July 2022 ~ Money is the way

Thursday, 28 July 2022

I'll do it Monday

All right?

'What are you going to do Monday, boss?'

The Lucky PR email.

'Oh. / It must be worth waiting for, then.'

Er ... not really.

It's just the summer, man.

Everyone's on holiday.

I haven't heard from Detlef and the gang.

The sun is shining - a bit.

No one's got any enthusiasm for finance.

'What about Aviva Investors, boss?'

Ha! Who knows?!

I mean, every day is a holiday for them. Summer. Autumn. Winter. Spring. They don't care. Life of Riley.

'But what about Schroders? They love finance!'

Voice, you're always going to get mugs in this life. Forget about Schroders.

Anyway ...

Let's talk about something exciting.

I did my dumbbells to failure this morning. Now I'm really knackered. But I've had the protein drink. And I've had a cheese sandwich. Later on, I'll be having pasta and a baton. We're talking ninety grams of protein, man! 'Nice one!'

Yeah, yeah.

No one said it would be easy becoming a superstar. But I'm doing the work. I won't give up!

Music? I made a rough recording of The Future this morning. Bear in mind, kooks ... these "rough" recordings of mine are far superior to the 2016 demo. I just don't bother to set everything up in the right positions, and don't bother about outside noises, that's all.

So ... I can listen to my BIG THREE now -

Mighty Soul

Shady, Dodgy, Shifty

The Future

They keep me motivated. Sort of.

'What about And Rain Came Down ... ???'

I haven't finished it yet.

'But you only need a few words!'

That's right. I'm waiting for the right moment.

'When will that be?'

When the moment is right.

'Oh.'

Anyway ....

There's some confusion about the weather in Newquay. Different weather people can't make up their minds if it's going to be sunny or rainy next week.

'Why don't you bribe them? The rainy people, I mean.'

What?!

'Slip someone fifty quid to put a few sun symbols on the weather report.'

Yeah, that might work.

Good idea, Voice!

Well ...

I suppose I'll see you all again next week, kooks ...

'Bye!'

Laters.

Music update -

I've found a way to make Life and Death work with a much simpler lyric. So, when it's finished, and when And Rain Came Down is finished ...

This will be the BIG TEN -

Mighty Soul

Shady, Dodgy, Shifty

The Future

Life and Death

Nothing

This World Don't Mean a Thing

And Rain Came Down

Malibu

Stella

What's This Life We Live?

In my mind, that list will be just as strong as this one -

A Day In The Life

Let It Be

Hey Jude

Yesterday

Strawberry Fields Forever

I Am The Walrus

The Long and Winding Road

Eleanor Rigby

Something

Penny Lane

Laters.

Another update: Er ... I'm taking next week off, kooks. So see you the week after. Bye.

Wednesday, 27 July 2022

I had a look, but ...

Well ...

You know how it is, kooks. Don't you, eh?

'What did you have a look at, boss?'

A Lucky PR email. 'Oh no!' He's all right. I don't mind him so much now. BUT(!) ... I'm not in the mood for his nonsense this morning.

So ... maybe tonight, or tomorrow, or ... tomorrow.

You dig?

Where the hell is Detlef?!

'Ha! Probably on holiday.'

Well, lucky Detlef! 'Lucky Detlef?!' Is there an echo in here? 'Where?' Here.

I said Detlef is lucky if he's on holiday. 'Oh, I get you.' Yes.

That's where I should be.

'On holiday with Detlef?!'

No! In Cornwall!

'Okay. I get you.'

Stop saying that, idiot!

Anyway ...

I was rehearsing my songs last night and played a really brilliant version of Nothing - even though I didn't record it.

Obviously, it's better to record yourself, and then play it back, but ... I could just tell, man.

No mistakes on the guitar. Really smooth playing. My voice was in great condition. Even a bit soulful. 'Ha! Thanks, boss.'

Shut up, Voice.

And I started thinking ...

"Couldn't I have done this when I was twenty? With such songs as well."

'Er ...'

That was me thinking.

'Oh, right. Of course. / And what was the answer?'

The answer was ... NO!!!

'So ... what's the moral of the story?'

The moral of the story, Voice, kooks - if there is a bloody story, like - is ... anyone's guess.

No, the moral of the story is ...

'Come on!'

Give me a moment, FFS!

'Think!'

The moral of the story is ... there is a right time for EVERYTHING.

'Nice one!'

