Latest news with #JonathanScott
Pembrokeshire Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Pluto Finance backs 56 new homes in west Wales with £8.9m loan package
ESG-aligned funding will support low-carbon developments in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire PLUTO FINANCE has completed its first two residential development loans in Wales, totalling £8.9 million, from the Welsh Pension Partnership (WPP) investment sleeve. The funding will support the construction of 56 energy-efficient homes in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, delivered by Obsidian Homes. The two schemes will provide a mix of open-market and affordable housing targeted at local people and key workers, including those in healthcare, education, and emergency services. The first loan, for £4.35 million, supports Phase One of a 37-home scheme in Llanarth, Ceredigion, close to a popular holiday destination. The phase includes 16 open-market homes and five affordable properties, which will be sold at 70% of market value. A second phase—comprising 14 more open-market units and two affordable homes—will follow once sales progress. The second loan, for £4.57 million, funds a new development in Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire. This project will deliver 15 open-market houses and four affordable apartments. The affordable units will be acquired directly by the local authority. Construction is already underway, with Pluto stepping in to complete the lending package within two weeks of credit approval. Both councils have shown strong support for the developments, which prioritise affordability, sustainable construction, and homes for local families. Designed to high environmental standards, the homes feature timber-frame construction, photovoltaic panels, and low-carbon heating systems. All units are expected to achieve an EPC A rating, and developers estimate lifetime carbon savings of up to 92%. Jonathan Scott, Lending Director at Pluto Finance, said: 'These developments are exactly the kind of projects Pluto is proud to support—high-quality, low-carbon homes that meet genuine local need. We're especially pleased to be working with Obsidian Homes, who share our values and commitment to sustainable placemaking. Our flexible approach and deep understanding of regional markets continue to support a growing pipeline of projects across Wales.' Paul Rees of Obsidian Homes added: 'Pluto has been a reliable and pragmatic funding partner throughout the process, enabling us to move forward with these important West Wales schemes. We're already seeing strong demand, with two homes reserved ahead of formal marketing.' The two loans form part of Pluto Finance's broader strategy to drive regeneration, boost local economies, and address housing imbalances in communities where second homes often outnumber primary residences.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Phyn Acquired by Investment Group Led by Property Brothers' Jonathan Scott to Accelerate Growth in Smart Water Solutions
LOS ANGELES, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Phyn, the industry leader in intelligent water solutions, has been acquired by a powerhouse group of investors led by entrepreneur and television personality Jonathan Scott. This strategic acquisition transitions Phyn from Belkin's ownership to a newly independent company backed by a high-profile group of investors with deep experience in technology, real estate and entertainment united in their vision to make Phyn's category-defining solutions a standard in every home and building. The move marks a pivotal new chapter for Phyn, positioning the company for rapid expansion, heightened consumer awareness and deeper adoption across key market verticals including insurance, property management, building, utilities and home services. The investor group includes: Jonathan Scott, co-founder and CEO of leading lifestyle brand Scott Brothers Global, producer/host of The Property Brothers on HGTV, co-founder of an award-winning entertainment production company Scott Brothers Entertainment, and designer of over 12,000 products in the home space through his Scott Living and Drew & Jonathan Home brands brings brand-building expertise and a personal passion for smart home innovation. Tom Proulx, a pioneer in the consumer software industry, co-founder of Intuit and author of the largest-selling personal finance product in the world, Quicken, will serve as an advisor and board member, lending his decades of experience in software development and building consumer-focused technology brands. David Marquardt, one of Silicon Valley's most accomplished venture capitalists and founding partner of Technology Venture Investors (the sole venture backer of Microsoft) and August Capital, brings to Phyn a strong personal conviction in its potential and positions the company to benefit from his deep strategic insight and decades of experience scaling market-leading businesses. Allen Sands, founder of ICON Builders, a national leader in occupied affordable and multi-family housing, brings a direct path to scale through ICON's strong footprint and trusted relationships with developers and trade professionals. After experiencing the high cost of water damage firsthand, ICON actively sought a proven, scalable solution and ultimately chose Phyn following extensive research and testing. ICON's sales and operational infrastructure will help expand Phyn's reach across the builder and multi-family segments and grow Phyn's Preferred Installer Network. "As someone who's renovated more than a thousand homes, I've seen the damage a hidden leak can cause," said Jonathan Scott. "I've used Phyn in my own homes for years, and it's hands-down the best smart water tech on the market. It's reliable, easy to use, and does more than any other system to accurately detect and stop damage before it starts. Everyone I know has been affected in some way by an unfortunate water event, whether it's a flood from a disconnected water line, a pinhole leak inside the walls, or simply the kids leaving the tap on! With Phyn, home floods can be a thing of the past with a simple and affordable solution. One day, we will look back and count technologies like Phyn