Revolut, Interactive Investor and Abcam: Britain’s venture capital success stories December 6, 2024 This week, Revolut made headlines when it emerged that early investors in the fintech had been offered an opportunity to cash out with returns of up to 400 times their initial investment. The news arrived in the same week venture capital trusts celebrated their 30th anniversary of backing British startups. Revolut used crowdfunding rather than [...]
Zopa Bank hunts for fintech acquisitions after £68m fundraise December 6, 2024 Zopa Bank is on the hunt for acquisitions as the digital lender looks to step up its challenge to the likes of Revolut, Monzo and Starling ahead of a potential float on the London Stock Exchange. The London-based fintech, which launched as a fully licenced bank in 2020, said on Friday it had raised €82m [...]
Burford Capital turning its back on London over government delays December 5, 2024 Listed legal financial firm Burford Capital is rolling back on using London due to "uncertainties" in the legal market as a result of government delays
Why Brits are backing cash and shunning the stock market December 5, 2024 Brits are sitting on a record amount of cash and shunning the stock market – Elliot Gulliver-Needham looks at why the UK has become a nation of savers. UK cash savings have surged to a record £2.1 trillion this month, up more than £51bn since the start of 2024, according to new data from Janus [...]
Another London-listed firm goes private as deals bonanza accelerates December 4, 2024 Another London Stock Exchange-listed firm waved through a take-private deal today in the latest of a torrent of exits from the City’s bourse this year. Learning Technologies, an AIM listed edtech company, agreed to an £836m takeover from US private equity behemoth General Atlantic, making it one of 45 listed companies to sell-up or enter [...]
Will other Chinese firms follow Shein to London? December 4, 2024 Shein’s reported decision to list in London rather than New York is likely to be an anomaly rather than a trend, says Megan Penick Fashion giant Shein’s prospective IPO – slated for early next year – has caused something of a stir in the City. Indeed, the decision to list on the London Stock Exchange [...]
Revolut boss says London IPO is ‘not rational’ December 3, 2024 Revolut’s chief executive Nik Storonsky has said it is “not rational” for Europe’s most valuable fintech start-up to publicly list in London, dealing a blow the new government’s plans to boost the stock market. Storonsky said the London-based banking company would consider a public debut “sooner or later” to raise cash and return money to [...]
French turmoil could be a boost for Canada, says top lawyer December 3, 2024 Political turmoil in France and geopolitical tensions between China and the US are showcasing the UK’s status as an “independent financial centre” and destination for international IPOs, a leading capital markets figure has suggested. Mark Austin, a lawyer at Latham & Watkins who has masterminded many of the City’s reform efforts over the past two [...]
Shein: Why the FCA is unlikely to block a blockbuster listing December 3, 2024 The boss of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has insisted he is not the regulator of “every aspect of corporate behaviour” amid growing concerns over plans for the fast fashion retailer Shein to float on the London Stock Exchange. Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the FCA, said it is not within the regulator’s power to [...]
The City needs to fall in love with risk again December 3, 2024 Back in March, in a meeting room somewhere in the labyrinth of offices that makes up the Square Mile’s political headquarters at the Guildhall, the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen and the Communications and Corporate Affairs Sub Committee met to consider a report on a potential area of focus for a potential new Lord Mayor [...]