Asset manager Pemberton launches new debt strategy to fill funding gap left by banks July 5, 2017 Pemberton, a UK-based asset manager backed by insurance giant Legal & General, has launched a new private debt strategy to fund mid-market companies. The “strategic credit opportunities” strategy differs from Pemberton's previous offerings as it will provide junior capital, as well as senior. The junior capital, which has a lower repayment priority in event of [...]
Lloyd’s of London deputy chair Robert Childs: Brexit won’t threaten London’s prized insurance status July 3, 2017 Brexit will not threaten London’s prized global insurance crown, the new deputy chair of Lloyd’s said today. Hiscox chairman Robert Childs was unveiled this morning as the replacement for Paul Jardine, taking up the position immediately. Speaking to City A.M. he downplayed the impact of Britain’s exit from the EU, saying it will have a [...]
The new voice of British banking: UK Finance launches today with new board members revealed July 3, 2017 The British finance industry will be publicly represented from today by a single new body, UK Finance, after the merger of six separate lobby groups. The new body, which officially starts operations today at Angel Court, behind the Bank of England, will represent over 300 British firms providing credit, banking, markets and payments services. The [...]
Global cyber attack hits UK firms as WPP reports hack June 27, 2017 A massive cyber attack which has hit a number of institutions in Ukraine appears to be spreading across Europe. Several firms, banks and government offices in Ukraine began to report attacks earlier today caused by ransomware named “Petya”. London-based advertising giant WPP has reported problems with its IT systems caused by a “suspected cyber attack”, [...]
A fintech cluster greater than the sum of its parts June 26, 2017 One of Europe’s largest financial centres and an international technology hub, Edinburgh will play a leading role in driving the UK’s £20bn fintech industry and shaping a fast-moving global industry. Edinburgh’s financial credentials are beyond question. As the UK's second largest financial services centre, and the fourth largest in Europe, the city claims the lion’s [...]
London is home to more of the hottest fintech startups than ever before according to the Fintech50 2017 June 7, 2017 London’s status as the world leading centre of fintech has been questioned in the wake of Brexit, but new figures suggest the capital continues to be a global powerhouse for financial technology. The city has produced more of the hottest fintech startups than ever before, with over half of the Fintech50 calling it home. Challenger [...]
Airbnb, Amazon, peer to peer lending and universities: There’s a simple reason why no sector is immune from radical change April 10, 2017 If you were to ask an economist why financial institutions or food retailers exist, I wonder if the answer would go beyond that which would be offered by a random person travelling on the Tube. Answers might include “to provide bank loans, insurance and savings products” and, in the case of food retailers, “to provide [...]
Trouble in store: More pain on the way for UK retail April 10, 2017 A triple-blow of tax hikes, rising costs and a squeeze on consumer spending is threatening to wipe out thousands of British retailers, with a string of familiar high street names expected to fall into administration this year. Nearly 23,000 retailers were under significant financial stress at the end of the first quarter according to insolvency [...]
Free banking threatened by new global financial reality says International Monetary Fund (IMF) April 6, 2017 Free banking services could become a thing of the past as falling demand for credit from consumers makes it less attractive for banks, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In a broad-ranging investigation of the effect of a global economic climate of low growth, low interest rates on financial services, the IMF said the [...]
Government sells Bradford & Bingley loans for £11.8bn to Prudential and Blackstone after a “highly competitive sale process” | City A.M. March 31, 2017 The government has sold £11.8bn of Bradford & Bingley loans to insurance giant Prudential and US private equity behemoth Blackstone. The loans were bought by the UK taxpayer during the financial crisis and have been managed by the UK Asset Resolution (UKAR) on their behalf. Prudential and Blackstone prevailed in what the Treasury called a [...]