Hunter prowls for shops
Sir Tom Hunter’s designer fashion chain USC is back on the expansion trailfollowing its prepack administration last December. It is in talks with a number of landlords aboutopening as many asfive stores before Christmas and 10 more in 2010. It is seeking sites of between 5,000 sq ft and 10,000 sq ft.
Vail Williams buys SMPA
Vail Williams has bought Vincent Tchenguiz-backed property services firm Smith Melzack Pepper Angliss. The South East agent said that the deal wouldboost its presence in London.Its principal interest was in SMPA’s asset management, valuation and agency divisions.
Pub agent wind-up order
A petition by pub giant JD Wetherspoon to wind up its former property agent, Van de Berg & Co Ltd, has been granted by the high court. The order was made two months after Wetherspoon won a circa £8m damages claim against the agent and its director, Christian Braun. A petition to wind up Fastbuck, another company owned by Braun and implicated in the dispute, was also granted.
Hammerson pulls mall sales
The 750,000 sq ft Queensgate shopping centre in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, has been pulled from the market. Hammerson, which jointly owns the mall with Aviva Investors, had put its stake up for salein April. The REIT also this week cancelled the sale of its Orchard centre retail park in Didcot, Oxfordshire, and Victoria retail park in Nottingham.
OFT agent warnings online
The Office of Fair Trading has launched an online version of its public register listing estate agents that it has warned or banned from work. The register can be browsed alphabetically or by date at www.oft.gov.uk/estateagentregister.
