Exclusive-Metro's biggest shareholder open to selling stake, sources say
LONDON (Reuters) -Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski Bacal is open to selling his majority stake in British lender Metro Bank and has received interest from investors, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
Gilinski, who sits on Metro's board as a non-executive director and who owns a 52.87% stake via his Spaldy Investments vehicle, has been considering options for his stake including a sale, after a rebound in the bank's share price, the people said. He became the majority shareholder after playing a critical role in its 325 million pound ($436 million) equity recapitalisation in 2023.

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Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Sunken Bayesian superyacht lifted out of the water off Sicily
The Bayesian sank Aug. 19 off Porticello, near Palermo, during a violent storm as Lynch was treating friends to a cruise to celebrate his acquittal two months earlier in the U.S. on fraud charges. Lynch, his daughter and five others died. Fifteen people survived, including the captain and all crew members except the chef. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Italian authorities are conducting a full criminal investigation. Advertisement TMC Maritime, the company conducting the recovery operation, said the vessel has been slowly raised from the seabed, 50 meters (165-feet) down, over the past three days to allow the steel lifting straps, slings and harnesses to be secured under the keel. Eight steel lifting straps were used to put the hull upright and to form part of a steel wire lifting system that began raising the vessel out of the water Saturday. As the superyacht was raised, sea water was pumped out of the hull. Advertisement TMC Maritime said the vessel will be held upright, out of the water, for checks and preparations for its final journey. The floating crane platform will then move the Bayesian to Termini Imerese, where a special steel cradle is waiting for it. The Bayesian is missing its 72-meter (236-foot) mast, which was cut off and left on the seabed for future removal. The mast had to be detached to allow the hull to be brought to a nearly upright position that would allow the craft to be raised. British investigators said in an interim report issued last month that the yacht was knocked over by 'extreme wind' and couldn't recover. The report said the crew of the Bayesian had chosen the site where it sank as shelter from forecast thunderstorms. Wind speeds exceeded 70 knots (81 mph) at the time of the sinking and 'violently' knocked the vessel over to a 90-degree angle in under 15 seconds. Lynch, who sold Autonomy, a software maker he founded in 1996, to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion in 2011, had been acquitted on fraud charges in June 2024 by a federal court jury in San Francisco.

Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Hello nepo babies: Here are the richest celebrity kids
It used to be enough for a child to be adorable, maybe make a red carpet appearance or two, and then fade quietly into normal life. But in today's fame-fueled economy, being born to celebrity parents doesn't just open doors-it opens vaults. Today, kids with famous last names don't wait for trust are the fund. The concept of generational wealth isn't new, but the celebrity version of it has taken on a life of its own. Kids born into fame now drive search traffic, land sponsorships, and influence global markets without ever needing a LinkedIn profile. Related: Martha Stewart aesthetic sets the tone for summer For some, simply being born is enough to launch a billion-dollar narrative. It's no longer about what they'll do one day. It's about the economic value they bring the moment they enter the world. Royal titles, superstar parents, and massive social followings mean that their net worths can skyrocket before they even learn to write their names. So who's topping the toddler rich list in 2025? A new study takes a closer look at just how financially powerful these celebrity children have become. And the findings reveal a whole new side to modern fame. According to a recent report by baby brand Posh Peanut, Princess Charlotte tops the list of the richest celebrity children with a staggering estimated net worth of $5 billion. While she's still years away from earning her own income, the combination of royal lineage and worldwide fascination with the British monarchy gives her an unparalleled economic edge. Her older brother, Prince George, isn't far behind, with an estimated net worth of $3.8 billion. And though their wealth stems largely from projected influence and inherited power, celebrity kids in the entertainment world are catching up fast. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's son, Rza Athelston Mayers, is only three years old, yet already holds an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion. Blue Ivy Carter, the daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, follows with $755 million and nearly a million monthly Google searches. Related: Here's Kim Kardashian's key to business success Even Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's children, including North, Saint, and Chicago, each sit at an estimated $525 million. In total, the top 10 list includes names like Stormi Webster, Daisy Dove Bloom, Ella Clooney, and Shiloh Jolie (who leads in online popularity with 3.2 million monthly searches). These figures aren't based on earnings or assets in the traditional sense. The research used 2025 data to estimate net worth by analyzing the public profiles of celebrity children, including their parents' wealth, projected brand value, and popularity based on monthly Google search volume. The numbers may be speculative, but they reflect a very real cultural reality: being born famous now comes with serious financial weight. Beyond the jaw-dropping numbers, the study points to a deeper societal shift: kids aren't just growing up in the being defined by it. A spokesperson for Posh Peanut summed it up bluntly: "The astronomical valuations placed on celebrity children, particularly those connected to royal or entertainment dynasties, highlight how modern celebrity culture increasingly treats children as economic assets rather than private individuals." They added, "This phenomenon raises important questions about childhood privacy and the psychological impact of extreme public scrutiny." Psychologists have long warned that growing up in the public eye can distort a child's sense of identity. Constant media attention, fan commentary, and brand pressure can affect emotional development, self-esteem, and the ability to form healthy boundaries. Even when parents have good intentions, the spotlight doesn't dim. Every outfit becomes a style moment, every appearance a headline. And when childhood is treated as content, the line between fame and personhood gets dangerously blurred. It's a high-stakes balancing act. Parents, some deliberately, some inevitably, are navigating a fine line between legacy-building and exploitation. Meanwhile, brands and media continue to feed a cycle where fame begins at birth and marketability matters more than milestones. As influencer culture grows up, quite literally, the new power players of the next generation may not need to do anything to stay relevant. Their last name, their lineage, and their online presence are already doing the work. In a world where virality matters more than credentials, the next business moguls may be barely out of diapers. Related: Your next Lululemon top may be made from old clothes The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.

Business Insider
5 hours ago
- Business Insider
UK backs Nigerian trade goals with 99% duty-free export access
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed that 99% of goods exported from Nigeria will continue to enjoy duty-free access under its Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), a move seen as vital for Nigeria's non-oil export ambitions and bilateral trade growth. The UK confirmed 99% of Nigerian exports will remain duty-free under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). This scheme benefits Nigerian non-oil products, particularly in agriculture and raw materials, for UK's market access. Nigerian government aligns this opportunity with its Zero-Oil Plan to diversify economic exports and improve infrastructure. The confirmation was made during a courtesy visit by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, to Nigeria's Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole in Abuja. According to both parties, the DCTS remains a crucial pillar of trade relations between the two countries. The scheme, which came into force in June 2023, replaced the UK's Generalized System of Preferences. It aims to boost trade with 65 developing countries by simplifying trading rules and reducing import duties on a wide range of products. Under this arrangement, Nigerian exports especially agricultural products and raw materials will continue to access the UK market without tariffs, provided they meet the origin requirements and other scheme conditions. New trade deal supports Nigeria's efforts to grow non-oil exports Montgomery emphasized that the UK is committed to helping Nigeria fully benefit from the DCTS. He noted that while duty-free access is in place, more needs to be done to support Nigerian exporters in meeting UK market standards, including product quality, packaging, and regulatory compliance. He added that the British High Commission is actively engaging with Nigerian businesses and trade associations to create more awareness and provide technical assistance where needed. On her part, Minister Jumoke Oduwole described the UK's continued support as timely, particularly as Nigeria intensifies efforts to diversify its economy away from crude oil dependence. She reiterated that the DCTS aligns with Nigeria's national goals under the Zero-Oil Plan, which seeks to increase earnings from agriculture, manufacturing, and creative exports. She also revealed that the Federal Government is working closely with stakeholders to scale up export readiness across multiple sectors, including the removal of logistics barriers, improving port infrastructure, and ensuring that exporters are educated on documentation and compliance. With the UK standing as one of Nigeria's top trading partners, the decision to uphold duty-free treatment under the DCTS reinforces Britain's post-Brexit trade approach while providing Nigerian exporters with a stable and preferential gateway into a high-value international market.