Category: Market News

Vanquis Banking Group (LSE:VANQ) said Chief Executive Officer Ian McLaughlin will step down for personal reasons no later than the end of 2026.

Deputy CEO and Snoop chief John Natalizia will become interim CEO, subject to regulatory approval. The board has started a search for a permanent successor that will consider both internal and external candidates.

McLaughlin has led Vanquis through a period in which the group implemented operational and financial changes and returned to profitability.

Natalizia joined Vanquis following its acquisition of Snoop in 2023 and was appointed deputy CEO in April 2026. He currently oversees the group’s product offering, technology and change delivery, including its Gateway transformation programme.

Natalizia has more than 25 years of experience in banking and credit cards, including roles at Virgin Money and MBNA.

The board said it believes the management team under Natalizia and Chief Financial Officer Dave Watts is positioned to continue implementing the group’s existing strategy.

More about Vanquis Banking Group

Vanquis Banking Group is a UK-based specialist banking group providing credit cards and other consumer finance products, with a focus on customers who may have limited access to mainstream lending.

The group has been implementing a strategic and operational transformation covering technology, products and its Gateway programme. Its operations also include Snoop, the fintech business acquired in 2023.

Everplay Group (LSE:EVPL) said Wardogs, a tactical first-person shooter developed by strategic partner Bulkhead and published by Team17, sold more than one million copies on its first day in Steam Early Access.

The 100-player title also recorded more than 340,000 concurrent players following its launch, according to the company.

Everplay described the launch as a significant milestone for Bulkhead and Team17. Bulkhead is a strategic partner of the group.

The announcement comes ahead of Everplay’s interim financial results, which are scheduled for 15 September 2026.

More about Everplay Group

Everplay Group plc, formerly Team17 Group plc, is an independent developer and publisher of video games and children’s educational entertainment applications.

The group operates through three divisions. Team17 focuses on independent games and franchises including Hell Let Loose, Worms, Wardogs, Dredge and Overcooked!, while astragon specialises in simulation titles including Construction Simulator and Police Simulator.

StoryToys develops educational applications for children under eight using a range of entertainment brands.

Harbour Energy (LSE:HBR) has agreed to purchase 53 million of its ordinary shares from BASF in an off-market transaction for £2.66 per share, representing total consideration of approximately $190 million.

The transaction forms part of a wider offering of Harbour Energy shares by BASF to institutional investors. Harbour said the 53 million shares acquired through the off-market purchase will be cancelled.

Approximately $40 million of the purchase price will be allocated to Harbour’s existing $250 million share buyback programme.

Following completion of both the off-market purchase and BASF’s wider offering, BASF’s holding in Harbour Energy is expected to decline from approximately 24.3% to 16.4%.

More about Harbour Energy

Harbour Energy plc is an independent oil and gas company focused on exploration and production activities.

The company manages a portfolio of upstream energy assets and undertakes capital allocation measures including share buyback programmes.

Sage Group plc (LSE:SGE) has notified holders of its EUR500 million 3.820% notes due February 2028 that it will exercise its issuer call option to redeem all outstanding notes.

The redemption is scheduled for 28 September 2026 and will be made at the make-whole optional redemption amount, together with accrued interest.

A determination agent will calculate the final redemption amount on 23 September, with Sage expected to issue a further notice providing the amount payable.

Following redemption, the company intends to apply for cancellation of the notes from the FCA’s official list and their admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market.

Repayment will be processed through the applicable clearing systems.

More about Sage Group plc

Sage Group plc is a provider of finance, human resources and payroll software for small and mid-sized businesses.

The company’s technology connects financial and workforce management functions and is used by businesses, accountants and other partners to manage areas including finance, payroll and related business processes.

Tharisa (LSE:THS) has priced a US$300 million five-year senior secured Nordic bond through its wholly owned subsidiary Arxo Finance plc, with proceeds primarily intended to fund completion of the Karo Platinum Project in Zimbabwe.

The bond was priced at 98% of principal and carries an 11% coupon payable semi-annually. Tharisa said the offering was oversubscribed, with participation from international institutional investors.

Proceeds will initially be held in escrow and released once specified conditions have been satisfied. The majority of the funds are earmarked for completing Karo, while any remaining proceeds will be available for general corporate purposes.

Tharisa expects the Karo project to more than double the group’s platinum group metals production and provide it with a second operating asset alongside the Tharisa Mine in South Africa.

Settlement of the bond is targeted for 24 September 2026. The company intends to apply for admission of the bonds to ABM Fast Entry within 60 days of issuance and subsequently to Euronext Oslo Børs, or another regulated exchange, within 12 months.

DNB Carnegie and HSBC acted as joint bookrunners for the transaction.

Management indicated that funding costs could potentially be reduced as Karo moves through commissioning and its development progresses. This remains dependent on future developments.

More about Tharisa

Tharisa plc is an integrated mining and metals group focused on platinum group metals and chrome concentrates.

Its operations cover exploration, mining, processing, beneficiation, marketing, sales and logistics. The group operates the Tharisa Mine in South Africa and is developing the Karo Platinum Project in Zimbabwe.

Tharisa also has activities in downstream alloy production and long-duration energy storage technology.

