Alternative lending volumes at record levels in third quarter December 21, 2014 ALTERNATIVE non-bank lenders recorded a 109 per cent increase in deals in the UK and Europe for the third quarter of this year, according to research from business advisory and accountancy firm Deloitte. Deloitte’s alternative lender deal tracker recorded 73 deals for the quarter, the highest volume on record and over double the 35 for [...]
Private equity floats at highest since 1998 December 21, 2014 NEW STOCK market listings of private equity backed firms like SSP, led by chief executive Kate Swann, rose to their highest level since 1998 this year, according to figures from the centre for management buy-out research, at EY and Equistone. There were 43 PE-backed floats across Europe in 2014, worth €44bn, according to the stats.
The 2014 Corporate Christmas Card Oscars December 21, 2014 It's Christmas week, which means most of us will be packing down our desks for the Christmas break today or tomorrow – heading home for some festive cheer. But which of your corporate Christmas card collection will you be taking home to join your mantelpiece and which ones will you be leaving behind? Welcome to [...]
Pensions pots to Kristofferson: Hermes Investment chief Saker Nusseibeh’s bid to make the City think differently December 21, 2014 “I do genuinely play guitar still, badly; I refuse to look at Harley Davidson stocks – because to me it’s a religion, not a motorbike company and I’m growing my beard to try and look like Kris Kristofferson,” Saker Nusseibeh, chief executive of Hermes Investment Management tells me. “Does this make me a better or [...]
City Moves for 22 December 2014 | Who’s switching jobs December 21, 2014 LEBC Simon Turner has been appointed director of business planning at the IFA, pensions and employee benefits consultancy. He was previously regional head of financial planning for the northern region at Grant Thornton. Turner has 25 years’ experience in financial services. Jones Day The law firm has announced the appointment of 42 partners, with three [...]
Best of the Brokers for 22 December 2014 December 21, 2014 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com IAG Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated its “hold” rating, following last week’s news that Aer Lingus had rejected IAG’s takeover offer. The broker said that the future of smaller airlines in Europe remains uncertain due to intense competition in short-haul, and said the fit with [...]
Christmas week to kick off with crunch Rangers FC meeting – London week ahead December 21, 2014 WITHOUT any major company results reporting before Christmas, market attention could turn to the annual meeting of the crisis-hit Rangers International Football Club, part-owned by Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley. The team’s manager, legendary goal-scorer Ally McCoist, officially stood down last night. The Aim-listed company will vote on whether to inject £8m in funding to [...]
US hopes Santa rally pushes on – The week ahead on Wall St December 21, 2014 HOUSING, consumer spending and income data will fill the void in company results due in the US this week. Official statistics are due today on existing home sales. Tuesday will see the house price index along with the new homes sales data. Income and consumption data such as durable goods orders, GDP final figures, personal [...]
Why politics will dominate 2015: Losers and winners in this maddening new era December 21, 2014 When I started my political risk firm in 2006, about one-third of my opening pitch was simply arguing that political risk matters to often highly-sceptical executives, who wondered why they were wasting their time talking about Middle East politics rather than making money. Suffice it to say, I have now been forced to entirely re-write [...]
It’s been a positive year for the City – let’s hope 2015 will be the same December 21, 2014 The City can feel incredibly quiet at this time of year. We see nowhere near the usual number of daily commuters heading in and out of the Square Mile, as people set off early on their well-deserved Christmas break. But this provides us with an ideal opportunity to reflect on the year, and to consider [...]
