The official launch of Downtown Manchester is less than two weeks away, and we have been overwhelmed by the number of people who want to be at the Hilton event on 11th March. Unfortunately not all those who have registered can be accommodated, but we will be organising an alternative shindig in the near future to cater for those who miss out. This week TFI carries all the usual features, with Downtown Chairman Frank McKenna taking a look at the Conservatives' shrinking poll lead in his regular blog; DMIB sponsors Bruntwood are our 'Business of the Week' and Jon Manson is our 'Man of the Week'. Enjoy the latest TFI, have a great weekend, and don't do anything Frank wouldn't do...

Kevin McCabe’s Scarborough Development Group has acquired the business and assets of Modus Properties Ltd and seven other companies in a deal worth £37m. Ernst & Young (EY) had been acting as administrator to around 15 Modus companies, just a part of a string of subsidiaries that collapsed into administration during 2009, as bankers called time on development projects initiated by Brendan Flood’s Manchester-based company. Speculation has been rife for some time that McCabe, owner of Sheffield United FC and a pan-European property empire, had been eyeing parts of the portfolio. EY’s Tom Jack said: “The sale will ensure schemes will now be completed in a number of key locations.” Locations included are Stockport, Rhyl, Boston, Preston, Congleton, Glossop, Newport and Wigan. DLA Piper advised EY

After 'Bullygate', Downtown Chairman Frank McKenna shares his views.

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Leading virtualisation and infrastructure specialist, ANS Group, has worked with United Biscuits, leading European manufacturer of biscuits and snacks, to design an innovative virtualisation system that ensures continued flexibility, updates existing IT infrastructure and provides greater protection of data.

Recent investment in hardware over the last five years precluded a ‘rip and replace’ solution, so ANS Group’s design, utilising the NetApp V-Series technology, is allowing a phased migration away from the old hardware, while simultaneously creating a strategic storage platform for the future.

RMS, the full service PR and marketing agency has branded the inaugural flagship event The Manchester Legal Awards.
 
The Altrincham-based agency took the brief from the Manchester Law Society to create the visual identity for its flagship annual awards ceremony to be held on Thursday 4th March 2010.
 
The event at the Midland Hotel is already a sell out with 490 tickets sold.

Leading commercial property advisor, CB Richard Ellis, has sold Manchester’s part-developed Issa Quay to a local property developer. CBRE acted on behalf of administrator, KPMG.

Issa Quay, originally conceived as a residential and retail development on Dale Street, on the edge of Piccadilly basin, comprises 83 apartments and retail, food and bar areas.

BS Construction, the developer behind Issa Quay, was placed into administration in May 2008, with CB Richard Ellis appointed to advise on the sale of the development.

Manchester-based commercial property firm Bruntwood has reported an increase in turnover and profits for the year to September 30, 2009.

Turnover at the company rose by 11.5 per cent to £97m and pre-tax profits also increased, by 9.5 per cent to £12.6m.

After a full revaluation of the firm's property portfolio, which covers more than 5m sq ft, by Knight Frank in September 2009, fixed assets at Bruntwood Ltd were £912m. That figure is down seven per cent down on the previous year and is the first time in the company's 30-year history it has seen a reduction in its property values.

Insurance boss Jon Manson has been catapulted to become the largest individual shareholder in the rival group which bought his Manchester firm two years ago.

He has agreed to forgo a windfall payment for shares.

The 63-year-old sold Manson Insurance Group to Jelf Group in January 2008 for £16.2m in cash and shares, with a further consideration of £2.8m payable this summer if targets were met.

The developer of this site says he put his thoughts into reality. It actually is pretty good fun, and utterly wacky.

Try out the imagination link! http://www.neave.com/imagination

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An update from last week's trivialpursuitexperiment.com

It turns out women are smarter than men!

Almost anticipated and talked about as much as DMIB’s official launch, David Beckham will return to Old Trafford on the 10^th March for the first time since leaving in 2003.

The battle between these two European Heavyweights is sure to be a fantastic spectacle with the winner booking their place in the last eight, edging one step closer to lifting the biggest prize in European football.

This is sure to be another fantastic European night at Old Trafford. To be part of the action, go to https://www.eticketing.co.uk/muticketsandmembership/details/event.aspx?itemref=3743

Or call +44 (0) 161 868 8000 for all ticket information.

The ‘Business Club with Attitude’ launches in Manchester on Thursday 11th March 2010.

The event, which will take place at Cloud 23, The Hilton Hotel has already proved more popular than even we anticipated. Over 200 people have already registered for this event.

With this in mind we have taken the decision to close registrations.

Apologies to anyone who wishes to attend but has not registered.

Name: Martin Thomas

Company: Vehicle Consulting

Position: Director

Red or Blue: Blue, Royle Blue

Brown or Cameron: Cameron, time for change

Favourite Bar/Restaurant: Panacea/ Wings

What’s your Tipple: Red Wine, preferably a good powerful Shiraz

Favourite Band: Oasis, Jay-Z

Top Tune: Mr Brightside/The Killers

Favourite Book: Any Sports Autobiography

Favourite Movie: Pulp Fiction

Who would play you in a film: John Candy, obvious weight reasons!

Favourite TV Programme: Corrie, Soccer AM

Most visited website: oldhamathletic.co.uk

Celebrity Crush: Catherine Jenkins, Holly Willoughby