Annexon Prices IPO Above Range At $17/Shr

Annexon, Inc., announced that it has priced initial public offering of 14.75 million common shares at $17.00 per share, above the estimated range.The company expects gross proceeds, before expenses, to be about $250.8 million.

The company has originally filed to sell 10.0 million shares at a range of $14 to $16 share. Earlier on July 9, the company raised the proposed offer shares to 12.5 million shares at an expected IPO price of between $15 and $16 per share.

Annexon’s common stock is expected to begin trading on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on July 24, 2020, under the ticker symbol “ANNX.” The offering is expected to close on July 28, 2020.

In addition, Annexon granted underwriters a 30-day option to buy more 2.21 million shares at initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

J.P. Morgan, BofA Securities and Cowen are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

Driver, 19, found not guilty of murdering PC Andrew Harper

The driver who dragged Pc Andrew Harper to his death has been found not guilty of murder.

Henry Long, 19, was read the verdict at the Old Bailey on Friday.

His passengers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, were cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter.

Pc Harper, 28, was killed after responding to a theft in Berkshire on August 15, last year.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow…

Goldman Sachs and Malaysia agree to $3.9 billion settlement over 1MDB scandal

Malaysia on Friday said U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs has agreed to a $3.9 billion settlement with the government over the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal.

The deal includes a $2.5 billion cash payout by Goldman and a guarantee by the bank to return at least $1.4 billion in assets linked to 1MDB bonds, Malaysia's finance ministry said in a statement.

Malaysian prosecutors filed charges in December 2018 against three Goldman Sachs units for misleading investors over bond sales totalling $6.5 billion that the bank helped raise for sovereign wealth fund 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Bhd).

Goldman Sachs has consistently denied wrongdoing, saying that certain members of the former Malaysian government and 1MDB lied to it about how proceeds from the bond sales would be used.

The units of Goldman Sachs have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The U.S. Department of Justice has said around $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB.

Spain asks U.S. to lift sanctions on Spanish exports after Airbus move

MADRID, July 24 (Reuters) – Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said on Friday that the United States should lift sanctions on Spanish exports after Airbus’ move to accept higher interest rates on European state loans in a bid to settle a WTO row with the U.S. “The EU has complied, there is no reason for U.S. sanctions on European exports anymore, we ask for sanctions on Spanish product to be lifted,” Gonzalez Laya said on Friday on her Twitter account. (Reporting by Inti Landauro Editing by Ingrid Melander)

Metropolitan Police sergeant charged with sexually assaulting colleague

A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with sexually assaulting a colleague.

Sergeant David Morton, 54, has been placed on restricted duties and will appear at Thames Magistrates Court on 28 September.

It is alleged that he sexually assaulted a female member of police staff in Hackney, east London on 15 October last year.

Morton was charged on 3 July and was released on bail.

Editors, more than 50 journalists quit leading Hungarian news website

BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Three editors of Hungary’s leading independent news website Index.hu and more than 50 journalists resigned on Friday over the recent ousting of their editor-in-chief, which they said was an “open attempt to exert pressure” on Index.

They said in a statement on Index that they quit after the chairman of the board rejected their request to restore Szabolcs Dull to his position.

Gold hits fresh high of ₹51,946, rises by ₹475 per gram

Silver, however, declined by ₹109 to ₹62,262 per kg, from ₹62,371 per kg on Thursday.

Gold prices in the national capital continued to hit new highs, rising by ₹475 per gram to ₹51,946 per 10 gram on Friday, on the back of gains in the international prices of the precious metal and a rupee depreciation, according to HDFC Securities.

Also read: India gold prices hit all-time high, dampens retail demand

In the previous trade, it had closed at ₹51,471 per 10 gram.

Silver, however, declined by ₹109 to ₹62,262 per kg, from ₹62,371 per kg on Thursday.

“Spot gold prices for 24 karats in Delhi continued to hit new highs, rising by ₹475, with recovery in international gold prices and a rupee depreciation,” HDFC Securities Senior Analyst (Commodities) Tapan Patel said.

Also read: Gold exceeds ₹50,000 level, dampens demand

The rupee slipped 8 paise and settled at 74.83 against the US dollar on Friday, as weak domestic equities and escalating tensions between the US and China weighed on investor sentiments.

In the international market, gold was quoting higher at $1,897 per ounce and silver was trading with marginal gains at $22.70 per ounce.

Increased tensions between the US and China and worries over growing coronavirus cases are expected to increase safe-haven demand for the precious metals, he said.

NRG Energy To Buy Direct Energy From Centrica For $3.625 Bln In Cash

NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) said that it agreed to buy Direct Energy, North American energy supply, services and trading business of Centrica Plc.(CNA.L), for $3.625 billion in an all-cash transaction.

The transaction on closing is expected to generate about $740 million in annual run-rate Adjusted EBITDA. The acquisition is expected to create $300 million in annual run-rate synergies.

NRG Energy expects to complete the deal by year end 2020. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, consents and regulatory approvals, including approval by shareholders of Centrica and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or FERC.