Michael Mainelli, the ceremonial head of London's City financial district, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the growth of Britain's asset management industry
and disregarding concerns over a lack of new company listings.
Since Britain's departure from the European Union in 2020, doubts have arisen regarding London's status as a global financial hub, as it severed ties with a significant market. The decision of chip designer Arm Holdings to list in New York instead of London last September added to these apprehensions, prompting calls for regulatory adjustments.
However, Mainelli contends that London's financial sector is thriving, citing an increase in the workforce within the Square Mile district from 525,000 to 615,000, with over 200,000 directly employed in financial services.
In an effort to attract more international investors and listings, Britain has introduced the "Edinburgh Reforms" and the "Mansion House Compact." The latter aims to persuade pension funds to invest in unlisted growth companies, fostering a pipeline of initial public offerings (IPOs) and reducing reliance on government bonds.
Dismissive of concerns about London Stock Exchange's competitiveness against counterparts like the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, Mainelli considers such worries "mostly noise." He emphasizes the rise in assets under management in London, which has grown to 15% of the global total over the past eight years, with the potential to reach 25% in the future.
Mainelli underscores the importance of political stability and regulatory predictability in nurturing this growth, advocating for minimal interference in the sector's operations.
Regarding talent acquisition, Mainelli stresses the necessity of attracting and retaining skilled professionals, emphasizing the significance of the Mansion House Compact in this endeavor. The compact encourages pension funds to invest in growth companies, with commitments to allocate up to 5% of their cash by 2030, aimed at delivering better returns for savers.
Mainelli intends to implement a measurement program to track progress on the compact's objectives and explores the possibility of pension funds providing loans to small growth companies through the banking sector.
The efforts in London have drawn attention from Eurozone finance ministers, indicating potential for similar initiatives to enhance the bloc's capital market competitiveness.
In conclusion, Mainelli advocates for a focus on nurturing London's asset management industry, supported by a conducive regulatory environment and efforts to attract investment and talent. Photo by Mike Young, Wikimedia commons.