The British private equity firm Terra Firma is considering asking investors to invest up to an additional £120 million ($191 million) in EMI, the troubled record label it owns, to avoid defaulting over the next year, a person briefed on the matter told DealBook on Wednesday.

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Terra Firma Considers Investing More in EMI

The good news in the high-yield credit markets is that default rates could fall by as much as half of 2009’s near-record levels, Edward I. Altman, the debt specialist, said. The bad news is that 2011 could prove the start of another down cycle.

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Defaults Could Fall by Half This Year, Altman Says

Lazard, the independent investment bank, reported a $54.9 million loss for its fourth quarter, as the firm took charges related to changes in its compensation policies and paid out the restricted stock holdings of its late former chief executive, Bruce Wasserstein.

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Lazard Posts 4th-Quarter Loss on Compensation Charges

FDIC Chairman to Congress: Regulators failed in their responsibilities to protect investors from the 2008 financial crisis. Urging stricter oversight, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp Chairman Sheila Bair told Congress’ Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission: “Not only did market discipline fail to prevent the excesses of the last few years, but the regulatory system also failed in its responsibilities,” she said

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Failures in Financial Regulatory System Allowed Wall Street Firms to Run Wild

At the corner of The Esplanade and Berkeley Street in the Downtown East this project has some great, cheap and unique office space.  Here is a blurb from their website : Wood, Brick, Light and Space culminate here to extraordinary advantage, creating a space of natural beauty and historical integrity, reflecting a unique business lifestyle.  A space in keeping with the elements:  at once grandly accommodating and sensitive on a human scale

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Featured Building – Berkeley Castle

Public school teachers have filed a class action lawsuit against The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Co., known as VALIC, according to a recent article in InvestmentNews by Darla Mercado. The teachers are suing on behalf of all individuals who bought a VALIC deferred annuity after Jan.

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Teachers Sue to Recover Variable Annuity Losses

I had the pleasure of meeting Alex and Ali de Bold at a number of tech related networking events.  As an up and coming start-up with lots of influence in the industry I was eager to help them out.  It took some patience to find the right premises as there were not a lot of vacancies at the time and both Ali and Alex had a solid vision on the type of space that would suit the company.  Further, it wasn’t the smoothest transaction trying to deal with Allied Properties and getting all of the construction covered and amortized into the rental rate.  However, at the end of the day we secured a lease, had the space built out to their specs and moved in on schedule.  If you would like to know more about ChickAdvisor.com you can check them out here ! If you want guidance on how to find your new office space contact me ! About ChickAdvisor Nothing beats a good recommendation and that’s what ChickAdvisor is all about! We are a social media platform for women with user-generated reviews on the best products and local services in North America. In addition to our online presence, we host local events a Product Review Club and videos! Our goal is to help women make better purchasing decisions by getting advice first on a wide range of topics from electronics to electrolysis

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Featured Client – Chick Advisor – 96 Spadina Avenue

Toronto commercial real estate sinks 2009 marked the worst year in a decade, although the fourth quarter reflected a sharp rebound. Globe GTA 2009 property market weakest in a decade – Realnet Canada After a weak first half of the year, investment activity in the GTA property markets began to recover in the third quarter and continued to rally in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Link:
Office Space and Leasing News – February 2010

Once a month we choose some of the better deals that have come out across Toronto.  The above are a few of those deals.  Feel free to reach out here if you are interested in a custom survey of a real estate market in Toronto. For other deals follow this link .

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Selection of office space deals across Toronto

There have been various developments over the past several weeks which investors may consider relevant in allocating their resources or evaluating alternatives that are available to them. Some of the more significant developments include, but are not limited to, the following: • The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened the week at 10,173 and, on Monday rose 24 points. • On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3 points.

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Page Perry’s Market Monitor – January 29, 2010

