Platform and SIPP firm AJ Bell has confirmed plans for a float on the London Stock Exchange next month with the company valued at up to £500m.

Major shareholders Invesco Perpetual and chief executive Andy Bell will have an opportunity to sell down their stakes in the business while broadening the firm’s shareholder base.

Invesco currently has a 44 per cent stake which it is expected to sell down to around 25 per cent.

Mr Bell holds 28 per cent of the business and is expected to retain around a quarter.

AJ Bell says the float would enhance its brand, extend its shareholder group, assist in recruitment and incentivisation and help with its growth strategy.

Police have ended their investigation into STM chief executive Alan Kentish, who was arrested in Gibraltar in October 2017, with no further action.

Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey has quit the Cabinet over Prime minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal.

XPS Pensions Group has welcomed a proposed consultation from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on DB pension scheme consolidation.

So it was with bated breath that Chancellor Philip Hammond stood to deliver his November Budget speech. Rumours has been swirling for weeks that pensions could be hit with changes to taxation. It was suggested that this would be to pay towards the NHS deficit among other things. It was with great relief that when he sat down and we reviewed the actual Budget papers that this was all just speculation and there was little impact. This can only be a good thing as any meddling impacts the distrust that consumers have for the pensions system and makes it difficult for advisers to plan for the long term with clients. How many times have we heard that PCLS or tax-free cash as it is more commonly known will be scrapped? Every Budget for as long as I can remember.