Entu fully booked for IPO: “We’re very profitable and we’ve got a lot of cash” – CEO Ian Blackhurst October 16, 2014 Good companies find backers even in soured markets Energy efficiency and home improvement group Entu is set to float on London’s Alternative Investment Market later this month in a rare fully subscribed debut, valuing the business at £65.6m. Entu, which emerged out of the common ownership of three holding companies HI Sales, JWD [...]
Bottom Line: There’s still plenty of time to build on this bull run July 7, 2014 CRITICS of the government’s Help-to-Buy programme, which is often accused of doping up already-too-high house prices, sometimes refer to it as “Help-to-Sell”. The scheme, which either backs up or even contributes to mortgages, is certainly helping housebuilders to sell a few more properties and thus bolster their earnings. Such fortunes are reflected clearly in the [...]
Focus On… The City: residential is finally taking off in the Square Mile September 5, 2014 When it comes to residential developments, the Square Mile has a bit of an image problem. The ancient financial heart of the City of London has been abuzz with business for 1,000 years and it’s still graced by some of the capital’s most impressive architecture. Around 370,000 people go there to work every day, but [...]
Volution has its fans in new building surge August 12, 2014 A UK engineering firm backed by the Prime Minister reaped the benefits of an increase in housebuilding last year to bolster sales by nearly a fifth. Volution Group, which makes ventilation equipment for new houses, made £121m in revenue for the year ending July – an 18.2 per cent increase – thanks to acquisitions and [...]
London Central Portfolio plays down property growth slowdown as luxury market rises August 12, 2014 A leading property asset manager and expert on central London property has dismissed concerns over slowing growth, after new figures reveal growing appetite in the capital’s luxury housing market. London Central Portfolio (LCP) chief executive Naomi Heaton said yesterday that its analysis of Land Registry figures for the second quarter showed that sales volumes in [...]
Don’t laugh: Posh Spice is a model for entrepreneurs October 27, 2014 The former pop star followed her passion and ignored the critics A FEW eyebrows might have been raised yesterday by the news that Victoria Beckham has headed a list of the UK’s top entrepreneurs of 2014. The accolade – from business magazine Management Today – has been awarded based on her estimated wealth (£210m), increasing [...]
City closes in on prime West End property values August 31, 2014 HOUSE values in the City of London are catching up with the West End, while Dockland prices are suffering because of oversupply, research shows. Analysis from high-end real estate agent Beauchamp Estates reveals the average price of new or second-hand properties in the City has climbed to £739,546 for the last 12 months, compared to [...]
Warm weather boosts Primark as it buys Pavilions shopping mall July 10, 2014 Associated British Food (ABF) said yesterday that Primark’s acquisition of Pavilions shopping centre in Birmingham to house a four-floor store was “an exception to the rule” as it posted a fresh set of soaring sales. Finance director John Bason said the deal would pave the way for a 150,000 square feet store in around two [...]
Vice Media to sell 10 per cent stake to A&E networks for $250m August 30, 2014 Vice Media has revealed they are nearing the sale of a 10 per cent stake to A&E Networks, after a period of negotiating with various suitors. A&E Networks is jointly owned by the Walt Disney and Hearst Corporation, and will invest $250m (£150m) in Vice, valuing the growing international media company at $2.5bn. Vice has [...]
Sir Mike Rake in overdrive to chair roadside recovery firm RAC August 4, 2014 CBI president Sir Mike Rake is the frontrunner to become chairman of the RAC breakdown recovery service. The deputy chairman of Barclays is in talks for the role, ahead of the RAC’s potential £2bn stock market listing, according to Sky News. The breakdown service, owned by private equity group Carlyle, is expected to announce its [...]