Address Available Space (sf) Asking Net Rental Rate (psf) Asking Estimated Additional Rent (psf) Asking Gross Rental Rate (psf) Asking Monthly Rate Asking Annual Rate 1 Atlantic Avenue 1,586 $12.00 $9.37 $21.37 $2,824.40 $33,892.82 110 Spadina Avenue 1,274 $29.00 $1.25 $30.25 $3,211.54 $38,538.50 110 Spadina Avenue 2,101 $29.00 $1.25 $30.25 $5,296.27 $63,555.25 111 Peter Street 2,615 $15.00 $15.33 $30.33 $6,609.41 $79,312.95 111 Peter Street 1,733 $15.00 $15.33 $30.33 $4,380.16 $52,561.89 116 Simcoe Street 1,918 $18.50 $19.78 $38.28 $6,118.42 $73,421.04 116 Spadina Avenue 1,608 $17.75 $9.25 $27.00 $3,618.00 $43,416.00 116 Spadina Avenue 1,976 $15.75 $9.25 $25.00 $4,116.67 $49,400.00 119 Spadina Avenue 2,653 $18.75 $14.15 $32.90 $7,273.64 $87,283.70 129 Spadina Avenue 2,000 $30.00 $30.00 $5,000.00 $60,000.00 130 Spadina Avenue 2,775 $17.75 $10.00 $27.75 $6,417.19 $77,006.25 130 Spadina Avenue 1,153 $17.75 $10.00 $27.75 $2,666.31 $31,995.75 14 Duncan Street 2,163 $12.50 $16.50 $29.00 $5,227.25 $62,727.00 171 East Liberty Street 1,835 $20.00 $7.80 $27.80 $4,251.08 $51,013.00 171 East Liberty Street 1,500 $20.00 $7.80 $27.80 $3,475.00 $41,700.00 179 John Street 1,771 $14.00 $14.56 $28.56 $4,214.98 $50,579.76 20-30 Maud Street 1,255 $18.00 $8.00 $26.00 $2,719.17 $32,630.00 208 Adelaide Street W 2,567 $35.00 $35.00 $7,487.08 $89,845.00 219 Dufferin Street 2,171 $22.95 $4.69 $27.64 $5,000.54 $60,006.44 219 Dufferin Street 1,071 $22.95 $4.69 $27.64 $2,466.87 $29,602.44 219 Dufferin Street 1,745 $22.95 $4.69 $27.64 $4,019.32 $48,231.80 23 Fraser Avenue 2,000 $18.50 $4.26 $22.76 $3,793.33 $45,520.00 24 Duncan Street 2,746 $15.00 $15.40 $30.40 $6,956.53 $83,478.40 26 Soho Street 1,177 $16.75 $13.95 $30.70 $3,011.16 $36,133.90 26 Soho Street 1,537 $12.00 $13.95 $25.95 $3,323.76 $39,885.15 30-34 Duncan Street 2,159 $28.50 $28.50 $5,127.63 $61,531.50 317 Adelaide Street W 1,351 $29.00 $29.00 $3,264.92 $39,179.00 317 Adelaide Street W 2,700 $29.00 $29.00 $6,525.00 $78,300.00 326 Adelaide Street W 1,493 $11.75 $10.25 $22.00 $2,737.17 $32,846.00 33-35 Fraser Avenue 1,381 $12.75 $11.25 $24.00 $2,762.00 $33,144.00 33-35 Fraser Avenue 1,942 $15.75 $11.25 $27.00 $4,369.50 $52,434.00 366 Adelaide Street W 2,988 $29.00 $29.00 $7,221.00 $86,652.00 366 Adelaide Street W 1,400 $29.00 $29.00 $3,383.33 $40,600.00 49 Spadina Avenue 1,600 $20.00 $7.75 $27.75 $3,700.00 $44,400.00 517 Wellington Street W 1,556 $20.00 $10.95 $30.95 $4,013.18 $48,158.20 543 Richmond Street W 1,178 $14.00 $9.55 $23.55 $2,311.83 $27,741.90 555 Richmond Street W 1,830 $16.00 $10.55 $26.55 $4,048.88 $48,586.50 57 Spadina Avenue 2,700 $15.00 $10.93 $25.93 $5,834.25 $70,011.00 662 King Street W 2,329 $21.50 $10.70 $32.20 $6,249.48 $74,993.80 67 Mowat Avenue 2,640 $27.00 $1.44 $28.44 $6,256.80 $75,081.60 67 Mowat Avenue 1,660 $27.50 $1.44 $28.94 $4,003.37 $48,040.40 675 King Street W 1,487 $23.00 $23.00 $2,850.08 $34,201.00 8 Camden Street 1,878 $19.00 $7.00 $26.00 $4,069.00 $48,828.00 99 Atlantic Avenue 1,253 $15.50 $11.29 $26.79 $2,797.32 $33,567.87 99 Atlantic Avenue 2,400 $15.50 $11.29 $26.79 $5,358.00 $64,296.00 OfficeSearchToronto.com tracks available office space across the GTA. Want a survey or availability report somewhere else in Toronto? Are these space too big?

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Small Downtown Commercial Real Estate Toronto – Downtown West

OfficeSearchToronto.com tracks available office space across the GTA. Want a survey or availability report somewhere else in Toronto? Are these space too big?

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Lennard Commercial Real Estate – Available Listings

The Massachusetts Securities Division recently filed a complaint against Securities America related to its private offerings of Medical Capital Notes. The collapse of the Medical Capital investments has left investors nationwide in the hole to the tune of about $1 billion.

