Allocations
Almost a year ago to the day, the Editor-in-Chief of The Economist, Zanny Minton Beddoes, took to the stage at SuperReturn International and gave us a fairly gloomy outlook on what 2016 had in store.
She talked about how a confluence of geopolitical insecurity, weak economic growth and rising populism risked becoming a snowball that would put the liberal world order at risk.
"I argued that time was running out for the pro-globalisation centre and that there was a very real possibility of events that, just a year before, would seem unthinkable," she reminisced.
"I said "imagine a Donald Trump
Boutique asset manager Unigestion has launched Uni-Global – Alternative Risk Premia, an actively managed strategy to provide investors with cost-effective and liquid sources of returns modestly correlated to equity and bond returns.
It complements Unigestion’s existing line of direct alternative offers, including the Uni-Global – Cross Asset Trend Follower, Uni-Global – Alternative Equities Compass World, the Unigestion Long/Short Global Opportunities fund and the Uni-Global – Absolute Return.
The launch of this strategy addresses three major concerns for investors and the asset management industry.
Firstly, expected returns for traditional investments are not very attractive, as bond yields remain at
Bloq has acquired Skry, a specialist in blockchain analytics, to enhance its suite of analysis tools and position the firm to maximise the value of blockchain data sets through artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Bloq is an enterprise software company focused on building and scaling blockchain networks for global companies.
The transaction, which closed on 24 February, is Bloq’s first acquisition and includes all of Skry’s intellectual property and team.
“Blockchain networks need more than a rudimentary finder or explorer,” says Jeff Garzik, CEO and co-founder of Bloq. “We’re ensuring that enterprises won’t have to ‘fly blind’ without
African private equity specialist Development Partners International (DPI) has become a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (the UNPRI).
DPI has been investing in a responsible manner since its inception 10 years ago. All of DPI’s companies benefit from this work, which is headed by specialist sustainability manager Michael Hall.
DPI also uses proprietary toolkits along with guidelines and help from some of its development finance institution investors.
The UNPRI association works to understand the investment implications of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating
UK private equity house Maven Capital Partners has completed a GBP6.5 million management buy-out of Healthpoint Limited, a supplier of healthcare and beauty products into the retail sector.
The equity investment was funded through Maven’s co-investment network for professional clients, Investor Partners, with debt and working capital funding provided by Barclays.
The investment will enable Healthpoint to fund further new product development, with around 30 new product lines in the pipeline for launch in the next year, and support the business in driving organic growth from its long-established relationships. The company is also focused on a buy-and-build strategy with
Twin Brook, the middle-market direct lending subsidiary of Angelo, Gordon & Co, has provided USD61 million in financing to back Blue Point Capital Partners’ leveraged buyout of Fire & Life Safety America (FLSA).
Twin Brook Capital Partners is a finance company focused on providing cash-flow based financing solutions for the middle market private equity community. The firm was founded and is managed by a group of experienced professionals who have been successful working in the middle market.
Much of the team has worked together throughout their careers at leading middle market lending institutions. The management team has closed over
Advent International has submitted a legally binding, fully financed offer to purchase all STADA shares to the management board of STADA Arzneimittel Aktiengesellschaft at a price of EUR58 per share.
Advent is convinced that this offer comes with high transaction security and is in the best interest of the company, its shareholders and its employees.
The binding offer, as well as the decision to make a voluntary public takeover offer for all shares of STADA, are subject to approval by the management board of STADA.
The offer price corresponds to a premium of around 66 per cent compared to the
Venture capital firm K2 Global has raised USD183 million in committed capital for a new fund.
K2 Global works with entrepreneurs in the mobile, e-commerce, fintech, AR/VR, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and machine learning realms.
K2 Global has invested USD58 million in over 10 companies to-date, including Magic Leap, Spotify, Uber as well as start-ups like Paktor, referred to as the Tinder of Asia.
A recent K2 Global investment, Paytm, recently crossed 150 million in user base and its daily transactions average seven million since November. Paytm is expanding globally, aims to launch in 16 countries and recently
Omnes Capital has sold its stake in Capcom to Circet, a French specialist in telecommunications infrastructure for telecoms operators.
This comes just a few months after the Omnes Croissance 4 midcap fund was closed at EUR210 million, allowing Omnes Capital to achieve a multiple of 2.6x.
This is the first exit for the Omnes Croissance 4 fund. Omnes acquired a stake in Capcom in 2015.
Capcom’s founder-managers have acquired a stake in Circet. Omnes Capital is investing in the new deal and has agreed to the fifth investment for Omnes Croissance 4.
Founded in 2001, Capcom provides
Monroe Credit Advisors (MCA) has placed USD13.25 million in senior credit facilities supporting LongWater Opportunities’ acquisition and subsequent merger of two domestic sock manufacturers, Standard Merchandising Company (SMC) and Fox River Mills (FRM).
Based in Pennsauken, New Jersey, SMC designs, manufactures and distributes several lines of branded and private label hosiery products, specialising in luxury women’s products and athletic and novelty socks.
FRM is an Osage, Iowa-based producer of high quality, knitted technical socks and handwear for the outdoor, athletic, and casual markets.
MCA acted as the exclusive financial adviser to LongWater and its management team in the
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
