Goldman Sachs launches healthcare equity fund October 5, 2020 As the pandemic pushes healthcare to the top of the agenda, Goldman Sachs’ asset management division has announced it is set to launch a new “supercharged” healthcare equity fund. Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) will launch the fund and provide investors exposure to companies at the “forefront of rapid innovation in healthcare”. The Goldman Sachs [...]
London fintech Currensea launches product for small businesses October 5, 2020 London-based fintech Currensea has today launched a debit card for SMEs, built on open banking, to help with overseas transactions. The first-of-its-kind debit card enables small businesses to make international transactions through their existing bank account without any bank charges and with low fees competitive with leading challenger banks. The new Mastercard, which costs just [...]
Climate activists target Blackrock London office over ‘greenwashing’ October 2, 2020 Climate protestors have targeted Blackrock’s London headquarters over its failure to put climate change at the heart of its investment strategy. In January Blackrock’s chief executive Larry Fink announced it would put environmental sustainability at the core of its strategy. The world’s largest asset manager announced a sweeping overhaul in a bid to position itself [...]
Activist investor Trian takes stakes in Invesco and Janus Henderson October 2, 2020 Activist investor Trian Fund Management has reportedly taken stakes in Invesco and Janus Henderson with plans to pursue further deals. Trian has built stakes in both Invesco and Janus enderson of 9.9 per cent, with the positions accounting for a combined $900m (£700m), according to the Wall Street Journal. The money reportedly comes from a [...]
Walmart confirms Asda sale to billionaire UK brothers in £6.8bn deal October 2, 2020 Asda is back in British ownership after Walmart today agreed a sale to the Blackburn-based Issa brothers in a £6.8bn deal.
LV= in exclusive sale talks with Bain Capital October 2, 2020 Financial services provider LV= has announced it is in exclusive discussions over a potential tie-up with private equity firm Bain Capital. In a statement today LV= said discussions with Bain Capital are ongoing. It added: “There can be no certainty that any transaction will be agreed, nor any certainty as to the terms on which [...]
Crime agency to probe government’s bounce back loan scheme October 2, 2020 Britain’s crime agency will investigate organised crime linked to the government’s bounce back loan scheme, launched to help businesses through the pandemic. The bounce back loan scheme, which launched in May, allows SMEs to borrow up to a quarter of their annual turnover, capped at £50,000. The scheme has proved the most popular form of [...]
Kazakhstan fintech Kaspi plans London IPO October 2, 2020 Kazakh banking and fintech firm Kaspi has confirmed plans to float on the London Stock Exchange this month. Kaspi, which controls the third-largest bank in Kazakhstan, said it plans to sell new and existing shares by listing its Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) on the stock exchange. The company did not reveal what stake its shareholders [...]
SNP MP Margaret Ferrier suspended for travelling after positive Covid test October 2, 2020 An SNP MP who travelled from Westminster to Scotland after a positive Covid-19 test has been suspended from her party and is facing calls to resign. SNP frontbencher Margaret Ferrier apologised “unreservedly” for breaching the restrictions. In a statement posted on Twitter last night the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West said: “I deeply regret [...]
FRC delays appointment of Keith Skeoch as interim chair October 1, 2020 The appointment of City veteran Keith Skeoch as chair of the audit watchdog has reportedly been delayed despite having been signed off by the business secretary. The plan to name Skeoch as interim chair of the Financial Reporting Council has been delayed due to a failure in Whitehall to rubber-stamp the appointment, according to Sky [...]
