Traders are divided on the effectiveness of Mifid II regulation as just a quarter think it will help move trading to more transparent ‘lit’ venues May 29, 2018 After new regulation hit Europe's financial markets in January, traders are still divided as to its effectiveness six months on. A chunky 70 per cent of traders think the second Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Mifid II) has made trading more transparent, according to a survey by Swiss stock exchange Six. But just a quarter [...]
Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is facing a fresh trial over alleged bribery March 24, 2018 Formula One's former chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is set to face a fresh trial over bribery and corruption allegations, relating to the 2006 sale of the motor racing business to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners. London's High Court announced yesterday that Ecclestone will face trial on 1 October 2019, reviving a case which Ecclestone [...]
US fintech investor Motive Partners chooses Canary Wharf as its European base March 21, 2018 US growth investor Motive Partners has chosen Canary Wharf as a home for its new European hub. The firm, which focuses on fintech investments and has already made two deals, said it was “essential” to have a base in London due to its status as a fintech capital. “You can’t claim to be an important [...]
Legal ranking firm Chambers and Partners scooped up by Virgin Experience Days owner Inflexion March 20, 2018 Legal rankings business Chambers and Partners came top of Inflexion's books today, as the private equity firm announced it had bought the business for an undisclosed price. Founded in 1990, Chambers is used by corporates to help them choose legal advisers and by law firms to help select individual lawyers to hire. City A.M. understands [...]
London beats New York as top real estate investment destination for Norway’s massive sovereign wealth fund March 13, 2018 London has overtaken New York as the top real estate investment spot for Norway's massive $1 trillion (£715bn) sovereign wealth fund. The fund, which is one of the biggest investors in the UK and co-owns Regent Street, bought almost £200m worth of London property last year in partnership with the Queen's Crown Estate. These included [...]
The world’s first listed energy storage investment fund, which works with firms such as Tesla, is floating in London to raise £100m March 13, 2018 Gore Street, the world’s first listed investment fund to focus solely on energy storage, has announced today it will float in London raising £100m. The fund will invest in facilities of lithium ion batteries, created by firms such as Tesla and NEC, which will help to capture the energy generated by renewable sources and even [...]
The UK’s “largest Apple reseller” Jigsaw24 rakes in more than three-times money invested as private equity owner sells up March 5, 2018 Jigsaw24, the UK's "largest Apple reseller" according to the company, has raked in a return of 3.1 times money invested for its private equity owners. The business, which also provides IT and consultancy services, has been sold by NorthEdge to fellow private equity firm Alcuin Capital Partners. Jigsaw24, which counts names such as Barclays, Disney [...]
Pub group Hawthorn Leisure to attract interest from competitors as private equity owner calls closing time on investment March 4, 2018 The 300-strong UK pub group Hawthorn Leisure is up for sale, according to industry sources, as its private equity owner looks to pass the group on. The young pub group, which was founded in 2014 by former Merrill Lynch banker Noah Bulkin with funding from Avenue Capital, is in the early stages of a process [...]
Law firms Berwin Leighton Paisner and Bryan Cave get the green light to merge creating a $900m revenue business February 26, 2018 City law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner is to merge with US peer Bryan Cave, creating a firm with combined revenues of more than $900m (£645m). The pair revealed they were in talks in October last year, saying that a deal would allow them to join the "handful" of firms operating with a one-firm structure globally. [...]
The $13bn investment firm Varde Partners has just taken a stake in London proptech startup funder Pi Labs February 15, 2018 The London property tech, or proptech, scene is grabbing attention across the globe, as the $13bn (£9.4bn) US investment firm Varde Partners has today scooped a stake in venture capital firm Pi Labs, City A.M. can reveal. London-based Pi Labs, which closed its second $10m fund last year, focuses on scaling up early-stage proptech firms [...]