The Instant Group, a corporate real estate solutions specialist backed by Bowmark Capital, is to merge with IWG’s digital businesses to create one of the world’s largest independent marketplaces for flexible workspace. As part of the transaction, Bowmark will sell its stake in The Instant Group to IWG.   Since Bowmark invested in The Instant Group in June 2018, the company has more than doubled its sales, achieving strong organic growth due to its value-added service offering, award-winning digital capabilities and client-centric business model.     The transaction also marks an exit for MML Capital, which first invested in 2012 and

Focus Group, a provider of essential business technology, has made a significant investment in Midlands-based communications specialist Evad, to support its ambitious plans for growth and development into new sectors. The financial investment in Evad will enable both brands to extend geographical reach across the UK, diversify product portfolios and deliver service expertise to specialist market sectors. Evad, formally owned by Ethos Group, will continue to operate under its well-established brand name, with Matt Hill (CEO) and Richard Osborn (Sales Director) at the helm, leading the Derby-based team into the future. Evad is a nationwide provider of communications solutions to

Goldfinch Partners and The Baupost Group, have reached the initial closing in the acquisition of Western Union Business Solutions (WUBS) for USD910 million. WUBS, which will be renamed Convera as a new standalone B2B global payments company, had a record 2021 with over 20 percent revenue growth and payments volume of USD170 billion. Patrick Gauthier, who was most recently the Global Head of Amazon Pay, will serve as Convera’s CEO. Convera will add several veteran fintech professionals to its leadership team with experience at companies including Amazon, BCG, BCG Digital Ventures, PayPal and Visa. These include Jodi Krause (Chief People

Neuraxpharm Group (Neuraxpharm), a European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the central nervous system (CNS), has expanded its business in Southeast Europe through the acquisition of Brain Therapeutics, a CNS-focused marketing and distribution company with expertise in the commercialisation of CNS products in Greece, Cyprus and the Balkan countries.   Having acquired Brain Therapeutics, Neuraxpharm is now able to bring new products to the Greek market since the platform offers a unique level of local market access. The commercial expertise of Brain Therapeutics and the availability of necessary licenses for the broad product portfolio will enable Neuraxpharm to expand its

Funds managed by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities (Blackstone) have agreed to make a GBP140 million strategic investment in Currencies Direct, a global provider of digital foreign exchange (FX) and international payment services to private clients and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The investment will be made in partnership with Currencies Direct’s management team, led by Keith Hatton, and Palamon Capital Partners and Corsair (“the Sponsors”), which will retain their majority co-controlling stake in the Company.  Blackstone’s strategic investment will be used to accelerate the Company’s growth ambitions through further acquisitions. In connection with its investment, Blackstone will join the Currencies

MCO (MyComplianceOffice), a provider of conduct risk and compliance technology, is to acquire Schwab Compliance Technologies (SCT). SCT serves some 700 clients providing a SaaS solution that automates asks associated with monitoring employee trading activity and efficiently administering a firm’s Code of Ethics.   The acquisition is expected to close in mid-2022. For now, the plan is business as usual for both firms. Following the close, MCO will work closely with Schwab to ensure a smooth, effective transition for SCT clients.

McNally Capital (McNally), a specialist in Direct Family Capital, has invested in The Smith & Oby Company (Smith & Oby), a Midwest HVAC and plumbing mechanical contractor and services provider serving primarily the healthcare, education, commercial & industrial, and civic end markets. McNally invested in Smith & Oby out of McNally Capital Fund II, the firm’s committed buyout vehicle. McNally’s investment in Smith & Oby aligns with the firm’s investment thesis focused on facilities management and HVAC. McNally Capital completed this investment in line with its model of partnering with family- and founder-owned businesses. McNally Capital invests capital on behalf

Inverleith LLP, an Edinburgh-based specialist consumer brand investor, has acquired a majority stake in Farmison & Co, a UK-based online butcher. Focused on British heritage and rare breeds, and an ethical, sustainable supply chain, Farmison has established itself as a leading player in the growing online premium meat and butchery market.     Established in 2011 by John Pallagi and Lee Simmonds in England’s beautiful North Yorkshire Dales, Farmison is on a mission to encourage UK consumers to ‘eat better meat’.     Farmison’s meat is always British, free-range, naturally fed and dry-aged and the business is leading the return

Payment app Dash has raised USD32.8 million in an oversubscribed seed round, one of the largest seed rounds for an African technology startup. The round was led by New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm Insight Venture Partners, with participation from Global Founders Capital and 4DX Ventures.  Other investors in the round include ASK Capital, Techstars, Guillaume Pousaz’s Zinal Growth Partners, Jitendra Gupta of Jupiter Money, Amrish Rau, CEO of Pine Labs, the founders of Moss, executives from ProcessOut (acquired by Checkout.com), and the founders of PennyLane. The funding will go towards building out Dash’s team, launching new