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  • Shawbrook shares jump after London’s biggest IPO in two years

    Shawbrook shares jump after London’s biggest IPO in two years

    • Shares rise as much as 8% from IPO price
    • IPO price of 3.70 pounds was in middle of indicated range
    • London IPO market picking up after a long barren spell
    LONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters) – Shares in British lender Shawbrook (SHAW.L), opens new tab jumped as much as 8% in early Thursday trade following London’s biggest initial public offering in two years.

    The company priced its shares at 3.70 pounds apiece, in the middle of a previously announced range of 3.50 to 3.90 pounds, valuing it at about 1.92 billion pounds ($2.58 billion).

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    The stock rose as much as 7.8% from the IPO price to 3.99 pounds in early trading. It was last up 6% at 3.92 pounds.

    The bank, owned by a vehicle controlled by private equity firms Pollen Street and BC Partners, sought to raise around 50 million pounds by selling new shares, while its two private equity owners expected to raise around 298 million pounds from the deal, according to its prospectus.

    IPO FOLLOWS PERIOD OF SCANT LISTINGS IN THE UK

    Shawbrook’s IPO comes after a barren period of new listings in Britain and an exodus of firms to overseas markets. London, which was Europe’s most popular venue for listings in the boom of 2021, has attracted only 2% of all European IPO volumes since January, Dealogic data shows.
    The listing also marks a return to the public market for the bank after it was taken private by BC Partners and Pollen Street in 2017. The owners have also explored a number of deals with rival lenders in the past two years, including Metro Bank and Co-op Bank, Reuters has previously reported.

    Shawbrook initially considered listing earlier this year, according to a person familiar with the matter, but markets were roiled by President Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs in April. European bank stocks have risen sharply since then and have outperformed their U.S. and Asian peers, according to data from S&P Global.

    “The strong support we have received from investors across the UK, Europe and the U.S. reflects the strength of Shawbrook’s proposition and the business we have built,” CEO Marcelino Castrillo said in a statement.

    PROCEEDS TO FUND FURTHER ACQUISITIONS

    Shawbrook posted underlying profit before tax of 168 million pounds in the first half of this year, up from 124.5 million in the same period last year.

    It is planning to use part of the IPO proceeds to fund further acquisitions after striking 24 deals since 2011, according to its prospectus. In September, it announced the acquisition of lender ThinCats, which added around 700 million pounds to its loan book.

    The listing is London’s largest in terms of capital raised since Admiral Acquisition, a special purpose acquisition company, in May 2023, according to LSEG data. Excluding SPACs, it is the largest since 2021, according to the data.

    The IPO comes amid signs of a revival in European listings since the summer. Canned-tuna maker Princes Group is set to float on the London Stock Exchange in the coming days, while cosmetic technology company Beauty Tech Group listed earlier this month.

    ($1 = 0.7451 pounds)

    Reporting by Charlie Conchie in London; additional reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru. Editing by Anousha Sakoui and Mark Potter

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  • How textile colour accelerates ocean microplastic pollution

    How textile colour accelerates ocean microplastic pollution

    A growing body of scientific research is beginning to quantify what the fashion industry has long suspected: synthetic clothing, particularly polyester, is one of the major sources of microplastic pollution in the world’s oceans. Now, a new…

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  • India v Australia: Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final – live | Women’s Cricket World Cup

    India v Australia: Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final – live | Women’s Cricket World Cup

    Key events

    41st over: Australia 260-5 (Gardner 9, McGrath 11) Ghosh misses a difficult stumping chance down the leg side when Deepti sees Gardner coming and bowls a deliberate wide.

    A…

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  • Five new suspects arrested over Louvre jewellery theft

    Five new suspects arrested over Louvre jewellery theft

    Reuters Police stand near the pyramid of the Louvre museum after reports of a robbery, in Paris, France, October 19, 2025Reuters

    Precious crown jewels were taken during the theft earlier this month

    Five more suspects have been arrested over their involvement in the Louvre heist, Paris’ public prosecutor has said.

    They were arrested on Wednesday night in the Paris…

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  • Jennifer Lawrence Zhuzhes up a Classic Fall Outfit

    Jennifer Lawrence Zhuzhes up a Classic Fall Outfit

    Jennifer Lawrence’s formula for the perfect fall outfit is simple yet considered: an elevated piece of outerwear, a solid set of sunglasses, a statement bag, and some killer accessories. Yesterday, when attending the watchmaker Longines’s New…

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  • US and China agree 1-year trade truce after Donald Trump-Xi Jinping talks – Financial Times

    US and China agree 1-year trade truce after Donald Trump-Xi Jinping talks – Financial Times

    1. US and China agree 1-year trade truce after Donald Trump-Xi Jinping talks  Financial Times
    2. Donald Trump lowers China tariffs and announces end to ‘rare earths roadblock’ after meeting Xi Jinping  BBC
    3. Trump and Xi reach trade deal, easing tensions…

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  • Senior TTP commander killed in Bajaur IBO

    Senior TTP commander killed in Bajaur IBO

    A senior leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and self-styled defence minister, Qari Amjad alias Mufti Muzahim, has been killed in an…

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  • US gets rare earth reprieve from China, but not rollback – Reuters

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  • Tokyo Festival Chairman Discusses Trump, Budgets and Gender Pledge

    Tokyo Festival Chairman Discusses Trump, Budgets and Gender Pledge

    In the five years since Hiroyasu Ando took sole charge at the top of Tokyo International Film Festival, the progress made under the energetic octogenarian former diplomat is palpable. Despite the distinctly inauspicious start of his first full…

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  • Of trailblazers and next-gen leaders, the South African story

    Of trailblazers and next-gen leaders, the South African story

    From getting 69 all out in their opening game against the same opponent to hammering them by 125 runs at the same venue and entering their first ODI World Cup — and third successive across formats — does feel like destiny. But behind the…

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