The French Touch Abounds in Tech January 18, 2017 The French tech scene has the most active sovereign wealth funds in the world, according to research firm, CB Insights. Two French funds make the top half of the top-ten, which also includes state funds from Singapore, Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and China. France’s Banque Publique d’Investissement (Bpifrance) sits atop the list as the [...]
Tata Steel: Infrastructure investment is the key to solving the pension problem, says City heavy-hitter January 18, 2017 Hopes British Steel pension scheme members could be paid in full were raised today after a City heavy-hitter proposed a radical deal to spin-off the mammoth £15bn fund. Tata Steel is currently in talks with German industrials firm Thyssenkrupp to buy its European operations – a deal understood to only go ahead if the pension scheme, which serves 130,000 members, can [...]
Just when it was all going so well, the pensions levy might be about to ruin the auto enrolment party January 18, 2017 Stop the clock: the DWP’s consultation on the pensions levy ended this morning. So far, so boring. Well – boring but important for things like fairness, competition and the state not interfering in the private sector or distorting markets… those sorts of mundane things. The situation: The Pensions Regulator collects a flat annual “pensions levy” per [...]
Pension freedoms: Lump sum take-up could lead to widespread pension poverty January 18, 2017 Britons are set to take advantage of accessing lump sums from pension pots at record levels in 2017, something that could increase the chances of widespread pensioner poverty, a retirement specialist has warned. FTSE 250 firm Just, previously called Just Retirement, revealed that as more people than ever will reach their 55th birthday in 2017, [...]
Why are the world’s eyes on this innovative fintech startup? January 18, 2017 | City Talk Imagine an app that puts all your finances in one place: your current and savings accounts, credits cards, mortgage and other personal accounts – all in the palm of your hand. Quickly and easily. Money Dashboard’s app does just that – its financial data platform has attracted 100,000 users since its launch in 2010. The fintech [...]
This private equity firm has slashed salaries for graduates – it’s buying them houses in London instead January 18, 2017 Terra Firma founder Guy Hands has never been the conventional type. But now he has gone way off the beaten track: not only has the private equity giant cut graduates' salaries in half – but it's offered to buy them a house instead. EFinancialCareers reported Terra Firma has cut starting salaries for those joining its graduate programme [...]
City Moves for 18 January 2017 | Who’s switching jobs January 18, 2017 Boston Consulting Group Paolo Cuomo has joined the Boston Consulting Group as a principal in the firm’s insurance practice. He will work with teams in London and across Western Europe to support (re)insurance clients, including carries, brokers and regulators, on strategy, operational and digital topics. Paolo joins from Charles Taylor, where he was chief operating [...]
Think fast! Don’t risk not protecting your ideas January 18, 2017 It's a true thrill to have a hallelujah moment, when, suddenly, the penny drops and you work out how to do something in a more efficient manner. Alternatively, it might be an idea for a new product, or a repurposing of a device for doing something new. But what do you do next? Write down notes? [...]
How to invest your bonus: If you’re not off to the McLaren dealership, topping up a pension makes good sense January 18, 2017 Industry experts have warned that bonus season in the Square Mile might not be so bumper this year. In December, research by Emolument.com indicated that just 40 per cent of bankers in mergers and acquisitions found their sweetener satisfactory. And this week, the market leader of PwC’s global financial services HR consulting practice has warned that [...]
Thursday will be the poorest day of the year for Britons after Christmas spending sprees January 18, 2017 After the party, the hangover. Christmas cheer is set to run out for good tomorrow, as a new survey shows Thursday will be the poorest day of the year for Britons. A perfect winter storm of high spending during December and payrolls being brought forward before the holidays begin will leave Brits with a New [...]