Record number of homes selling for the asking price or above June 25, 2021 A record number of homes that completed in January 2021 sold for their asking price or above, and those that didn’t missed the mark by only a small amount. More than a third (37%) of homes in England and Wales achieved their asking price or more in January 2021, while those that didn’t achieved on [...]
Twerk from home: OnlyFans helps users onto the housing ladder June 24, 2021 Forget the bank of mum and dad, OnlyFans, a social media site popular with sex workers, has helped thousands onto the housing ladder this year. The team at Online Mortgage Advisor has received just over 1,500 enquiries in the past 12 months where one or more parties per enquiry declare themselves as self-employed, citing OnlyFans [...]
Kate Middleton’s favourite maternity brand gears up for £61m IPO June 24, 2021 Seraphine, known for being Kate Middleton’s go-to maternity brand, is gearing up for a £61m float on the London Stock Exchange. The group, which will float on the main market of the LSE and is expected to IPO next month, intends to use approximately £16m of proceeds to repay its existing term loan and to [...]
Lidl heads for Hampstead: Discounter eyes London sites in major expansion plan June 24, 2021 Lidl is plotting an expansion into well-heeled districts including Hampstead and Knightsbridge as part of a plan to increase store numbers in the capital. The German discount retailer plans to have 1,000 stores in its portfolio by the end of 2023, with the supermarket eyeing areas in town centres, edge of town centre locations, retail [...]
Poundland owner Pepco increases earnings as store openings outpace pandemic June 24, 2021 Pepco Group, owner of discount retailer Poundland, has reported a 16.8 per cent increase in core earnings in the six months to 31 March, as revenue growth from new store openings offset the impact of pandemic restrictions. The group, which is listed in Poland and also owns the PEPCO and Dealz brands in Europe, trades from more than [...]
Blackstone sweetens buyout offer for property developer St Modwen by £50m June 24, 2021 Private equity firm Blackstone has offered to pay £50m more for property developer St Modwen, bringing its total takeover offer to £1.25bn. The 560 pence per share cash offer for St Modwen is the final offer, the companies said today, adding that Blackstone could make another proposal if another suitor for St Modwen emerged. Last [...]
Booming property market helps housebuilder Crest Nicholson swing to profit June 24, 2021 Soaring house prices and a flurry of activity in the market helped Crest Nicholson move from a loss to a profit in the six months to 30 April. Profit before tax at the housebuilder for the first half of 2021 stood at £36.3m, up from a loss of £51.2m a year earlier. Revenue in the [...]
‘Lack of policies’ jeopardising UK climate targets June 24, 2021 A lack of policies on net zero emissions by 2050 risks jeopardising the UK’s chance of meeting the target, climate advisers have said. In 2019 the UK became the G7 first member to set a net zero target, which will require wholesale changes in the way residents travel, eat and consume electricity. The country is [...]
Junk food ads to be banned before the watershed in obesity crackdown June 24, 2021 Junk food adverts will not be allowed to be shown on TV before 9pm, as part of a campaign to tackle obesity. Foods including sausage rolls, fish fingers and pasties will be caught in the crackdown, the Sun reported. Ministers will unveil the plans today, according to reports, leaving businesses facing a medley of restrictions [...]
Travelodge appoints first female chief operating officer June 23, 2021 Budget hotel chain Travelodge has made Claire Good its new chief operating officer, making her the first woman to hold the role. Good has been serving as interim COO of Travelodge on an since January 2021. Her appointment makes her the fourth female on the group’s current operating board. Having joined Travelodge in 2016 as [...]