Tony Blair's new 'bank' for super-rich

[Matilda]

TONY Blair has formed his own finance boutique in London to offer investment services to global funds and the super-rich.

His Mayfair-based company has recruited senior financiers and has been authorised by the Financial Services Authority. It will effectively be a fledgling investment bank.

News of the former British prime minister's diversification into finance will help to explain how he can afford to give away the estimated 5 million pounds proceeds of his memoirs, A Journey, to the Royal British Legion. His predecessors in Downing Street have relied on their books to provide for their retirement.

Since leaving office in 2007, Blair has amassed a fortune estimated to be in excess of 20 million pounds. He has combined his role as a roving statesman with charitable work and paid advisory roles.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/tony-blairs-new-bank-for-super-rich/story-e6frg6so-1225908461998

[dipsydoodle]

1. From a few months after that a year ago

Tony Blair's company 'to make £27m advising Kuwait on how to govern itself'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1338368/Tony-Blairs-company-make-27m-advising-Kuwait-govern-itself.html#ixzz1ftqQ751f

And October this year : Now Blair strikes deal to advise an oil-rich despot: Ex-PM sends team to Kazakhstan to help his friend the president.

Tony Blair has assembled a high-powered team to advise the controversial oil and gas-rich central Asian state of Kazakhstan after befriending its president during his time in Downing Street.

The former Prime Minister has brokered a deal with the country’s government to provide advice on improving its chequered international reputation and forging business links across Europe.

According to one source, the deal is worth as much as $13million (£8.2million) for the companies involved, though last night Mr Blair flatly denied making any ‘personal profit’, saying the figure quoted was incorrect.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2052071/Now-Blair-strikes-deal-advise-oil-rich-despot-Ex-PM-sends-team-Kazakhstan-help-friend-president.html#ixzz1ftrZ86YG

I only used Mail links for convenience : there are others.

[Matilda]

2. Sigh...

What price Labour ideals?

I'm afraid Blair has long ago aligned himself with the 1%.

[Remember Me]

3. He's been associated with The Carlyle Group from the get-go, I think

And I suspect that he'll do right well with this.

The Carlyle Group has been very, very quiet for several years now, not making any waves that I know of. They're a private equity firm -- the largest in the world, if I'm not mistaken. They fall under the radar of most of our own securities laws because they aren't incorporated. They had been keen on investing in defense properties and, one can just imagine, did quite well for themselves with GWBush in office. His father was heavily associated with the firm as well -- but no, that wouldn't be a conflict of interest worth noting or DOING anything about, that was / is the BUSH family. They get a pass, always.

Private equity firms scare the bejeesus out of me.

[russspeakeasy]

4. Politicians are by nature "money suckers".

The country they suck it from, doesn't change their nature.