Originally posted here:
Evidence Against Securities America Mounts in Medical Capital Cases

Address Available Space (sf) Asking Net Rental Rate (psf) Asking Estimated Additional Rent (psf) Asking Gross Rental Rate (psf) Asking Monthly Rate Asking Annual Rate 1 Queen Street E 1,400 $22.00 $26.26 $48.26 $5,630.33 $67,564.00 1 Richmond Street W 1,544 $18.50 $21.15 $39.65 $5,101.63 $61,219.60 10 King Street E 2,720 $18.00 $19.42 $37.42 $8,481.87 $101,782.40 10 King Street E 1,441 $18.00 $19.42 $37.42 $4,493.52 $53,922.22 110 Yonge Street 2,100 $20.00 $21.41 $41.41 $7,246.75 $86,961.00 121 King Street W 2,462 $26.50 $25.44 $51.94 $10,656.36 $127,876.28 121 Richmond Street W 2,410 $12.00 $16.50 $28.50 $5,723.75 $68,685.00 133 Richmond Street W 2,329 $14.00 $14.97 $28.97 $5,622.59 $67,471.13 141 Adelaide Street W 1,728 $16.00 $23.67 $39.67 $5,712.48 $68,549.76 141 Adelaide Street W 1,837 $15.00 $23.67 $38.67 $5,919.73 $71,036.79 144 Front Street W 2,152 $18.00 $15.40 $33.40 $5,989.73 $71,876.80 145 King Street W 2,550 $28.50 $27.74 $56.24 $11,951.00 $143,412.00 155 University Avenue 1,143 $18.00 $19.68 $37.68 $3,589.02 $43,068.24 170 University Avenue 1,324 $18.50 $20.61 $39.11 $4,315.14 $51,781.64 170 University Avenue 2,023 $18.50 $20.61 $39.11 $6,593.29 $79,119.53 18 King Street E 2,733 $23.00 $19.41 $42.41 $9,658.88 $115,906.53 20 Adelaide Street E 1,560 $18.00 $19.90 $37.90 $4,927.00 $59,124.00 20 Toronto Street 2,078 $16.00 $18.95 $34.95 $6,052.18 $72,626.10 330 Bay Street 2,313 $20.00 $18.81 $38.81 $7,480.63 $89,767.53 330 Bay Street 1,440 $20.00 $18.81 $38.81 $4,657.20 $55,886.40 357 Bay Street 1,740 $18.00 $19.39 $37.39 $5,421.55 $65,058.60 357 Bay Street 1,200 $18.00 $19.39 $37.39 $3,739.00 $44,868.00 36 Toronto Street 2,957 $20.00 $19.39 $39.39 $9,706.35 $116,476.23 36 Toronto Street 1,432 $20.00 $19.39 $39.39 $4,700.54 $56,406.48 360 Bay Street 1,955 $18.00 $18.74 $36.74 $5,985.56 $71,826.70 366 Bay Street 1,371 $18.00 $19.62 $37.62 $4,298.09 $51,577.02 390 Bay Street 1,271 $20.00 $20.08 $40.08 $4,245.14 $50,941.68 401 Bay Street 2,675 $22.00 $23.17 $45.17 $10,069.15 $120,829.75 55 York Street 1,281 $18.00 $20.89 $38.89 $4,151.51 $49,818.09 60 Yonge Street 2,150 $17.50 $19.47 $36.97 $6,623.79 $79,485.50 67 Yonge Street 2,886 $16.50 $18.88 $35.38 $8,508.89 $102,106.68 67 Yonge Street 1,950 $12.00 $18.88 $30.88 $5,018.00 $60,216.00 69 Yonge Street 1,326 $13.00 $19.04 $32.04 $3,540.42 $42,485.04 8 King Street E 2,621 $19.00 $19.97 $38.97 $8,511.70 $102,140.37 8 King Street E 1,761 $19.00 $19.97 $38.97 $5,718.85 $68,626.17 80 Richmond Street W 2,607 $19.00 $17.79 $36.79 $7,992.63 $95,911.53 80 Richmond Street W 1,560 $19.00 $17.79 $36.79 $4,782.70 $57,392.40 80 Richmond Street W 1,219 $19.00 $17.79 $36.79 $3,737.25 $44,847.01 90 Adelaide Street W 1,035 $19.95 $20.65 $40.60 $3,501.75 $42,021.00 OfficeSearchToronto.com tracks available office space across the GTA.

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Small Suites for Lease in the Toronto Financial Core

Here’s what a few of our recent graduates from our Charlotte, North Carolina class had to say about their experience at Brooke Transportation Training Solutions: Instruction here is straightforward and easy to comprehend. I like the personalized atmosphere, which made it possible to take the time to think of any questions or problems, that you want to have explained.

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Thanks Graduates

Here’s a great article addressing the challenges of being your own boss I found on one of my favorite sites for great articles: About.com When you start out as an agent of another freight brokerage you minimize some of the pitfalls to starting your own business. Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur? By Mitchell York, About.com Guide Despite the difficult economy — and in many ways because of it — entrepreneurship in America is alive and well

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Is Freight Brokering for You?

