Investment | OzSeeker

Film industry enters the “new streaming battleground”

16th January 202016th January 2020 OzSeeker

From a consolidation of historic Hollywood studios and the reunification of two major media companies to Apple taking the leap into content as the streaming wars ensue, 2019 was a massively turbulent year that changed everything in the ecosystem of the entertainment business. As the calendar turns, 2020 is shaping up as a critical marker for high-stakes execution — when those in the C-suite have to prove they made the right decisions to realign their businesses for media’s next epoch. Last month saw the launch of two huge bets on…

Editor's Choice Investment Retail Shopping centres

Ikea buys West London shopping mall

12th January 202014th January 2020 OzSeeker

Ikea group’s shopping centre arm Ingka Centres has purchased Kings Mall shopping centre in London’s Hammersmith, as part of a £170m investment into the area. Kings Mall opened in 1980 and has 40 stores including H&M, Primark, Sainsbury’s and Wilko. Ingka Centres owns 44 malls in 14 markets around the world, including Russia and China, all of which are anchored by an Ikea store. However, it has built these itself, rather than buying existing centres. The Swedish retail giant aims to transform traditional shopping centres into “convenient city meeting places” to reinvigorate the high…

Architect image of proposed new Mercat shopping centre

Investment Local Authority Shopping centres Sport & Activities

Kirkcaldy looks back on planning decision that cost the town centre a cinema, bowling alley and hotel

7th January 20207th January 2020 OzSeeker

Ten years ago, the battle for Kirkcaldy town centre saw two heavyweights with ambitious plans go head to head. In the red corner – McDonald Estates and a bid to turn the dilapidated site of the former B&Q into a supermarket In the blue corner, the owners of the Mercat Shopping Centre with plans for a massive expansion which included a hotel, cinema and leisure facilities. Both promised hundreds of jobs, but there was always only going to be room for one. And councillors’ decision to back the Invertiel development–…