Landsec becomes latest property giant to muscle in on flexible workspace market January 22, 2019 Landsec has become the latest major developer to launch its own flexible workspace brand, joining property rivals hoping to tap into the growing demand for shorter leases and co-working offices. In a bid to rival the likes of commercial property disruptors such as WeWork, the blue-chip firm revealed today its plans to set up a new [...]
WeWork teams up with two investors to buy City of London’s Devonshire Square for around £580m April 16, 2018 Co-working group WeWork has chosen a City of London site as its biggest acquisition yet. The company has bought up Devonshire Square in a deal with two investors, The Times reported today. WeWork joined forces with Danish pension fund PFA Ejendomme and property investment managers TH Real Estate to buy the 13-building estate for £580m [...]
We Work poaches Uber’s UK manager Tom Elvidge to serve as COO March 15, 2019 Uber's UK and Ireland general manager has left the ride-hailing app to join tech workspace firm We Work as its new chief operating office for Europe. Tom Elvidge is replacing current COO for Europe, Anthony Yazbeck, who will become COO of We Work International. “WeWork is a truly exciting company that's changing the way we work, live and [...]
Softbank mulls float for $100bn Vision Fund as it looks for fresh cash injection May 3, 2019 Japanese investment giant Softbank is reportedly considering an initial public offering (IPO) of its $100bn (£77bn) Vision Fund. The firm is mulling the bumper float as part of series of options as it looks to raise more funds for its investment arm, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Read more: Softbank [...]
Softbank to launch £4.2bn share buyback as profits soar February 6, 2019 Softbank has unveiled a ¥ 600bn (£4.2bn) share buyback scheme today, as its wide-ranging portfolio of tech investments provided a boost to quarterly profits. The Japanese technology and telecoms giant said it would buy 112m shares over the next 11 months, which equates to about 10.3 per cent of its total outstanding shares. Chief executive Masayoshi [...]
Non-EU investment in London commercial property rose 75 per cent in 2018 March 25, 2019 Purchases of London commercial property by non-EU investors soared last year, rising 75 per cent on 2017. But investment from within the EU dropped sharply, according to figures from real estate research company Datscha. Read more: Retail property value set to plunge as online shopping rises Non-EU investors racked up £8bn in purchases in 2018. That [...]
Get Your Guide to achieve unicorn status thanks to $50m Temasek backing March 13, 2019 Online travel firm Get Your Guide is set to achieve coveted unicorn status thanks to a $300m (£228m) cash injection from a group of investors, Sky News reported. The Berlin-based travel company is said to be in advanced talks with Singaporean sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings over a $50m investment that will be announced in [...]
WeWork could move into Debenhams on Oxford Street as retailers seek solutions for excess space March 7, 2018 Debenhams is in talks to rent out space in its Oxford Street flagship store to co-working space provider WeWork, it has emerged. The retailer has put out feelers to find occupants for excess space in its large stores, according to Bloomberg. WeWork has become London’s biggest occupier of office space after rapid expansion in the [...]
Office Space: Inside the opulent Mayfair base of luxury property developer Clivedale November 1, 2019 Real estate firms’ offices tend to fit into one of two moulds: a converted Mayfair townhouse, an old-fashioned relic left over from the days where Hanover Square was overrun with estate agents in braces and pinstripe suits; or a clinical, corporate space interchangeable with that of any other property company, law firm or accountant. Super-prime [...]
Low-end offices face glut of demand as start-ups opt for fancy co-working spaces November 14, 2018 Office-sharing companies such as Wework are pressing down demand for lower-end offices in London as start ups move into plush new premises. The proliferation of co-working spaces is creating a “glut” in the secondary office space, research from Deloitte shows. Companies like Wework are taking some of the best offices in London, and represent about [...]