among everyday no-brainer safety devices like smoke detectors and seatbelts. This is the kind of technology I believe every homeowner deserves, and I'm excited to actively support Phyn in becoming a household name and protecting homes everywhere." "This marks a transformative milestone for Phyn," said Ryan Kim, CEO of Phyn. "We're thrilled to have the backing of such an accomplished and visionary group of investors who have built iconic brands and scaled companies to global prominence. Their belief and commitment to Phyn underscores the strength of our mission, market-leading technology and world-class team behind it. With their strategic support, we're poised to elevate awareness, accelerate our growth and bring peace of mind to more households and commercial buildings worldwide by stopping unnecessary losses from catastrophic water damage." The timing of the investment comes as smart water management is becoming a must-have in homes. Water damage is now a leading cause of property insurance claims, costing billions annually. Insurers, municipalities and homebuilders are responding with policies and programs that require or incentivize leak detection devices, particularly those with automatic shutoff capabilities like Phyn. The company's vast partner network includes leading insurance providers, utilities and municipalities, including Nationwide, Chubb, PURE, Cincinnati Financial, Iplex Australia, and many others. Phyn's unique approach to utilizing ultrasonic technology with no moving parts means it will not wear out or break down over time with mineral deposits, making it a long-lasting solution for homeowners. The Phyn system also incorporates patented high-definition pressure sensing and a single AI-driven shut-off solution that goes on the main water line and covers the entire home, unlike many competitor products which only monitor single fixtures. Phyn-protected households are shown to be 99% less likely to experience a non-weather water leak claim, highlighting the company's role in enhancing home safety and helping reduce insurance costs. Phyn is a category leader in intelligent water solutions, offering a suite of award-winning products ranging from the DIY-installed Phyn Smart Water Assistant and Smart Water Sensor to the professionally installed Phyn Plus with a built-in shutoff valve. At the core of Phyn is its proprietary fusion of ultrasonic flow sensing, HD pressure wave analysis and industry-leading AI that delivers unmatched accuracy and continues to set the benchmark for the industry, virtually eliminating false positive alerts. With its new ownership structure, Phyn gains not only the financial resources but also an elite network of advisors and operators to accelerate Phyn's growth across key consumer and B2B channels. About PhynPhyn is the leading intelligent water brand, bringing solutions to market that help people protect their homes, conserve water and save money. Built upon nearly a decade of research and patented technological innovation, Phyn is poised to change the way consumers interact with water and help solve the major challenges threatening the world's supply of clean, healthy water. Phyn has been widely recognized for its innovation, including honors from the Red Dot Awards, SXSW Innovation Awards, Core 77 Design Awards, IoT World Awards, CES Innovation Awards and GreenBuilder's Sustainability Awards, among others. To learn more, visit PR Contact Zella Panossian Illume PR for Phyn phyn@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Phyn
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The best-dressed couples at the 2025 Screen Actor Guild Awards
The 31st SAG Awards were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday. Celebrity couples, like Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel, made a splash on the red carpet with their outfits. Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman opted for matching monochromatic looks. On Sunday, some of Hollywood's biggest stars showed up at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles for the 31st Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. While the event was filled with couples dressed in their best outfits, Kristen Bell — the host — left her husband, Dax Shepard, at home to look after the kids. "We don't have very many babysitters who are ever available," she told People. Nonetheless, the show must go on; Here's a look at some of the best-dressed couples of the night. Jeff Goldblum and Emilie Livingston Jeff Goldblum and his wife, Canadian dancer Emilie Livingston, arrived at the event hand in hand. Goldblum wore a dark suit with a bowtie and a green scarf, while Livingston opted for a bejeweled silver gown. Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel are a match made for the red carpet. The couple showed up in coordinated black-and-white outfits with bowties. Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman Adrien Brody, who was nominated for best male actor for his role in "The Brutalist," and his partner Georgina Chapman opted for matching monochromatic looks for the red carpet. Brody wore a black tuxedo with a bowtie, while Chapman was in a sculptural strapless gown from her own clothing label, Marchesa. David and Emma Gyasi David Gyasi wore a simple black suit with a high-neck white shirt, while his wife, Emma Gyasi, nearly stole the spotlight from him in a stunning red gown. William Jackson Harper and Ali Ahn William Jackson Harper and Ali Ahn stood out from the crowd in their outfits. Harper looked dapper in his embossed navy-colored suit, while Ahn wore a cream gown with feathered shoulder details. Zoe Saldaña and Marco Perego Zoe Saldaña, who won best supporting actress for her role in "Emilia Pérez," looked stunning in her black velvet gown with bejeweled ruffled detailing. Her husband, Marco Perego, an Italian film producer, opted for a more subdued gray suit with an olive-colored polka dot shirt. Leighton Meester and Adam Brody Leighton Meester and Adam Brody were both decked out in earth tones as they hit the SAG Awards red carpet together. Meester wore a strapless dark green gown with cut-out details, while Brody wore a brown suit with a black tie. Read the original article on Business Insider
