Government set to slash red tape for investment industry March 5, 2025 The government is set to launch a consultation aiming to slash red tape from the alternative investment industry, City AM understands. City minister Emma Reynolds is set to launch the consultation, which will begin in the coming weeks, while addressing top brass in the private equity and venture capital sector later today. Speaking at a [...]
Abrdone: Can the vowel U-turn save Aberdeen? March 4, 2025 Abrdn has re-added the vowels to its name as part of a shocking branding U-turn. But will it play a role in rebuilding the asset manager’s fortunes? Does it even matter in the grand scheme of things? The much-mocked corporate moniker was finally retired today after years of Square Mile sniggering and, it must be [...]
Blackstone targets Warehouse REIT for £470m takeover March 4, 2025 Warehouse REIT’s stock price has jumped almost 18 per cent after it was revealed the investment trust had rejected four separate bids for a takeover from US private equity giant Blackstone. Blackstone, as part of a consortium with investment giant Sixth Street, made a £470m offer for the investment trust last week, it announced today. [...]
Foreign takeovers of UK companies plummet amid M&A decline March 4, 2025 The number of foreign investors launching M&A deals for UK companies plummeted in the fourth quarter of last year, with only £4.5bn spent by buyers from abroad. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, the number of foreign companies acquiring UK companies (known as ‘inward M&A) fell to its to its lowest level [...]
ISA millionaires: 25 ISAs hold a combined £222m February 27, 2025 According to new data on ISA millionaires, nearly a quarter of a billion pounds is now held in a handful of ISA accounts. A series of Freedom of Information requests from Investengine has revealed that the top 25 highest-value ISAs in the UK now hold a combined total of £222m in assets. The findings mean [...]
Pisces: City figures raise concerns over viability of private market February 26, 2025 City figures have raised concerns over the Financial Conduct Authority’s plan for the new ‘Pisces’ market designed to allow share trading for private companies, warning that the scheme could “undermine the credibility of UK markets”. Pisces—the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System—was devised by the previous government as part of efforts to revive UK [...]
International Personal Finance looks to future growth amid profit boom February 26, 2025 Consumer credit provider International Personal Finance’s profit was more than expected in 2024 as it continues to look towards future growth. The firm, which is headquartered in Leeds, earned £85.2m in profit before tax, ahead of analysts’ expected range of £78m-£82m. International Personal Finance’s full-year financial report revealed record profits from its operations in Mexico and Australia and [...]
Rathbones beats profit expectations as merger progresses February 26, 2025 Rathbones’ operating income increased to £895.9m in 2024, beating analyst expectations as the firm progressed with its merger of Investec Wealth and Investment (IW&I). The wealth manager revealed profit before tax almost doubled last year, from £57.6m to £99.6m in its full-year results. The firm’s underlying profit before tax increased from £127.1m to £227.6m, above the [...]
UK defence stocks surge after Keir Starmer spending pledge February 25, 2025 Stocks in UK weapons manufacturers are having another strong week after Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to increase British defence spending to its highest in decades. Starmer announced the “biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War”, with the UK set to increase arms spending from 2.3 per cent to [...]
FTSE 100: Women on boards reaches almost 45 per cent February 25, 2025 FTSE 100 firms are making steps towards greater female representation with a new report revealing that 44.7 per cent of board seats are going to women. However, progress was much slower for executive positions, with women making up only 32.7 per cent of FTSE 100 executive committee roles, according to the latest FTSE Women Leaders [...]
