INDIAN realty business Lodha Group has arranged £252 million to repay bonds maturing next year.
The company has arranged the sum through refinancing against unsold inventories in its London project, infusion of funds from promoters, and the sale of commercial properties.
The Mumbai-based group has a total debt of over £2 billion, of which £1.84bn is from its India business.
The rest of the debt is from the London market.
Abhishek Lodha, managing director of the group, has expressed confidence that the company would become net debt-free in the next 24 months.
He was quoted by PTI: “Our $325m bond pertaining to the London business is maturing in March next year. So we have arranged funds in advance to meet our obligations when the bonds mature. About $155 million has been arranged through financing against unsold inventories in a London project, while another $110m will be infused by the promoters through family offices”.
“Debt is definitely a concern; therefore, we are reducing it gradually and getting better every day," he said commenting on the debt concern.
Another £46.49m or fund will come through the surplus from the recent sale of a commercial property in India’s commercial capital Mumbai, he added.
The company sold 800,000 square feet office space for £146m recently.
London vacancies up 9 per cent in Q3 2025, with fintech roles already surpassing all of 2024’s recruitment.
AI positions offer salaries 20 per cent higher than non-AI roles, reflecting fierce competition for skilled professionals.
Near-shoring boosts junior roles in Belfast and Glasgow, but London dominates senior, strategic appointments.
Jobs soar
Artificial intelligence and financial technology are driving job growth in London’s financial sector, with vacancies up 9 per cent year-on-year in Q3 2025, according to Morgan McKinley’s latest Employment Monitor.
Mark Astbury, director at Morgan Mckinley , noted that fintech roles have proved particularly resilient, with companies advertising 6,425 positions already exceeding the entirety of 2024’s recruitment activity. Banks, consumer finance organisations, and ambitious startups are prioritising senior and strategic appointments, particularly in AI strategy, corporate finance, and technology leadership roles.
The rebound represents a marked reversal from Q2 2025, when trade tariff uncertainties prompted hiring freezes. Employers have now resumed delayed recruitment efforts, though the forthcoming UK Autumn Budget in November may yet influence hiring trajectories.
Notably, near-shoring trends are emerging, with regions including Belfast and Glasgow capturing junior-level roles. London, however, retains its stranglehold on high-value, strategic positions. Much now depends on the Autumn Budget and whether it reassures employers or adds further cost pressures that will set the tone for hiring into early 2026.
AI and tech talent
Forbes Advisor research reveals that 79 per cent of UK workers use generative AI at work, while 85 per cent are aware of AI language models like ChatGPT. However, 59 per cent of Brits express concerns about AI, with primary worries including skill loss, job displacement, privacy issues, and autonomous decision-making without human oversight.
The surge underscores London’s position as the United Kingdom’s preeminent hub for technology-driven financial services. Greater London now hosts 1,387 AI-focused enterprises, including heavyweight firms DeepMind and BenevolentAI, making the capital an irresistible draw for major financial institutions, fintech pioneers, and specialist tech firms seeking talent.
The labour market shift reflects wider structural changes within financial services. Automation is dampening demand for graduate and administrative roles, while AI-related positions command salaries approximately 20 per cent higher than comparable non-AI posts a premium reflecting intense competition for skilled professionals.
Investment underpins this expansion. The Government has committed £2.3 billion to AI initiatives since 2014, while companies increasingly deploy generative models and computer vision technologies to streamline operations, strengthen compliance, and innovate service delivery.
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