Innovate Finance, the industry body representing UK FinTech, has released Q1 investment figures for the UK FinTech sector in 2021 that reveal a robust recovery following a tough pandemic year.

A new study by Freetrade has revealed the “gender investment gap” in the UK, with women expected to make a much smaller return on their investments by 2030 compared to men if they start investing now as a result of the gender pay gap.

Europe has returned to a ‘buyer-friendly’ environment, after the COVID-19 pandemic created more risk-averse attitudes. 

Non-bank or direct lending recorded the highest number of deals ever in the final quarter of 2020, according to Deloitte’s latest Alternative Lender Deal Tracker. Deal count had dramatically slowed earlier in 2020 resulting in an overall decrease of 25% in the annual total of 385 deals, compared to 2019’s total of 512 deals. Direct lenders consist of a wide range of non-bank institutions that lend directly into corporates at senior secured levels of the capital structure. 

Global syndicated loan volume totalled US$969.1 billion in 1Q21, a decline of 7.2% compared to volume recorded for the first quarter of 2020 according to Refinitiv LPC. 

Commodities & Natural Resources is the top-performing investment company sector over the past year with an average return of 116%, following two years of negative returns. Commodities have a key role to play in the global recovery and transition to a greener future but they could also be well placed to protect portfolios from rising inflation.

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has published the amount of money raised by VCTs for the 2020/21 tax year. During the pandemic and at a time when the UK’s young companies have needed it most, the VCT sector has raised £685 million for investment in small, innovative UK businesses.

Forward Partners and Landscape VC have revealed that the majority of founders believe their investors failed to add value beyond capital, despite most firms promising a package of support.

118 Equity Crowdfunding campaigns successfully closed in Q1 2021, the second-highest number of campaigns recorded in any given quarter. £75m was raised in the quarter via Equity Crowdfunding, a 25% increase compared to the amount raised in the first quarter of 2020.  Over 64,000 individual investments were made in crowdfunding in the quarter, with more than 75% of the campaigns attracting 250+ backers.

Developing nations are missing out on a wave of investor interest in climate change and sustainability. To get in the game, these countries will require a significant overhaul of their debt capital markets.  This is the conclusion of a report released by the Centre for Climate Finance & Investment at Imperial College Business School.

Worldwide M&A activity totals US$1.3 trillion during year-to-date 2021, up 93% compared to the same period last year according to Refinitiv Deals Intelligence.

NatWest has published the findings of an industry wide review into the UK SME recovery, conducted in consultation with BCC and the FSB.