Cobra Resources (LSE:COBR) reported progress on drilling, metallurgical and resource-definition programmes at its Wudinna rare earths and Manna Hill copper projects in South Australia during the first half of 2026.

The company also made changes to its board during the period, with founding chair Greg Hancock retiring and Andrew Michelmore appointed as non-executive chairman.

At the Manna Hill Copper Project, reverse circulation drilling at the Blue Rose discovery returned shallow copper-gold sulphide intersections. Cobra subsequently began diamond drilling to investigate potential extensions at depth and the broader porphyry system and formally exercised its option to acquire the project.

The company said diamond drilling completed after the reporting period extended sulphide mineralisation and identified geological characteristics it considers indicative of a potentially fertile porphyry system. Assay results from the drilling remain pending.

At Wudinna, Cobra completed the acquisition of additional exploration licences, increasing its landholding to more than 3,200 square kilometres and expanding the area covered by its ionic rare earths exploration interests.

Sonic core drilling at the Boland and Head prospects generated additional geological data for a planned maiden mineral resource estimate. The company also continued metallurgical and permeability testing as it assesses the potential use of controlled-aquifer in situ recovery, or ISR, at the project.

Cobra has appointed ERM to prepare the maiden mineral resource estimate for Wudinna. Permitting and engineering work is also under way for a small-scale ISR production demonstration that the company is targeting for 2027.

Additional metallurgical programmes are being conducted with ANSTO, while Cobra has made senior appointments across its finance, technical and exploration functions.

More about Cobra Resources Plc

Cobra Resources plc is a South Australian mineral exploration and development company focused primarily on the Wudinna ionic rare earths project and the Manna Hill Copper Project.

At Wudinna, the company is evaluating the potential development of an in situ recovery operation targeting rare earths contained within palaeochannel sediments. At Manna Hill, Cobra is exploring shallow skarn and deeper porphyry-style copper-gold mineralisation in the Nackara Arc.

The company also retains exposure to gold through a shareholding in Barton Gold.

Fiinu (LSE:BANK) reported an unaudited loss after tax of £2.15 million for the six months ended 30 June 2026, with cash of £2.70 million at the end of the period.

The group continued implementation of its white-labelled Plugin Overdraft® with Conister Bank and moved the platform into a production environment. Fiinu is targeting a launch around the end of 2026 and has continued developing the technology for use across UK and European Economic Area open banking systems.

After the reporting period, Fiinu agreed an updated implementation timetable and long-term commercial framework with Conister Bank. The initial deployment is intended to serve approximately 1.5 million customers of Payment Assist Limited before a potential broader rollout.

The company also reduced group overheads and continued restructuring subsidiary Everfex towards what it described as a leaner, self-funded operating model. Legacy creditor matters remain outstanding at Everfex.

Fiinu said it sees a potential European market encompassing approximately 5,000 banking institutions and an estimated 120 million consumers experiencing short-term liquidity constraints. These figures represent the company’s assessment of the addressable opportunity for its Plugin Overdraft® platform.

The directors also identified material uncertainty regarding the group’s ability to continue as a going concern. The uncertainty relates to the unpredictability of future revenue, the timing of commercial deployments and Fiinu’s future cash requirements.

More about Fiinu Plc

Fiinu Plc is an AIM-quoted financial technology group focused on developing and licensing its Plugin Overdraft® platform.

The white-label credit platform is designed to integrate with banks’ existing infrastructure and open banking systems in the UK and Europe, allowing partner banks to provide overdraft and other credit products without requiring customers to move their primary banking relationships.

Gateley (Holdings) Plc (LSE:GTLY) has published its Annual Report for the year ended 30 April 2026 and issued the notice for its 2026 Annual General Meeting.

The documents are available through the company’s investor website. Gateley said hard copies will also be sent to shareholders who have elected to receive physical communications.

The AGM is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, at Gateley’s London office at 1 Paternoster Square, EC4M 7DX.

Shareholders will have the opportunity to consider the matters set out in the AGM notice at the meeting.

More about Gateley (Holdings)

Gateley (Holdings) Plc is a UK-listed professional services group whose shares trade on AIM under the ticker GTLY.

The group provides legal and related advisory services to corporate and institutional clients.

CT Automotive Group plc (LSE:CTA) said it will publish its interim financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 on 16 September 2026.

The publication date is later than the company’s previously indicated early-September timetable.

Chief Executive Officer Simon Phillips and Non-Executive Chair Ray Bench will host a live online presentation for existing and potential shareholders through the Investor Meet Company platform on the same day.

Investors will be able to submit questions ahead of the presentation and during the live event.

More about CT Automotive Group Plc

CT Automotive Group plc is a UK-headquartered designer, developer and manufacturer of bespoke automotive interior finishes and kinematic assemblies.

The company operates manufacturing facilities in China, Mexico and Türkiye, with design and administrative functions in India and distribution and assembly operations across Europe, Asia and the U.S.

Its customer base includes Nissan, Ford, GM, Volkswagen Audi Group, Bentley, Lamborghini and Rivian, as well as a major U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer. CT Automotive supplies components for more than 64 vehicle models across 21 OEMs.