We are following an old-fashioned takeover battle in the FinTech sector. A market-listed investment trust investing in alternative finance, particularly the platform-lending sub-sector, is the subject of a hostile takeover bid. As asset valuations for this investing in the sector via this route continue to fluctuate, an alternative route looks more and more attractive. Investors […]
One of the recurring themes of the alternative finance sector is the difficulty it has had in making a connection with small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Yesterday, we brought you news of self-funding by many in the sector. Today, we offer an excerpt from a This is Money report on the limited success of the […]
A recurring theme of our news coverage is the transition of alternative finance to the mainstream. P2P Finance News reports on another aspect of the evolution of the sector – the continued use of self-funding by the owners of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). This something that platform lenders such as Money&Co. approve of – […]
Amid speculation that tax incentives will be tinkered with in the coming Budget, City A.M. highlights four companies that wouldn’t exist without the Enterprise Investment Scheme. The full article is available here. While EIS and SEIS offer meaningful tax advantages to investors, it’s important to remember that their main function is to help kickstart new […]
Europe has had a solid year in terms of total FinTech funding, with UK at the forefront. The European FinTech sector secured $58.1 billion in capital last year. This is significantly greater than the $43.4 billion the industry acquired back in 2018 – according to a recent report from Big Four auditing firm KPMG. Our friends […]
Banking as we know it is set to change. Maybe, just maybe, mainstream banks will begin to offer better returns on their deposit accounts one day (tricky, though that is, given their overheads). If they ever get there, the alternative finance sector, with FinTech in the form of digital banks, will lead the charge. Our […]
As part of our regular look at mainstream investment in the alternative finance sector – especially platform lending – we look at a take-over battle involving an investment trust that invests in the sector. Our consistent message continues to be that investors who acquaint themselves with the risks of platform lending can be relatively sure […]
With stocks and shares falling sharply today on Coronavirus fears, we thought we’d remind readers that platform lending or peer-to-peer (P2P) lending as its risks, but can be a lucrative activity. The average yield achieved by our registered lenders over more than five years and over £20 million of loan facilitation on this platform is […]
Today we bring you the second part of the excellent, common-sense consumer guide by the UK’s leading financial watchdog by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This is prudent, helpful, and should be compulsory reading for all individuals considering high return investment. In the UK, any firm carrying out a regulated financial services activity must be authorised by […]
Today we take a look at the Financial Conduct Authority’s guidelines for individual investors on how to appraise an investment. The commentary it offers is clear, simple and full of common sense. Here’s the first instalment of a two-stage browse through the FCA guidelines. All investments carry some element of risk but the higher the […]