Michael Ashcroft
Michael Ashcroft is a businessman, philanthropist and politician.

A statement from Lord Ashcroft
To read the full announcement please click here.

BCB Holdings Limited announces its 3Q results
BCB Holdings Liimited releases its results for the nine months ended December 31, 2009. To read the full announcement please click here.

Chavasse Double VC joins the Ashcroft VC Collection
The Great War's only double VC, awarded to Captain Noel Chavasse, joins the Ashcroft VC Collection. To read the full story from The Sunday Telegraph please click here.

Crimestoppers Chair helps fight crime in New Zealand
Following a reward of £120,000 donated by Lord Ashcroft, Founder and Chair of Crimestoppers UK, for the return of stolen New Zealand war medals, a man has now been jailed for 11 years for the theft. Please click here to read the full press release.

Crimestoppers New Zealand is launched
New Zealanders will now benefit from a new anonymous telephone number they can ring to report details of crime, with the launch of a new charity, Crimestoppers New Zealand, in Manukau today. Please click here for more information.

Michael Ashcroft sponsors 'Front Line' at the Cheltenham Festival 2009
The highest military decoration for valour has been earned by only a select few individuals of the British & Commonwealth armed forces since 1856, from Mate CD Lewis in the Crimea to Johnson Beharry in Iraq. Michael Ashcroft, whose VC collection goes on exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in 2010, tells the fascinating stories of over 150 Victoria Cross Heroes. Please click here for more information.

Lord Ashcroft makes second £5m gift to university
Lord Ashcroft, the chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University since 2001, has recently made a gift of £5million ot build a new business school in Cambridge. Please click here to read more.

World’s most wanted violent criminals on the run in UK
Four of the world’s most wanted criminals are hiding out in Britain. To read the full story, published in the Daily Mail on 02 June 2009, please click here.

BCB Holdings Limited announces results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2009
To read the full press release please click here.

BB Holdings Limited announces preliminary results for the year ended March 31, 2009
To read the full press release please click here.

BB Holdings Limited announces acquisition of Cockleshell Limited
BB Holdings Limited announces that final agreement has been reached on the terms of the proposed acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Cockleshell Limited.  To read the full press release please click here.

Special Forces Heroes DVD now on sale
Due to popular demand the television series of Special Forces Heroes has been released on DVD. To buy your copy or for more information please click here

Crime show pulled over Ashcroft donation
Britain's largest crime-fighting charity has been forced to abandon a new television series which could have solved dozens of major cases because of a row over programme sponsorship. To read the full article, written in The Sunday Telegraph, please click here.

Backing sought for New Zealand Crimestoppers
British peer Michael Ashcroft, who set up the charity in Britain, received a favourable response to the concept from police top brass in Wellington. To read the full story  click here.

New crime 'hotline' is a possibility in New Zealand
To hear Lord Ashcroft's interview on Radio New Zealand where he talks in depth about Crimestoppers UK and why he feels a similar scheme would benefit New Zealand  Click here

A personal tribute to Lt Col Eric Wilson VC
Click here to read Lord Ashcroft's personal tribute to Lt Col Eric Wilson VC published in Medal News

BB Holdings Limited announces results for the nine months ended December 31, 2008
To see the full press release please Click here.

House of Lords Speech – 04 December 2008
Click here to read the full speech made to the House of Lords about the current crisis in Darfur.

A special breed of British hero
Read The Mail on Sunday’s The Critics review, written by Patrick Bishop on 23 November 2008 click here.

A rare kind of courage – Daily Mail, 22 November 2008
In an article in the Daily Mail, Lord Ashcroft writes about valour and his latest book, Special Forces Heroes click here.

Special Forces Heroes book launch
To watch Lord Ashcroft's speech at the launch of Special Forces Heroes on 11 November 2008 please click here.

In honour of the brave who gave Britain freedom
In an article written for The Sunday Express Lord Ashcroft talks about those service men and women who have died for their country. Click here for full story.

Why we must honour Bomber Command
In an article written for The Daily Telegraph Lord Ashcroft explains why he feels we should remember the heroic acts of Bomber Command during WWII. Click here for full story.

Revealed: the UK's 10 most wanted in new Costa del Crime
Crimestoppers and the Serious Organised Crime Agency issued descriptions of a list of individuals they want to track down for a variety of offences including murder, rape, drug trafficking and kidnap. Click here for full story.