Uh.

I'm exhausted now.

Uh.

Anything else? A new discovery??? - by me, anyway. Er ... there's a pretty good songwriter called ... Diane Warren. 'WHO?!' Exactly! But don't worry about that.

She's very, very, very commercial. Which isn't a criticism. I'm just saying. She writes the words and the music.

Her greatest song seems to be I Don't Want To Miss a Thing - recorded by Aerosmith. I didn't pay much attention to this song until recently, but it's a classic rock ballad ... maybe even a "world-beater" - though I don't use that term any more. 'You just did!' Yeah, yeah.

Okay, okay.

That's enough, ain't it?

Voice?

'Bye, kooks!'

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

[No. 1,020] It's good to be home

This is home.

And ... nice?[1], and here I am again![1], and ... nice?[2], and ... 'Yippee!'[1], and here I am again![2], and away from the insanity of the world ... with my own special insanity ... ah, it's so nice, yes![1], and ... 'Yippee!'[2], and I can spin, oh yes! ... who will stop me???[1], and away from the insanity of the world ... with my own special insanity ... ah, it's so nice, yes![2], and ... 'No one, Mikey!'[1], and I can spin, oh yes! ... who will stop me???[2], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... / ... and it's like I was never away[1], and ... 'No one, Mikey!'[2], and this is so ooo addictive![1], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... / ... and it's like I was never away[2], and you, you, you ... can spin if you want to[1], and this is so ooo addictive![2], and, oh, who loves the dizzy life??? ... ... ... Me - !!![1], and you, you, you ... can spin if you want to[2], and ... 'And me!'[1], and, oh, who loves the dizzy life??? ... ... ... Me - !!![2], and ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... "And me!"[1], and ... 'And me!'[2], and ... Who's that?![1], and ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... "And me!"[2], and ... 'Strange!'[1], and ... Who's that?![2], and I hope that voice is a cool voice ... you dig? ... I mean ...[1], and ... 'Strange!'[2], and just from nowhere like that ...[1], and I hope that voice is a cool voice ... you dig? ... I mean ...[2], and I mean ... you know?[1], and just from nowhere like that ...[2], and never, never, never ... mind ... and, listen ... all voices are welcome ... if they obey the rules[1], and I mean ... you know?[2], and ... 'Ha, ha, ha!'[1], and never, never, never ... mind ... and, listen ... all voices are welcome ... if they obey the rules[2], and there's only one rule, man ... GET DIZZY AS FUCK! ... Come on - !!![1], and ... 'Ha, ha, ha!'[2], and ... 'Come on!'[1], and there's only one rule, man ... GET DIZZY AS FUCK! ... Come on - !!![2], and, listen, square(s) ...[1], and ... 'Come on!'[2], and ... 'Ah, Christ ... are they reading, really?'[1], and, listen, square(s) ...[2], and no square voices, please - !!![1], and ... 'Ah, Christ ... are they reading, really?'[2], and if you've got a rainbow you're selling, or ... if you've got a rose garden ... I ain't interested[1], and no square voices, please - !!![2], and this is all I need![1], and if you've got a rainbow you're selling, or ... if you've got a rose garden ... I ain't interested[2], and, do ... you ... understand?[1], and this is all I need![2], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... / ... and don't bother me with any nonsense[1], and, do ... you ... understand?[2], and, uh ... kook(s)???[1], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... / ... and don't bother me with any nonsense[2], and I see you ...[1], and, uh ... kook(s)???[2], and, hello, hello, hello ... you, you, you???[1], and I see you ...[2], and I made conceptual literature for every kook to enjoy ... I'm not selfish[1], and, hello, hello, hello ... you, you, you???[2], and ... 'We love the kooks!'[1], and I made conceptual literature for every kook to enjoy ... I'm not selfish[2], and, we, we, we ... ARE THE KOOKS - !!![1], and ... 'We love the kooks!'[2], and ... 'Yes!'[1], and, we, we, we ... ARE THE KOOKS - !!![2], and ask yourself, my friend ... "Am I really a kook?"[1], and ... 'Yes!'[2], and ... 'That voice is back!'[1], and ask yourself, my friend ... "Am I really a kook?"[2], and, Voice ... that was me, silly ... just asking the question[1], and ... 'That voice is back!'[2], and ... 'What a relief!'[1], and, Voice ... that was me, silly ... just asking the question[2], and such a silly voice ... EVERYTHING IS FINE - !!![1], and ... 'What a relief!'[2], and, come on[1], and such a silly voice ... EVERYTHING IS FINE - !!![2], and ... nice?[3], and, come on[2], and here I am again![3], and ... 'Yippee!'[3], and away from the insanity of the world ... with my own special insanity ... ah, it's so nice, yes![3], and I can spin, oh yes! ... who will stop me???[3], and ... 'No one, Mikey!'[3], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... / ... and it's like I was never away[3], and this is so ooo addictive![3], and you, you, you ... can spin if you want to[3], and, oh, who loves the dizzy life??? ... ... ... Me - !!![3], and ... 'And me!'[3], and ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... "And me!"[3], and ... Who's that?![3], and ... 'Strange!'[3], and I hope that voice is a cool voice ... you dig? ... I mean ...[3], and just from nowhere like that ...[3], and I mean ... you know?[3], and never, never, never ... mind ... and, listen ... all voices are welcome ... if they obey the rules[3], and ... 'Ha, ha, ha!'[3], and there's only one rule, man ... GET DIZZY AS FUCK! ... Come on - !!![3], and ... 'Come on!'[3], and, listen, square(s) ...[3], and ... 'Ah, Christ ... are they reading, really?'[3], and no square voices, please - !!![3], and if you've got a rainbow you're selling, or ... if you've got a rose garden ... I ain't interested[3], and this is all I need![3], and, do ... you ... understand?[3], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... / ... and don't bother me with any nonsense[3], and, uh ... kook(s)???[3], and I see you ...[3], and, hello, hello, hello ... you, you, you???[3], and I made conceptual literature for every kook to enjoy ... I'm not selfish[3], and ... 'We love the kooks!'[3], and, we, we, we ... ARE THE KOOKS - !!![3], and ... 'Yes!'[3], and ask yourself, my friend ... "Am I really a kook?"[3], and ... 'That voice is back!'[3], and, Voice ... that was me, silly ... just asking the question[3], and ... 'What a relief!'[3], and such a silly voice ... EVERYTHING IS FINE - !!![3], and, come on[3], and

