly owned by Sir Philip Green. The investment consortium landed a £4m profit, selling its 28 per cent stake for 43p a share, compared to a purchase price of just below 29p when [...]