Lord Ashcroft invests in e-commerce venture
Gospoken.com, launched by Andy McNab, the SAS soldier turned author, will sell virtual books to mobile phones. Click here for full story.

BB HOLDINGS LIMITED ANNOUNCES RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2008

Traditional spectacle
Lord Ashcroft and Baroness Rawlings write, in a letter to The Times, how they feel we should call upon our finest traditions as spectacles for 2012
For more information please click here.

Lord Ashcroft announces release date of his new book, Special Forces Heroes
For more information please click here or visit www.specialforcesheroes.com

Lord Ashcroft talks about Crimestoppers as the charity receives its millionth actionable call
Lord Ashcroft talks to The Sunday Telegraph about Crimestoppers as the charity receives its millionth actionable call since its inception in 1988.  Click here for full story.

Lord Ashcroft supports Help for Heroes
In an interview with BBC London News Lord Ashcroft talks of his support for the forthcoming Help for Heroes Rugby Challenge at Twickenham on 20 September 2008.  To watch the full news clip please click here

BB Holdings Limited announces results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2008
To see the full press release please click here.


Impellam Group plc issues trading update and announces board change
To see the full press release please click here.


Lord Ashcroft explains why he is giving the Imperial War Museum £5 million to display his collection of Victoria Crosses
 The collection, which was started 22 years ago, spans every force - Army, Navy and RAF - and Lord Ashcroft's donation will enable them all to be seen at the Imperial War Museum in a new gallery which opens in autumn 2010.  To read the full article please click here

Channel 4 report on Lord Ashcroft's Victoria Cross collection
 To watch the full report on the largest Victoria Cross collection in the world please click here

Lord Ashcroft's Victoria Cross Collection - the largest in the world -  is to go on public display following his £5 million donation to the Imperial War Museum
 The world's largest collection of Victoria Crosses (VCs), belonging to the Michael A Ashcroft Trust, is to be displayed publicly for the first time in a new gallery at Imperial War Museum London.  To read the full press release please click here.

BB Holdings Limited Announces Directors' Acquisition of Shares
 To see the full press release please click here.

Bermuda Stock Exchange Approves Secondary Listing of No Par Value Ordinary Shares and Warrants of BB Holdings Limited
 To see the full press release please click here.

Crimestoppers calls for support to combat gun and knife crime epidemic
 Lord Ashcroft calls upon businesses to pledge funds to Crimestoppers which is expanding its anti-gun and knife crime campaign currently being piloted in the London boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth.  Click here for full story.

Ashcroft and Dallaglio pledge support to Help for Heroes
To view news articles and read the full story please click here.  To read the RFU press release please click here.

Five line up new SAS TV series
To see the full story please click here.

Cockleshell Limited announce year end results
To see the full press release please click here.
Shellshock Limited announce year end results
To see the full press release please click here.

Lord Ashcroft offers additional reward for the capture of New Zealand medal thieves 
Lord Ashcroft has offered an additional reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the New Zealand medal thieves.  Click here for full story.

Lord Ashcroft meets Willie Apiata NZ VC
To view photograph please click here.

Lord Ashcroft visits New Zealand 
Lord Ashcroft, whose reward led to the return of the Country's stolen bravery medals, visits New Zealand.  Click here for full story.

Why 24 year old Royal Marine should receive the VC
Lord Ashcroft voices his belief that Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher should be awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in Afghanistan.  Click here for full story. 

Spink announce exhibition of 50 Victoria Crosses from The Ashcroft VC Collection
Spink announce dates for their temporary exhibition of 50 Victoria Crosses from The Ashcroft VC Collection.  Please click here for more information.

Stolen NZ VCs recovered
The Victoria Crosses stolen in New Zealand in December 2007 have been recovered with the help of Lord Ashcroft's reward, offered for information leading to their safe return. To view Lord Ashcroft's TV interview with NZTV on the medals recovery click here or to view a full newspaper article of the story click here.

Carlisle Group announces possible merger with Corporate Services Group
To see the full press release please click here.

BB Holdings Limited announces 3Q results
To see the full press release please click here.

Ashcroft Foundation Scholarship students graduate
Students on The Ashcroft Foundation Scholarship Programme at the Ashcroft International Business School, Anglia Ruskin University celebrate the successful completion of their degrees with graduation ceremony.  Click here for full story.