LSE backs new review into UK fintech industry amidst sharp funding decline

But ... WHY?!

'There's a sharp funding decline, boss.'

Yeah, yeah.

*Interview Opportunity Available*

Er ... I don't want to be interviewed, thank you very much.

'You're a man of mystery.'

Fuckin A I am!

Anyway ...

Hi Michael,

Hello!

I hope you're well and find the following of interest.

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is backing a new review into the rise and fall in funding and valuations in the fintech industry over the last few years. This comes after record investment in 2021 was followed by a sharp decline in fintech backing this year, as worldwide inflation and a looming economic recession have resulted in a reduction of IPOs and a stock market rout, making it harder for firms across the UK to raise funds. In turn, this is heavily affecting companies across Britain, with new research from leading investment banking platform, JPIN, also highlighting that 26% of workers feel the lack of tech talent is holding back business growth. Whilst the "ground-breaking" review aims to address the issues permeating the fintech industry, Nayan Gala, industry expert and founder of JPIN, explains that firms must - and are already beginning to - look beyond the borders Britain.

Oh.

Some of the world's most influential emerging markets could be key in providing pockets of capital to ultimately help and transform the UK's flailing fintech sector in a post-Brexit world. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's 2022 World Investment Report has revealed that flows of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to developing economies rose by 30% - the highest level ever recorded - largely due to contributions from Asia. The fintech sector in these developing economies is likely to have seen a transformation due to this boost in global investment. For instance, Nigeria's fintech sector has experienced rapid transformation in the last decade after attracting pools of funding from the US and Asia. This resulted in the country experiencing a record year in 2021 with a total of over $1.6bn invested in the country - a third of which came from US-based VC firms. Thriving private wealth vehicles of countries further afield are -

Okay, okay. That's enough.

'I was getting interested in that!'

Yeah, well, we're going to Nayan now ...

Nayan Gala, founder of JPIN, explains why Britain's fintech sector should embrace international funding opportunities:

"Looking further afield for funding opportunities is becoming increasingly important, especially given what the global market has been through over the last two years. Trends of international investment are already here and prove vital in providing opportunities to scale up. Pret A Manger's expansion to India is a great example of this, and I expect to see many companies in the fintech sector also looking to both expand and source investment from Asian countries in the next few years."

Okay.

