Finance
'Last chance saloon': UK finance minister expected to pledge pre-election tax cuts
British Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt said earlier this month the U.K. would not enter a recession this year.
Hannah Mckay | Reuters
LONDON â Economists expect U.K. Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt to use a small fiscal windfall to deliver a modest package of tax cuts at his Spring Budget on Wednesday.
Heading into what will likely be the Conservative government’s last fiscal event before the country’s upcoming General Election, Hunt is under pressure to offer a sweetener to voters as his party trails the main opposition Labour Party by more than 20 points across all national polls.
But he must also navigate the constraints of fragile public finances and a stagnant economy that recently entered a modest technical recession.
On the upside, inflation has fallen faster than anticipated and market expectations for interest rates are well below where they were going into Hunt’s Autumn Statement in November.
The Treasury pre-announced plans over the weekend to deliver up to £1.8 billion ($2.3 billion) worth of benefits by boosting public sector productivity, including releasing police time for more frontline work.
The Independent Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that returning to levels of pre-pandemic productivity could save the Treasury up to £20 billion per year.
Hunt will also announce £360 million in funding to boost research and development (R&D) and manufacturing projects across the life sciences, automotive and aerospace sectors, the Treasury said Monday.
However, the big questions over tax cuts remain heading into Wednesday’s statement.
Increased fiscal headroom
“On balance, we think Chancellor Hunt’s fiscal headroom will have likely increased â but only marginally, and nowhere close to what he had in the Autumn Statement (owing largely to the fall in expected debt costs),” Deutsche Bank Senior Economist Sanjay Raja said in a research note Thursday.
The German lender estimates that the government’s fiscal headroom will have grown from around £13 billion to around £18.5 billion, and that tax cuts are “very likely” the first port of call. Raja suggested the finance minister will err on the side of caution in loosening fiscal policy, favoring supply side support over boosting demand.
“Supply side measures are more likely in our view, particularly with the Bank of England more amenable to loosening monetary policy,” Raja said.
“Therefore, tax cuts to national insurance contributions (NICs) and changes to child benefits are more likely to come in the Spring Budget (in contrast to earlier expectations of income tax cuts).”
A substantial cut to National Insurance was the highlight of Hunt’s Autumn Statement, though economists were quick to point out that its benefit to payers would be more than erased by the effect of existing freezes on personal income tax thresholds â known as the “fiscal drag.”
The U.K. National Insurance is a tax on workers’ income and employers’ profits to pay for state social security benefits, including the state pension.
Raja also suggested an extension of the government’s existing freeze on fuel duty remains a possibility, and that some spending cuts will likely be used to partially offset a loosening of fiscal policy.
In total, Deutsche Bank expects Hunt to deliver net loosening of £15 billion over the coming fiscal year, dropping to around £12.5 billion in the medium-term.
“The outlook for the public finances remains precarious. Slight changes to the macroeconomic outlook could result in big shifts to the public finances. The Chancellor continues to walk a fine line between managing his fiscal rules now and rising austerity later,” Raja said.
“To be sure, big questions on the public finances remain â including whether spending cuts, or limited rises in some areas, remain realistic to tackle the rising strain in public services, and the Government’s own ambitions around net-zero, defence, and overseas development spending.”
BNP Paribas economists expect a more modest package of tax cuts worth around £10 billion across the 2024/25 fiscal year, and projected that the government will start the year with a fiscal windfall of around £11 billion.
The French bank agreed that the reductions will be aimed at stimulating labor supply, with “little impact on inflation and thus the Bank of England.”
“Our base case is that the government will spend GBP10bn of the near-term fiscal windfall and use the additional medium-term fiscal space to cut personal taxes,” economists Matthew Swannell and Dani Stoilova said in a research note entitled “last-chance saloon.”
They also expect the Treasury to postpone the March 2024 rise in fuel duty for another 12 months, at a cost of £3.7 billion a year, and to introduce a permanent 1 pence reduction in the basic rate of income tax at a cost of between £6 billion and £7.35 billion per year.
“The overall effect of this policy package would be to leave medium-term fiscal headroom roughly back where it started at GBP12.7bn,” they added.
“With the Conservative party trailing in the opinion polls and the Budget possibly the last opportunity to loosen fiscal policy before a general election, we expect Chancellor Hunt to once again, at least, spend any additional fiscal space available to him.”