Ashcroft offers reward for stolen NZ VC's
Lord Ashcroft offers reward for information leading to the recovery of the Victoria Crosses stolen in New Zealand on 02 December 2007. Click here for full story.

Crimestoppers Most Wanted website features NZ VC theft
Click here to visit the site for full story

Arc Fund Management announces issue of new ordinary shares
To see the full press release please click here.

Carlisle Group announces 2Q results
To see the full press release please click here.

OneSource proposes cancellation of admission to trading on AIM
To see the full press release please click here.

FT article on Ashcroft business portfolio
To read the full article please click here.

 Global Health Partner announces interest in two new companies

GHP announces interest in The Priory Group and SFIKTo see the full press releases please click the relevant company name.

BB Holdings Limited announces second quarter results
To see the full press release please click here.

OneSource announces proposed dividend
For latest news please click here.

Labour wants to hamstring Tories who threaten its MPs
Lord Ashcroft speaks out about those calling for restrictions on constituency campaigning between elections.  Click here for full story. 

OneSource announces sale of company
For latest news please click here.

Defending VC Gurkha hero
The Home Office have now granted Mr Tul Bahadur Pun an entry visa for the UK. Click here to see how Lord Ashcroft feels this situation should never have happened and indeed how military experience in the British Army is a strong qualification for citizenship.

Safeguarding Whales
For latest news please click here.

Defending VC Gurkha hero
Lord Ashcroft steps in to help veteran war hero banned from living in the UK. Click here for more information.

Safeguarding Whales
In conjunction with the Environmental Investigation Agency, a leading campaigning organisation, Lord Ashcroft has commissioned an unprecedented television advertising campaign to persuade six small Caribbean nations - Antigua and Barbuda; Dominica; Grenada; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - not to back Japanese-inspired plans to overturn the ban on commercial whale hunting. Click here for more information.

Victoria Cross Heroes published
Michael Ashcroft's new book on Victoria Cross Heroes was published in November 2006 (paperback edition due out 03 May 2007). With a foreword by HRH, The Prince of Wales, it commemorates the 150th anniversary of the world's most famous award for valour, with a detailed account of how over 150 courageous individuals won the medals which form part of The Ashcroft VC Collection - the largest ever assembled.
From famous nineteenth century battles to more recent conflicts like the Falklands war, Michael Ashcroft's gripping stories are a personal tribute to the holders of this country's greatest honour for military courage. All the forces - Army, Royal Navy and the RAF - are represented.
"We owe extraordinary debts to these inspiring individuals. Although only 1,355 medals have been awarded, the VC symbolises our national virtues. The courage and sacrifice enshrined in the history of the VC makes us ask questions about ourselves and the future we face.
Ever since I bought my first VC twenty years ago I have wanted to express my admiration and appreciation of those who all too often gave their lives for this country and their comrades. Their story deserves to be told. Their bravery must never be forgotten."

TV Series
A special three-part documentary TV series to accompany the book was broadcast in November 2006 on Channel Five. Each episode was introduced by HRH the Prince of Wales and includes moving interviews with some of the living medal holders. The producers have had exclusive access to Lord Ashcroft's collection.
A boxed DVD set of the programmes - which also features a lengthy interview with Lord Ashcroft - is also now available.
A copy of the DVD will be sent to every secondary school in the UK with a classroom resources pack during 2007.

How to buy

Waterstones

PoliticosAmazonWaterstones

The Book
Victoria Cross Heroes by Michael Ashcroft £20 hardback from leading booksellers or from victoriacrossheroes.com

The DVD box set
Victoria Cross Heroes from all good DVD retailers price £16.99 or direct from DD Home Entertainment.

Other news

BCA Sold
Michael Ashcroft has sold his substantial shareholding in British Car Auctions (BCA) as part of a £450 million transaction involving Montague Private Equity. Following Lord Ashcroft's initial investment in the company in 1996 BCA grew to become Europe's largest car auction business with annual sales of nearly £3.3 billion and pre-tax profits (2004) of £24 million.

New Businesses
Recent investments by Michael Ashcroft include stakes in:

Digital Marketing Group: a multi-media electronic marketing group of companies.

Strand Partners Ltd a specialist corporate investment company.

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