"With The Thing and general economic uncertainty having created a unique and arguably challenging landscape Britain's fintech sector, India presents itself as a key driver in providing a sufficient means of capital for firms looking for opportunities to scale up."

Eh?! Arguably challenging landscape Britain's fintech sector?

"India's record-breaking quarter for M&A activity clearly illustrates the country's wealth in investment opportunities. As one of the leading hubs of IT and technology, I expect to see an increasing number of startups turning East in search of funding opportunities that can assist with their scale-up efforts in such a bleak socio-economic landscape."

Right. Thanks, man.

Well, that wasn't too painful.

ENDS

'No!'

What, Voice?

'Let me interview you, boss - for your fans, like.'

Ha!

Forget about it!

ENDS

Monday, 25 July 2022

This isn't No. 1,020

'What, boss?!'

It's not a conceptual, Voice. I'm just not in the mood today. 'Oh.' I'm only doing one this week, and I'll do it tomorrow.

So ... I'm just going to write a BIG POST of blah blah blah ... whatever enters my mind, you dig?

'Nice one!'

Well ... maybe, maybe not. It might be a bit rough, like. A bit chaotic. 'So what?! Let your hair down.'

Yeah, yeah.

I'm aching from the dumbbells this morning. 'You shouldn't drop them on your head.'

Anyway, that was a brilliant video, wasn't it? 'What video?' Oh, you didn't see it??? 'No. What video?' The temporary post I did yesterday. From CJ Explores on YouTube. 'Oh.' Yeah, she was exploring the beaches of Newquay with Cory. 'Right.' The production quality is amazing. It's only two people with a small YouTube channel. No wonder TV is dying.

Actually, I watch way more YouTube these days than TV ... which is actually a bad thing because I should be doing my music instead. Never mind.

I'm still trying to discipline myself to work like a maniac Mondays to Fridays like our Xavier. With no distractions! I'll manage it one day. Uh.

There's too much entertainment in the world. That's the problem. I mean, there's more entertainment than there are people to be entertained.

That's why I'm focusing on my BIG TEN of songs so hard ... rather than writing hundreds of songs.

I've got the collected works of Lord Byron somewhere. Hundreds of pages! But I only want to read the twelve lines of So, We'll Go No More A-Roving.

Byron will be remembered for his personality, his image, and those twelve lines.

'Byron will be remembered for his personality, his image, and those twelve lines.'

'Byron will be remembered for his -'

What are you trying to do, Voice?

'Get a-ROUND, Mikey.'

Not today, idiot. I'm not in the mood.

Anyway ...

Life and Death is going to be impossible. Just a feeling, you dig? And I'm not calling the song that.

Even if I do write it, man ... it won't be as popular as Good Times. I like playing that song. It's fun.

Dear reader(s), let's have some fun in our lives. We don't want to be miserable all the time, do we?

'Lively up yourselves!!!'

Exactly! Er ... was that you, Voice?

'Of course it was. Who did you think it was?'

Ha! Never mind.

Oh, maybe I should have done a conceptual ...

'I told you!'

Yeah, yeah ... I feel strange. Monday afternoon. I'm not dizzy. Do you know what I mean?

Never ever ... mind.

'Are you going to Cornwall?'

Not yet.

'When?'

I don't know.

How many times have I read The Waste Land ... ??? A lot! / I remember reading that James Joyce was pissed off with it. I mean, he felt that Eliot was influenced by his Ulysses, but he knew hardly anyone would read his book. 'How many times have you read Ulysses ... ?' Once.

And there's The Hollow Men, of course.

You can't go wrong with two poems like that. Just don't write a load of crap like Four Quartets. That's the moral of the story.

'What story?!'

Shut up, Voice. I'm not in the mood.

I think - as an artist - you've got to imagine what the future will be like.

Just saying.

Never mind.

I should have done a conceptual.

'I told you!'

This feels weird. I feel lost.

'Well ...'

I feel safe when I'm dizzy. I like the wind in my hair. I like being out of it. I like being GONE.

I am not of your world, dear reader(s). Don't you understand?!

Listen ...

My theory is - off at a tangent, like, again, ha! - that John Lennon took five years off in the Seventies because he was bored with his solo career and regretted breaking The Beatles up. / I haven't read that anywhere. It's just my theory. But it's a bloody good one.

Everybody gangsta until they stop being the biggest entertainment act in the world. Do you know what I mean?

