Lloyds Adopts PrimaryBid’s Fuse Platform to Boost Customer Access to UK Capital Markets

Lloyds Banking Group is the first bank in the UK to adopt the Fuse platform by PrimaryBid. The offering will expand customer access to transactions in the UK capital markets.

The partnership between Lloyds and PrimaryBid will foster more participation for the “customers of Halifax Share Dealing, Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland, and IWeb Share Dealing in IPOs and other UK public company capital raises (both equity and debt).”

Bringing Retail Customers to Capital Markets

Customers of this bank will be offered a co-branded introduction to primary markets. It will also provide access to more educational material, assisting them with their investment journey.

After customers have signed up for accounts, they can obtain instant notifications from PrimaryBid. It will also support financial transactions such as initial public offerings (IPOs), corporate bonds, and block sales. This offering will bring securities to Halifax, Lloyds, Bank of Scotland, and IWeb Share Dealing accounts.

The bank referred to the groundwork set by UK regulators. HM Treasury is promoting regulatory change to unblock individual investor access to fundraisings for public companies. At the same time, retail investors’ awareness of the investment remains low.

The stockbroking managing director at Lloyds, Manuel Pardavila-Gonzalez, commented on this development, saying the platform was exploring ways to assist customers in investing. One of these ways was using the technology offered by PrimaryBid to connect to customers seeking new ways of investing.

“We’re already seeing customers taking advantage of the new doors opened by this opportunity to access primary markets as part of their investment activity and expect a growing appetite for future activity,” Pardavila-Gonzalez said.

UK Regulators Have Set the Groundwork

The bank referred to the groundwork set by UK regulators. HM Treasury is promoting regulatory change to unblock individual investor access to fundraisings for public companies. At the same time, retail investors’ awareness of the investment remains low.

This partnership will also increase visibility to primary markets across the brands supported by the Lloyds Banking Group. However, this offering will initially launch with an educational-first approach where users will obtain insights.

Customers will also invest under similar terms and prices as institutional investors. They will not be subject to additional fees or stamp duty. This additional fee is not imposed on deals on primary markets. The partnership will also involve B2B partners to leverage the consumer product offered by PrimaryBid.