Investment Banking

London’s battered brokers face bruising year

A dearth of IPOs in London has added to the woes of City brokers, who are facing a period of rapid consolidation. Senior leaders remain pessimistic that anything will change any time soon

A shortage of equity capital markets work is putting pressure on the City’s brokers
A shortage of equity capital markets work is putting pressure on the City’s brokers Illustration: Leonard Beard

When Irish broker Davy embarked on a push to expand its UK equity capital markets team in 2022, it seemed like good timing. The London market had welcomed 125 new listings in 2021, raising $22.9bn in one of its busiest years in more than a decade. 

Three years afterwards, however, Davy has pulled back from its City capital markets operation. It cut 10 jobs in January, with just a handful of debt underwriting bankers remaining in the capital.

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