It was a mistake.

Anyway ...

I want to go to Cornwall.

I want to stare at the sea.

'But -'

Oh, I don't want to surf.

'No.'

Mikey don't surf - !!!

'What does Mikey do?'

Mikey eats pasties. Mikey drinks lager. Seagull eats Mikey's ice cream. It's traditional. You dig?

It's the way things have always been done in my life.

Kooks, watch that CJ Explores video on the beaches of Newquay. It was only uploaded yesterday.

I need to go.

Soon.

And when I get back ...

'You'll want to go again.'

Yes.

But maybe ...

'HE'S NOT COMING BACK - !!!'

Ha, ha, ha! That's what you could tell them, Voice! Mikey's not coming back! He's GONE forever!

Listen ...

I'm serious now ...

There needs to be a film made about the Owlman. And I'm not talking about some small bullshit cult movie. Hollywood needs to get involved with a budget of two or three hundred million dollars.

His story should be told. It would be amazing.

I would love that!

'Maybe you could represent him, boss. And sell the rights for him. Take a cut, like.'

Yeah. Maybe.

He definitely needs more exposure. I mean, he's a fucking legend in my mind.

So ...

Music? My music? This ain't a music blog.

I'll tell you though ... if you delay for years and years, you can become a different sort of artist.

However, you can get it wrong.

There's a natural time to reveal yourself, I reckon. (The Stone Roses got it just right. But maybe the Owlman's moment has passed???)

I need my BIG TEN of songs. I'm just a few words away from it - with And Rain Came Down. Just words, man. Not even whole sentences. That's how close I am.

I have no great enthusiasm for writing "supporting" songs. My guess is ... I'll be forced to write them once I get a deal.

So be it.

Maybe it will be for the best.

Er ... and ...

Who actually knows best?

Me?

The music business?

Or ...

The cosmos?

'The cosmos, boss!'

Yes, Voice. I have to go with the cosmos, too. Consider the dream that gave me the verse melody for The Future. 'That was freakin' nuts!'

THAT ... was the cosmos, my friends.

'Yes!'

It moves in mysterious ways.

Everybody gangsta until the cosmos shows up.

Laters[1],

Laters[2],

Laters[3],

Let me ENDS it here.

Vauban Infrastructure Partners expands its team to support its growth ambitions

Christ!

'Why do they have growth ambitions, boss?!'

I don't know, Voice. I'll never understand these people. I mean, it's the middle of bloody summer! Do you think Aviva Investors have, uh ... growth ambitions? 'Ha!'

More lager! More ice cream!

That's all Aviva Investors are thinking about.

Anyway ...

Good morning,

Yeah. This is Monday morning, by the way, dear reader(s). Monday morning at the end of July. I'm sure there are better things I could be doing.

Never mind.

Please find attached a press release regarding the appointment of nine experts, over the last months, in the Vauban IP teams in order to bolster the team and support the company's growing operations. These professionals reinforce Vauban's set up in Paris, Luxembourg, Munich, and New York.

Oh, my God! They're experts, and professionals! 'This must be a joke.' I'm afraid Estelle is serious, man.

Wishing you a pleasant reception.

We remain at your disposal for any further information or exchanges with the Vauban teams.

Best,

Estelle

Jesus H. - !!!

'I suppose we've got Lucky to deal with now ... ???'

Yeah. A pleasant reception, apparently.

My life.

Come on, Lucky!