Finance
Vero and Soda Capital Partner to Drive Innovation in Floorplan Finance
Written by
Vero Finance Technologies
Vero expands internationally with its first Australian client, bringing next-generation systems to support the expansion of Soda Capital’s wholesale financing platform.
NEW YORK, NY AND BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESS Newswire / November 12, 2025 / Vero, a leading provider of technology systems for the asset finance industry, is excited to announce its strategic partnership with Soda Capital, Australia and New Zealand’s fastest-growing non-bank lender specializing in floorplan and distribution finance. This marks Vero’s first international expansion, as the company continues to pursue opportunities across EMEA and Asia-Pacific to transform asset finance through automation and technology.
The system went live at the beginning of the month after a comprehensive migration and delivery process supported by both teams.
Driving Smarter, More Efficient Floorplan Finance
Soda Capital has built a strong reputation for providing fast, flexible, and transparent financing solutions for manufacturers, distributors, and dealer networks. As it scales, the company is investing in best-in-class technology to optimize its lending operations. By integrating Vero’s innovative platform, Soda Capital will:
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Automate key workflows in loan origination, servicing, and portfolio management.
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Enhance risk monitoring with real-time data insights and asset-level tracking.
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Accelerate decision-making to streamline dealer funding and improve operational efficiency.
Empowering Growth Through Embedded Finance
Floorplan financing is evolving rapidly, requiring data-driven decision-making and seamless integration into the broader ecosystem of manufacturers, suppliers, and dealers. Through this partnership, Vero’s end-to-end lending platform will enable Soda Capital to:
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Provide more self-service tools for their dealer clients, ensuring real-time visibility into asset performance.
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Optimize credit risk management, proactively identifying potential exposures and reducing inefficiencies.
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Introduce more dynamic program structures, ensuring they can meet the ever-evolving needs of their vendor and dealer partners.
A Shared Vision for the Future of Asset Finance
Both Vero and Soda Capital are technology-first, agile, and forward-thinking organizations that are reshaping the landscape of wholesale financing. With this partnership, Vero will continue to serve as an extension of Soda Capital’s IT team, ensuring continuous innovation, automation, and operational enhancements as its platform scales.
“Expanding globally has always been part of our vision, and Soda Capital represents the perfect partner for us to enter APAC market. Their commitment to leveraging technology as a differentiator aligns seamlessly with Vero’s mission to modernize floorplan lending, and we’re thrilled to support their next phase of growth.”
– John Mizzi, CEO, Vero
“Our business is built on speed, transparency, and technology, and Vero’s platform allows us to take that to the next level. With Vero’s expertise in purpose-built solutions for our industry, with a focus on automation and the user experience, we’re confident that we can scale more efficiently while continuing to provide best-in-class financing solutions to our partners and clients.”
– Jordan Edwards, CEO, Soda Capital
About Vero
Vero provides an end-to-end SaaS and servicing platform designed to streamline wholesale, supply chain, rental and fleet financing. The modular platform supports every function across a lenders organization with process automation, analytics, and workflow management systems. Vero enables lenders to grow efficiently, reduce manual work, and enhance borrower experiences.
For more information, visit www.vero-technologies.com.
About Soda Capital
Soda Capital is a non-bank lender specializing in floorplan and distribution finance for manufacturers, distributors, and dealer networks. By offering fast, flexible, and innovative financing solutions, Soda Capital empowers businesses to scale efficiently and access the capital they need to succeed.
For more information, visit www.sodacapital.com.
Contact: Jason Bartz, info@vero-technologies.com, 404-383-7048
SOURCE: Vero Finance Technologies
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
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Finance
Ivanhoe Electric receives $200m in financing for Santa Cruz copper project
Ivanhoe Electric has received credit approval for a $200m senior secured multi-draw bridge facility, marking a key step in financing the Santa Cruz copper project in Arizona, US.
The facility, approved for Ivanhoe Electric subsidiary Mesa Cobre Holding, will provide enhanced liquidity to support early construction activities and working capital requirements at the Santa Cruz copper project.
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The banking syndicate consists of National Bank Capital Markets, Société Générale and BMO Capital Markets, serving as joint lead arrangers.
