Allocations
Victory Park Capital (VPC) has secured a USD51 million credit facility from GE Capital, Franchise Finance and Citizen’s Bank to refinance existing VPC debt and fund long-term growth initiatives of Giordano’s pizza restaurant chain based in Chicago.
The credit facility will contribute to corporate and franchise expansion in key markets outside of Chicago and help fund the development of business enhancements impacting Giordano’s growth strategy.
“We were impressed with GE Capital’s proven reputation as one of the largest lenders in the restaurant finance sector and are confident they will offer strategic value to the overall growth strategy for Giordano’s,”
Le Duff Group, headquartered in France, has acquired the majority of the shares in Kamps GmbH from German Equity Partners III (GEP III), a fund managed by ECM Equity Capital Management (ECM).
The acquisition strengthens its presence in the German quick service gastronomy and bakery market. As part of the envisaged transaction, the Kamps management team, headed by CEO Jaap Schalken, will reinvest into the company and continue to lead Kamps on its growth path as well as support the expansion of Le Duff Group in the German market. The transaction is still subject to approval from the relevant antitrust
Guernsey is at the forefront of standards on tax transparency and information exchange, according to Tony Mancini, Head of Tax at KPMG in Guernsey.
Interviewed by Caroline Hyde on Bloomberg’s Countdown show, Mancini was questioned on how Guernsey was responding to calls for the Crown Dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man and other British Overseas Territories to establish public registers of offshore firms. Mancini responded by pointing out that the steps already taken by Guernsey put it ahead of others, including the UK.
“If you are a UK resident or anywhere [else] for that matter and you
DPI has successfully closed its second fund, the oversubscribed ADP II fund, at USD725 million significantly surpassing its USD500 million target.
The ADP II investor-base includes corporate and public pension funds, endowments and foundations, funds of funds, family offices and development finance institutions from across the US, Europe, Middle East and Africa with significant interest from US investors, which currently make up just over 40% of its limited partner base.
ADP II is pursuing a broadly diversified strategy across industries that benefit from Africa’s growing middle class including the financial services, healthcare, education, construction, logistics, telecoms and consumer goods
STAR Capital Partners has continued its consolidation of the SME asset finance market after completing the acquisition of Ignition Credit, an independent asset and vehicle finance provider to UK SMEs.
STAR Asset Finance’s broader strategy is to provide a significant alternative source of finance for SMEs, the engine room of the UK economy
Having been established just nine months ago, STAR Asset Finance is set to arrange over GBP90 million of financing for 1000s of SMEs, over the course of 2015
STAR Capital Partners (STAR), a leading European fund manager, announces today that it has acquired Ignition Credit
Middle market private equity firm Irving Place Capital (IPC) has completed its acquisition of Bendon, Inc, a provider of non-licensed and licensed children’s colouring and activity products, from The Wicks Group.
Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Bendon’s Chief Executive Officer, Ben Ferguson, says: "We have experienced strong growth with the Wicks team, and they have been a valuable partner to us throughout their ownership. We’ve built a better, more profitable business together, and we are excited to be teaming with IPC to continue our expansion, both organically and through acquisitions."
Bendon’s existing product portfolio includes colouring and
Private equity firm NorthEdge Capital has backed the management buyout of Total Fitness, a Wilmslow-based health and fitness business.
NorthEdge has backed the management team, led by Chief Executive Richard Millman together with Warwick Ley and Brian Davidson of RooGreen Ventures, who alongside a partial realisation of their equity have reinvested in the business as part of the buyout. The transaction will see the existing management team receive significant new investment to support their next stage growth plans, which begin with the re-opening of the Total Fitness club in Wrexham in early April after a GBP1m+ refurbishment.
The transaction
Acquisition of Branden solar park and Carscreugh and Wear Point wind farms
John Laing Environmental Assets Group (JLEN) has acquired three projects from John Laing Group for a cash consideration of GBP42.54 million – Branden solar park and Carscreugh and Wear Point wind farms.
The assets were acquired under JLEN’s First Offer Agreement with John Laing and were funded by a draw-down under the Company’s GBP50 million revolving credit facility.
Branden Solar comprises two separate solar parks located near Bodmin in Cornwall, with a total generating capacity of 14.7MW and is accredited for 2 ROCs. The sites have
Bain Capital portfolio company Apex Tool Group has closed the acquisition of China-based Shanghai Yecen Auto Technology.
The deal, a highly strategic automotive sector acquisition in the Asia Pacific region for Apex’s SATA Tool (Shanghai) Limited subsidiary closed on 30 March and was financed with cash on hand in China.
Yecen’s wheel aligner and automotive lift product lines now will be part of Apex’s broad SATA brand portfolio; SATA is China’s number one brand in the professional hand tool industry and one of the major suppliers to the hand tool market in China. Yecen is a leading solutions provider
Weinberg Capital Partners has acquired French office supplies nd office furniture distributor Brunei from Argosyn.
Halisol Groupe and SGPA, two privately- held companies, have co-invested alongside with Weinberg Capital Partners. They will also support the management team in their growth strategy.
With a EUR300m turnover of which 60% through online sales, Bruneau is the French leader of e-commerce in the sector of B2B office supplies and office furniture. The Group employs around 800 people and has been able to seize strong market shares in France and Belgium.
With a range of 28,000 references in office furniture, consumable items,
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
