Archive for December 2021
The Dark Side of Sustainability
In a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), in May 2021, entitled “Net Zero by 2050” concerns regarding the high mineral requirements associated with manufacturing clean energy systems were raised. It has been forecast that if the world is to reach its target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, then demand ‘critical minerals’…
Read MoreIs Ether the coin for the future?
Cryptocurrency has exploded in popularity in recent years, and its possible applications could revolutionise the world’s financial and internet systems. The interest in cryptocurrency arises from its blockchain technology, a publicly available ledger that contains the details of all transactions, which is secured and verified with cryptography. This system requires people called “miners” to use…
Read MoreLender Launches 40 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage
On 23rd November 2021, Kensington Mortgages launched a 40-year fixed rate mortgage. Funded by pension insurer Rothesay, this unusual mortgage offers security to borrowers amidst concerns regarding rising interest rates. Kensington Mortgages is a specialist mortgage provider, who state they serve “people the high street is not always set up to cater for”. Kensington Mortgages…
Read MoreKKR Offers Record Bid for Telecom Italia
On Monday 22nd November, American private equity firm KKR began the process of a 33 billion USD offer for Telecom Italia (TIM), Italy’s largest communications company by revenue that provides telecom, mobile and data services. This price represents a 45% premium over the price of the company’s stock before the offer. The share price of…
Read MoreInstalling a Carbon Neutral Future
On the 24th of November, Brickability Group PLC, a leading construction materials distributor, announced its acquisition of HBS New Energies Ltd (HBS NE), a renewable energy installer. Brickability will acquire the trading names HBS New Energies and UPOWA. The consideration is being satisfied by an initial payment of 3.3 million GBR in addition to a…
Read MoreThe Sandbox: Metaverse’s Future Playground
On the 28th of October, Facebook Inc. announced its official rebranding to Meta Platforms Inc. This was accompanied by the plans of a Metaverse – a digital reality, combining aspects from the likes of augmented and virtual reality, along with areas of social media and gaming to allow users to interact virtually (similar to the…
Read MoreRoyal Dutch Shell – the future of ‘green’ oil?
Just weeks ago, Royal Dutch Shell (Shell) announced promises to reduce absolute emissions under operative control by 50% by 2030. In doing so, Shell is pushing back against activist investor pressure to divide the company into separate fossil fuel and clean-energy focused businesses. The board argues that by maintaining unity, cash flow from the legacy…
Read MoreSoftbank’s Investment into Latin America
Softbank is a Japanese based company that invests in a variety of different sectors including energy, financial services, and technology. Recently, they have been investing in and acquiring many different companies around the world, many of which are developing new technologies, having invested a total of around US$84 billion into start-ups throughout the past four…
Read MorePeloton: are the Wheels Falling off?
Peloton Interactive Inc (PTON) has had a deeply troubled 2021. The home-workout company went public in late 2019, but it wasn’t until mid-2020 that Peloton stock hit its stride: climbing over 120% between the start of August and the end of December. Now, with a whole host of issues surrounding the company, including a losing…
Read MoreThe Lithium Boom
Despite Lithium being the lightest metal, it is perhaps the one with the heaviest impact on the environmental revolution. Once extracted and processed from ionic minerals in the earth’s crust, it is an important raw material for many batteries, with the ceramic, glass and pharmaceutical industries also utilising its unique properties. Lithium has seen a…
Read More