Financial Services

Glenstone real estate investment trust (Reit) is in a bidding war with AEW UK over the smallest of the UK generalist property trusts Alternative Income Reit (AIRE), as concerns grow over shareholders facing a future in an unlisted and illiquid trust. Last week, Glenstone, its largest shareholder, ma

Chesnara's chief executive says the company is on the hunt for further acquisitions, after its takeover of HSBC Life UK helped drive the firm back into profit. The pension consolidator recorded a pre-tax profit of £61 million in the first half of 2026, bouncing back from a £4.6m loss for

Aberdeen Investments has proposed to investors combining its abrdn Real Estate Fund (aREF) and the abrdn Real Estate Feeder Fund with the abrdn Global Real Estate Fund (GREF) to create a flagship global hybrid real estate fund with more than £700 million in assets under management. The proposa

AJ Bell Custody Solutions has signed an agreement with Daintree Wealth Management. Daintree will use AJ Bell's Model B solution, designed to give advisers with more control and flexibility over the client experience. Firms partnering with AJ Bell Custody Solutions retain ownership of the client rela

Saba Capital has stepped up its attack to take over Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust after calling for a full cash exit for shareholders at or near net asset value. The activist investor demanded board changes this morning at the Edinburgh-based trust, which has received a requisition notice from its

Aubrey Capital Management has redeployed some of its capital back into India after generating strong returns from a select number of emerging market technology and AI-related holdings. Rob Brewis, director and investment manager at the firm, provided a short update on the fund for shareholders revea

Aegon Asset Management has launched a new strategy aimed at providing a steady source of income with the potential for capital growth for investors. The Aegon Financial Credit Opportunities Fund will invest in capital securities from global banks and financial institutions. It will be managed by inv

US asset management giant AllianceBernstein reveals ambition to grow its foothold in the UK retail business over the next five years. The firm with more than £666bn of assets under management worldwide is doubling down on its ambition to increase its UK retail business assets. Its UK retail bu

Saba Capital has returned to target another Scottish trustNew York hedge fund Saba Capital has demanded board changes at Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust. The Edinburgh-based trust received a requisition notice from Saba Capital Management which wants shareholders to back the appointment of three dir

The chairman of taxpayer-owned Scottish National Investment Bank has admitted that rocketing losses on the back of more failed investments are “painful” and “not where we want to be”. New figures show the bank’s loss for the year to the end of March surged by135% to &po

Quilter Cheviot has hired former Brewin Dolphin investment manager John Moore as an investment manager in its Edinburgh office. Mr Moore will aim to strengthen the firm’s investment capability in Scotland and its support for advisers and high net worth clients across the region. He will report

Life insurer and asset manager Aegon has increased its planned second-half share buyback program after recording an operating result of €804m in the first half of 2026. Aegon announced on the same day as its results that chief financial officer Duncan Russell would step down and leave the compa

HM Revenue and Customs has collected £322.7 billion in total from National Insurance contributions and tax between April and July 2026, compared with the same period last year. The total represents a £21bn increase on the same four-month period last year, when HMRC collected £301.7