Press Release Paris July 19th 2022 Vauban Infrastructure Partners expands its team to support its growth ambitions Vauban Infrastructure Partners "Vauban"!!! continues to build strong momentum and is pleased to announce that it has hired nine experts to bolster its team and support the companys growing operations these professionals reinforce Vaubans set up in Paris Luxembourg Munich and New York Vauban recently welcomed Jaime O Donnell as an Investor Relations Vice President she will help address the demands of Vaubans diversified investor base of over 100 institutional investors from 17 countries and enhance Vaubans fundraising efforts in Europe Asia and North America Vauban is pleased to have added three investment professionals to its offices in Paris and Munich Soledad de la Cruz will be joining Vauban as a Senior Investment Manager in Paris in addition the appointment of Marie Durand as an Investment Manager in Paris strengthens the team dedicated to Vauban Infra Fibre Frances largest independent national digital infrastructure platform Vauban has also welcomed Massimiliano Rudifiera as an Investment Manager on Vaubans Munich Team which is already comprised of Christoph Stagl a vice President at Vauban Overseas Léonie Maruani joins a new U S team as Senior Director to support Vaubans development efforts in North America alongside Olivier Ta additionally Vauban is reinforced with the appointment of Ayoub Mouhieddine as head of it Ayoub will enhance data management and internalize key IT functions to increase the security and robustness of Vaubans operations the Middle Office team has been strengthened with the arrival of two experts Astrid Hopmann as Middle Officer in Paris and Antoine Cogent as Accounting Manager in Luxembourg Aya Koffi has also joined Vauban as an office Manager to support the growing needs of Vaubans headquarters in Paris based in Paris Luxembourg Munich and New York Vaubans team now totals 65 employees managing € 8 bn of assets under management invested in a diversified portfolio of assets across Europe and North America biographies Jaime O Donnell has joined Vauban as a Vice President on the Investor Relations team prior to joining Vauban Jaime worked in Investor Relations for New York based VC firm Upper90 where she was in charge of fundraising efforts relationship management and brand awareness she also spent 5 years at Goldman Sachs on the Core Franchise Equity Sales & Cross Asset Sales Desks in Dallas & New York City respectively Jaime received a BBA in Finance and BA in French from Southern Methodist University in 2016 Soledad de la Cruz is a Senior Investment Manager at Vauban IP she will support the management of Vaubans Spanish portfolio and will also be involved in the origination and execution of projects Soledad has a wealth of experience in Project Finance in the Infrastructure world especially in transportation social health and digital infrastructure prior to Vauban Infrastructure Partners sole dad worked on the Lender side in London where she executed new transactions as well as managed a portfolio prior to that she was part of the asset management team of Meridiam and Vinci Concession in the UK Marie Durand joined Vauban in 2022 as an Investment Manager after almost 5 years of experience in Project Finance prior to joining Vauban Marie spent 6 years with Credit Agricole CIB en Commandite par Actions Internal Natixis a year in corporate & acquisition finance and then joining the Infrastructure team for nearly 5 years she has been involved in various sectors across the EMEA region including Rail Airports Roads PPP Social Infrastructures and Energy from waste she has worked on acquisitions and greenfield & brownfield projects both on the financing and advisory sides Marie holds a Masters degree in Finance and a MSc Market Finance & Investment Banking from Paris Dauphine Massimiliano Rudiferia is an Investment Manager at Vauban and is involved in the execution and asset management of infrastructure assets prior to joining Vauban Massimiliano

Lucky?

'He's finished, boss.'

Was an analyst at Société Générale where he gained experience in transport logistics and automotive projects he also worked at Liberta Partners Private Equity where he worked on three deals in the automotive healthcare and telecommunications segments Massimiliano holds a bachelor degree from Bocconi University in Milan and a Master from IE Business School in Madrid Léonie Maruani has joined Vauban as Senior Director focused on the firms expansion into North America bringing 20 + years of experience across Europe and the Americas previously she served as a Senior Advisor at the Rockefeller Foundation on the Innovation and Global Policy & Advocacy teams prior to that she was the Managing Partner at New York based Latitude Advisory a firm she co founded to provide infrastructure and energy advisory to public and private sector clients as well as consulting on negotiation leadership and innovation Léonie spent 15 + years in Project Finance lending and financial advisory at Natixis and Scotiabank where she successfully originated structured and executed complex transactions and innovative finance solutions for infrastructure assets in Europe the U S and Latin America she also co headed and built the higher education and healthcare team at CIFG a triple a rated bond insurer in the U S Public Finance capital markets Léonie holds a Masters in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School studied at the Stanford GSB and is a graduate of the Business School ESCP Europe she also holds a Masters in History from Université Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne Ayoub Mouhieddine joined Vauban in 2022 as the new head of it CTO prior to joining Vauban Ayoub spent 10 years in the it field for the finance and banking industries Head of the Rapid Application Development Team it quant!!! financial engineer he developed a sound knowledge of the business and clients needs he will help Vauban to implement the highest security compliance and data availability standards thanks to his prior experiences and a permanent technological watch Ayoub is a graduate from ISAE SUPAERO!!! and speaks French English and Arabic Astrid Hopmann has joined Vauban as a middle officer in June 2022 prior to joining Vauban Astrid was a Manager in Audit at PwC Luxembourg where she worked for 4 5 years and specialized in managing audits of Infrastructure and Real Estate funds Astrid graduated from Skema Business School in 2018 with an MSC in Corporate Financial Management Astrid is fluent in French English and possess knowledge of Mandarin German she has lived abroad for 17 years Taipei Johannesburg Hong Kong and Shanghai Antoine Cogent joined Vauban Infrastructure Luxembourg in 2022 as an Accounting Manager Antoine has more than 8 years of experience in Luxembourg mainly in Debt and Private Equity fund administration with various service providers prior to Vauban Infrastructure Luxembourg he worked at BNP Paribas Securities Services in the Private Capital team for over 2 years Antoine also spent 4 years with Alter Domus a leading fund services provider Aya Koffi joined Vauban in February 2022 as an Office Manager she has 9 years of experience in this field in various environments prior to joining Vauban Aya worked in London for 2 years as a bilingual French English administrative assistant for the Quebec Government office she also worked in a law firm environment as an executive assistant for 6 years these previous experiences have prepared Aya to handle confidential information and have also sharpened her interpersonal and communication skills to evolve in a dynamic environment Aya brings her expertise to provide valuable support to an organization by performing various administrative tasks thus contributing to its efficiency about Vauban Infrastructure Partners Internal Natixis Vauban Infrastructure Partners is a leading Infrastructure Asset Manager focused on the European core infrastructure investments Headquartered in Paris it employs 65 professionals who have been working together for a decade Vauban is the fully fledged affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers dedicated to sustainable infrastructure equity investments Vauban targets predominantly European brownfield midmarket assets pursuing a long term yield driven strategy matching the underlying nature of assets and long term commitment to all stakeholders interests through a strong focus on

