Creating a Competitive Landscape for UK Growth Companies with Lisa Gordon

In this episode of Instinctif Talks, host Gus Chipungu sits down with Lisa Gordon, Chairman of Cavendish and member of the Capital Markets Industry Task Force. With over 30 years of senior experience in public and private companies, Lisa shares her insights on why UK capital markets matter and the reforms needed to revitalise them. Lisa outlines the concrete actions that could transform the investment landscape from unlocking the UK's £3 trillion pension pool to reforming ISAs and removing stamp duty on shares. She discusses the challenges AIM-listed companies face, the unintended consequences of MiFID II on research coverage, and why a balanced approach to risk and growth is essential for the UK economy. A must-listen for anyone interested in the future of UK investment and economic growth.

Key Takeaways:

1. UK has the third largest pension pool globally but one of the lowest allocations to domestic assets at under 5% – unlocking this capital could be transformational for UK markets.
2. The tax system needs reform to favour UK investment, including the removal of stamp duty on shares and more substantial fiscal incentives for equity ISAs over cash ISAs.
3. AIM remains a vital growth market that has proven to be a hunting ground for future FTSE 100 companies, with successful examples like Alpha Group International.
4. UK companies are currently undervalued relative to quality, leading to 18 UK-listed companies being taken over in just the first four months of this year.
5. Regulatory frameworks should be tailored to different market segments rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach that could stifle growth.