Former Credit Suisse broker Eric Butler, who was convicted of fraud by a New York federal court jury in August, was sentenced last week to five years in federal prison. Along with former Credit Suisse colleague Julian Tzolov, Butler was accused of making misrepresentations in the sale of auction rate securities, claiming that they were backed by federally-insured student loans when in fact they were backed by high-risk collateralized debt obligations, or CDOs. Prosecutors alleged that Butler and Tzolov had switched their clients to the CDO-backed securities because they paid higher commissions

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Broker Sentenced for Fraud in Selling Auction Rate Securities Issued by CDO’s

There have been various developments over the past several weeks which investors may consider relevant in allocating their resources or evaluating alternatives that are available to them. Some of the more significant developments include, but are not limited to, the following: • The markets were closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Day. • On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average opened at 10,610 and soared 116 points

Original post:
Page Perry’s Market Monitor – January 22, 2010

The SEC has adopted its much-anticipated final rule relating to custody by investment advisers. The final rule omits the “pop quiz,” or surprise audit proposal, contained in the proposed rule for advisers who have custody solely by virtue of having the ability to deduct advisory fees.

Originally posted here:
SEC Adopts New Custody Rules For Investment Advisers

An Illinois-based pension fund has brought a shareholder’s derivative action seeking to recover billions of dollars in executive compensation paid by Goldman Sachs. This could be the first of many such suits, reported James Armstrong of Law360, “Goldman Pay Suit Could Signal New Wave of Litigation,” Jan

Continued here:
Institutional Investors Are Fed Up With Wall Street Pay Excesses Too

The President of the North American Securities Administrators Association, in testimony before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission last week, continued to blast the SEC and FINRA for dropping the ball. Denise Voigt Crawford said there is an “oversight gap” resulting from Congress stripping away substantial state regulatory oversight of brokers and advisors when it enacted the National Securities Markets Improvements Act in 1996. She urged Congress to return to the states all of the authority taken away by that law

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State Securities Commissioners Need More Authority to Fight Investment Fraud

The Wall Street Journal reported on January 15th that the major US banks are set to pay their employees record bonuses of approximately $145 billion for 2009. This staggering amount represents an 18% increase over bankers’ 2008 salaries

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Does the Proposed Bank Tax Adequately Compensate Taxpayers for the Risks?

The House committee investigating the bailout of the American International Group on Friday called upon Henry M. Paulson Jr., the former Treasury secretary, and Stephen Friedman, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, to testify later this month.

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Paulson, Friedman Called to Testify About A.I.G.

Just a few weeks before Davos, the World Economic Forum has released its Global Risks Report 2009, in which it underlines not only an increasing systemic risk across the globe, but the potential for a collapse in asset prices, a slowdown in China and a retrenchment from globalization.

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Risk Report Warns on Asset Price Collapse

Toronto Commercial Real Estate Price List – Click on the chart above to enlarge OfficeSearchToronto.com tracks available office space across the GTA. Want a survey or availability report somewhere else in Toronto? Are these space too big?

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Small Office Space – Spadina and Downtown West Toronto

The first public hearings by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission were notable for what did not happen. The well-prepared Wall Street bankers faced the cameras with apparent humility, parried Commission clunkers with their own platitudes, and left pretty much unperturbed

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The Reason Real Change is Needed – Wall Street Maintains a Business as Usual Stance as Public Hearing Begin on the Financial Crisis

Hiring a financial adviser is a very important decision for investors. On January 5th, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (“AJC”) published an article giving several suggestions about hiring a financial planner or financial adviser.

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A Few Basic Considerations in Hiring a Financial Adviser

Financial advisors’ unenthusiastic reception of recently-offered lower-cost variable annuities confirms what most observers took for granted – that variable annuity sales are driven primarily by commissions.

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Why Do They Sell Variable Annuities? – It’s the Commissions Silly

Wall Street banks like Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, as well as smaller firms like Tricadia Inc., and certain of favored hedge fund clients that were tipped off by the banks, reaped huge profits by shorting (betting against) “synthetic” collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) linked to residential mortgages, which the banks created and sold to other clients, according to Gretchen Morgenson and Louise Story in their recent New Times article, “Banks Bundled Bad Debt, Bet Against It and Won.”

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Wall Street Firms Bet Against Toxic Subprime Investments that they were Recommending to Unsuspecting Investors

There have been various developments over the past several weeks which investors may consider relevant in allocating their resources or evaluating alternatives that are available to them. Some of the more significant developments include, but are not limited to, the following: • The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened the year at 10,428 and, on Monday, the market soared 156 points. • On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 12 points.

Original post:
Page Perry’s Market Monitor – January 8, 2010