The bridge facility forms a key part of Ivanhoe Electric’s comprehensive project financing strategy, which also includes potential project-level minority investment and long-term project debt.
The bridge facility is expected to close in December 2025, pending the completion of definitive legal documentation and other customary conditions.
Ivanhoe Electric is in advanced negotiations with potential minority interest partners and project debt providers including the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM) and commercial banks.
The company aims to maintain progress on its indicative timeline for the Santa Cruz copper project, targeting initial copper cathode production in late 2028.
Ivanhoe Electric executive chairman Robert Friedland said: “As we advance toward breaking ground in 2026, Santa Cruz is steadily marching on the path to becoming one of the first new copper mines built in the US in almost two decades. Our mining process is designed to produce 99.99% pure copper metal on the Santa Cruz site, without the need for a smelter, thanks to the very high grade nature of our oxide copper reserves.
“Santa Cruz is the first step in our vision to grow a new American-based and American-focused critical metals company. Today’s credit approvals, coming from this group of top-tier mining financiers, are a clear vote of confidence in the project, our people and this vision.”
Since completing the Santa Cruz copper project preliminary feasibility study in June 2025, Ivanhoe Electric has been in detailed discussions regarding long-term project financing.
Financing options under consideration include project-level minority investments by strategic and financial investors, project debt and other potential sources.
In April 2025, Ivanhoe Electric received a letter of interest from EXIM for $825m in project debt.
The full application for funding from EXIM is under way, and Ivanhoe Electric aims to complete the project financing in the first half of 2026.
Ivanhoe Electric is a US-domiciled minerals exploration company focused on developing mines from mineral deposits primarily located in the US.
Finance
Hernandez Gains Real-World Finance Experience Through Internship at ACC Capital
Angela Hernandez, a senior finance major from Little Rock, is building a strong foundation for her future career in finance through an internship at ACC Capital, a Community Development Financial Institution that supports Arkansas business owners by providing access to capital and technical assistance.
Hernandez began her internship in July and will continue through December. She said the experience has given her valuable exposure to the lending industry and deepened her understanding of entrepreneurship and community development.
“Through this internship, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with several departments, including community development, lending, and marketing,” she said. “I’ve participated in a variety of projects that have given me insight into the full process of loan application and approval. It’s allowed me to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting and see how financial institutions serve underserved communities.”
Hernandez, who will graduate in May 2026, plans to pursue a career in investment banking while also exploring real estate investment. She said her time at ACC Capital has helped her refine critical skills that will support her career ambitions.
“This internship has given me a true glimpse into what my future could look like on a day-to-day basis,” she said. “Balancing school, work, and this internship has strengthened my time management skills. I’ve also learned to approach challenges more strategically and with a broader perspective. These experiences have given me a stronger sense of professionalism and purpose in pursuing a career in finance.”
One event that left a lasting impression on Hernandez was Credit to Capital, a financial literacy event hosted by ACC Capital.
“After the event, an older woman approached Adriana Fuentes, the vice president of community development, in tears thanking her for the opportunity,” Hernandez said. “She said the event gave her a renewed sense of hope and a better understanding of how to improve her credit and finances. It made me realize how many people still lack access to essential resources like financial literacy. It reinforced my desire to work in a field where I can help others gain the tools they need to succeed financially.”
For Hernandez, the internship has also offered lessons she couldn’t have learned in a classroom.
“While textbooks and lectures provide foundational knowledge, working in a real-world environment has shown me how to apply that knowledge in practical, meaningful ways,” she said. “I’ve experienced what it’s like to work a 9-to-5 schedule, attend diverse meetings, and contribute to projects that have a real impact. It’s taught me how to navigate a professional setting, communicate effectively with different departments, and think critically beyond the academic setting.”
Beyond her coursework and internship, Hernandez is also actively involved on campus. She is a founding member of the UA Little Rock Colony of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc., where she serves as treasurer and academic chairwoman, and she recently joined the Finance Club to expand her knowledge and network within the industry.
Hernandez said her experiences at UA Little Rock and ACC Capital have given her confidence in her ability to succeed after graduation.
“I feel like this internship brought everything I’ve learned in the classroom to life,” she said. “It has prepared me for my future career in ways that go beyond academics. It’s been a unique opportunity that I’ll carry with me as I take the next steps in finance.”
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