James Newell

Elena Vydrine, IIGCC Senior Investment Specialist, welcomes the Financial Reporting Council's first references to index-based investing in the latest UK Stewardship Code: 🗨️"The code, which sets a benchmark for transparency and accountability for asset owners, managers, and service providers, explicitly references index-based investing for the first time. This recognises their growing importance and marks a shift from the reductive 'passive' label. Critically, it begins to acknowledge the different nuances and approaches available to index and other investors. “With index funds largely invested in a broad universe of securities, our recent paper highlighted that index/ETF fund managers may be uniquely positioned to advocate for improved governance, market integrity, and to mitigate systemic risks for long-term value creation and fiduciary reasons. "Translating this understanding from investors to regulators is essential to driving systemic progress." Elena Vydrine  Key references and additional guidance include: 📜"The investment landscape has changed significantly since the publication of the first UK Stewardship Code in 2010 … There has also been a significant move to index-based investing. These approaches have different terms, investment periods, and rights and responsibilities. Signatories will need to consider how to exercise stewardship effectively in these circumstances." (p.5, 2026 Code) 📜 "Signatories should use the resources, rights and influence available to them to exercise stewardship, no matter how capital is invested." (p.12, 2026 Code) 📜"Signatories may take a different approach to integrating stewardship and investment depending on whether they are active managers or use indexation. Signatories that offer index products could refer to the extent to which the development of these products have been driven by their own or their clients' stewardship strategy." (p.7 Principle 1: Stewardship-Integrated Investing, 2026 Code Guidance) 📜"Signatories that invest through index products may wish to give examples of discussion they have had about their selection of indices either with their manager or investment consultant." (p.18, Principle 5: Manager Selection and Oversight, 2026 Code Guidance) Read 'Index investing for the net zero transition' below ⬇️ #IndexInvesting #Stewardship #MarketIntegrity #NetZero #UKStewardshipCode2026

36

2 Comments

For nearly four years, infrastructure finance across Africa was recovering from a heavy blow. But in 2025, project finance across the continent is back in the saddle – and as BPL directors Oliver Wright and Sam Evans explain, domestic and international banks are tapping both public agencies and the increased offerings of the private credit and political risk insurance market to grow the opportunity further.

210

We attended the CFA Society UK’s New Investment Order event on 24 September. The event included an expert panel, “Innovate or Die,” featuring Kim Hochfeld, Global head of Cash, who shared practical insights on what innovation demands of investment firms today – and what it will demand tomorrow. ➤ A clear theme emerged: the convergence of TradFi and DeFi is accelerating, laying the groundwork for a more efficient, digitized financial market infrastructure. ➤ The panel underscored that blockchain, like AI, will underpin a shift in financial architecture – often quietly, until efficiencies and new markets emerge. ➤ From navigating tokenisation, AI, and blockchain, the discussion explored how investment professionals can stay ahead of disruption. Kim reflected on the potential of tokenisation, drawing from her experience during the LDI crisis to highlight how tokenized money market funds could accelerate collateral mobility and help resolve real-world frictions. The evening also included a roundtable on ‘Blockchain, Crypto and Digital Assets,’ co-hosted by Prab Bajwa, Senior Digital Asset Risk Officer, which emphasized the lessons learned from crypto and the foundational role of trust – anchored in institutional-grade custody and robust risk frameworks. Rewiring the plumbing of financial markets is a complex and challenging endeavor, but getting there starts here. Thank you to CFA UK for hosting a timely and thought-provoking discussion. #GetThere

51

2 Comments

An ever-increasingly complex macro-environment has presented new challenges for charities. Having frameworks designed to counteract the risks posed by these challenges can ensure effective wealth and financial stewardship aligned with the charity’s mission.  Joe O'Brien, CFP®, Associate Director within the Institutional Consulting team, explores how best to implement these strategies, ensuring that resources are protected and that charities can navigate these scenarios with confidence. Read our latest insight - https://lnkd.in/eaaczgGV

27

👏 Welcome to the NPIF II portfolio, Holdson!   🙌 We’re pleased to announce that NPIF II – Praetura Equity Finance (which is managed by us on behalf of the British Business Bank) has invested £500k into the advanced manufacturing business, as part of a strategic £1.5m round led by NPIF II.    🔩 Founded by Neil Dickinson and Aaron Holt (pictured below), Holdson is best known for its patented electroform™ process, an electromechanical finishing process to enhance the performance of metal parts, including cast and 3D printed components, by refining their surfaces and removing imperfections.   🛩️ Holdson’s work touches a number of major sectors, including the aerospace, defence, automotive and nuclear fusion industries, who rely on advanced parts that utilise Holdson’s electroform™ technology. 🗞️ Thanks to Insider Media for covering the news, which you can read in full here (https://lnkd.in/eM4GXEaZ). Thanks also to Laurence Tan, PhD. for all his work on the deal and to the British Business Bank North of England for their ongoing support. A final thank you to Mills & Reeve and Ward Hadaway for their work on the deal.

26

4 Comments