Lucky?

'He's gone!'

No, Voice. Let's wait for him to finish.

'We'll have a long wait. He's gone.'

Okay.

ENDS

Wednesday, 20 July 2022

It's cooled down a bit

Thank the cosmos!

I couldn't take much more. 'Summer isn't over yet, Mikey.' Well ... I'm looking forward to winter. That's all I can say, man.

Anyway ...

I'm not writing about finance. I've got another Lucky PR email thing. 'Ha!' Maybe I'll leave it until Monday.

Fitness, and, uh ... health? I'm not feeling too hungry this morning. 'So?' I only had a small pot of cheese and tomato pasta last night, and half a malt loaf. I had the same Monday night, but with a baton. Lots of protein, but nothing like the fat and calories you get with chips and veggie burgers and pizzas and all the other crap I eat.

So, I might have this meal two or three times a week from now on.

I'm actually looking thinner than I was on Sunday. 'You've probably lost loads of water.' Ha! I've also been drinking loads of water.

He's a good tip for you, reader(s). [I discovered this by accident with my dodgy fridge.] Freeze a big bottle of water until it is one giant ice cube, you dig? Then just have it with you and drink from it when you like. The water should stay really cold for four or five hours as the ice melts. I did this last night in a very hot room. It might not last as long during the day.

'Great advice, Mikey! Who needs to hear about finance?'

No one - is the short answer.

Music? I didn't play my guitar the last two days. I'll get back to it today. I wonder how Bob Marley coped in Jamaica. And how did he look after his guitars? I'm glad I've got a hard case for my electro acoustic. 'You hardly ever play it!' Well, that's my best guitar, Voice, for important occasions. 'Oh.' My Yamaha FG730s is my "workhorse" guitar that I use all the time.

My songs? Now, don't get me wrong. I love Good Times and it definitely deserves its place on the BIG TEN list, uh, HOWEVER(!) ... if I can get a decent lyric for the Life and Death tune, it will push Good Times out and make the list so incredibly powerful ... better than anyone's!!! I just don't know how to make it work at the moment. But I can tell you, kook(s): I'm really going off the whole "Life" and "Death" concept. Do you know what I mean?

Never mind.

What else?

FFS.

I can't think of anything else. Accept a ridiculous Fawlty Towers style hotel in St Ives that wants over £200 a day for a room.

These people.

Ah, laters!

Money is the way

Thursday, 28 July 2022

I'll do it Monday

Wednesday, 27 July 2022

I had a look, but ...

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

[No. 1,020] It's good to be home

LSE backs new review into UK fintech industry amidst sharp funding decline

Monday, 25 July 2022

This isn't No. 1,020

Vauban Infrastructure Partners expands its team to support its growth ambitions

Wednesday, 20 July 2022

It's cooled down a bit

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