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Arma Partners (Arma) saw record activity levels in its latest financial year, with the firm advising on 33 transactions and generated revenues in excess of USD100 million for the fiscal year ending 31 March 2021, even as Covid-19 required the team to collaborate remotely and introduced unfamiliar dynamics to deal making. 
York Capital Management (York), a global private investment firm, and Kennedy Lewis Investment Management (Kennedy Lewis), an opportunistic credit manager, have formed a strategic partnership to form a new entity to be called Generate Advisors. Under the partnership agreement, York’s approximately USD4 billion Collateral Loan Obligation (CLO) business and team, led by Rizwan Akhter, will transition to Generate Advisors and continue to manage York’s current CLO portfolio as well as any future CLOs issued by Generate Advisors. Kennedy Lewis will be investing in Generate Advisors and has committed at least USD200 million of capital to be invested in the equity
Inflexion Private Equity Partners (Inflexion) is to partner with FTSE 100 Informa PLC to create a financial data and technology provider by bringing together two complementary businesses: Informa Financial Intelligence’s Financial Benchmarking & Omnichannel Experience (FBX) business and Novantas Inc, a financial data services company.  The investment is being made by Inflexion’s dedicated minority investment fund, Partnership Capital II. In an innovative transaction structure, Inflexion will partner with Informa PLC, to create a new business that combines the brands and operations of FBX and Novantas, establishing a leading position in the provision of retail banking data, intelligence and software solutions,
Citi and Barclays were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial advisers in the power sector for Q1 2021 by value and volume, respectively. Citi advised on three deals worth USD10 billion, which was the highest value among all the advisers. Meanwhile, Barclays led in the volume terms having advised on six deals worth USD8.1 billion. A total of 606 M&A deals were announced in the sector during Q1 2021, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. According to GlobalData’s report, ‘Global and Power M&A Report Power Financial Adviser League Tables Q1 2021’, deal value for the sector
Eurazeo has signed an exclusivity agreement with a view to investing in Aroma-Zone, a pioneering French company making and distributing aromatherapy, natural DIY (Do-it-yourself) beauty and wellness products through a direct-to-customer online model. Under the agreement, Eurazeo and its partners would invest around EUR410 million, becoming Aroma-Zone’s main shareholder alongside the founding Vausselin family, who would retain a significant stake in the company. The final terms of the deal would be announced on completion. Aroma-Zone was set up in 1999 as a website providing information about essential oils, and has now turned into a leading online retailer that stands out
The total value of UK private equity club deals hit GBP19.7 billion last year, a fourfold increase from the GBP4.5 billion last year, says Pinsent Masons, the multinational law firm. The number of these ‘club deals’ has reached a three-year high (see graph below) – there were 56 deals last year, up 30 per cent from 43 the year before. A ‘club deal’ is when two or more private equity or trade buyers jointly acquire a company. One of the biggest club deals of recent years was the GBP6.8 billion acquisition of ASDA, in October last year by the Issa
Samuel Gilbert-Ward
By Sam Gilbert-Ward, Business Analyst, Pollen Street Capital – With governments, businesses and people looking towards the ‘new normal’ post Covid-19 we begin to see the areas where the pandemic has been a catalyst for change. Across the globe businesses are galvanised to consider what ESG really means for them. The refocusing of priorities has given many the opportunity to re-assess their ESG framework and ensure that the strategy put in place creates real impact. 
Par Equity is celebrating a record-breaking year despite the challenges inflicted by Covid-19 on much of the economy. Par deployed more than GBP17 million of capital – 48 per cent more than last year – into its portfolio companies, which in turn raised a further GBP26 million from third party investors. Specialising in investing in young, high-growth businesses, Par was the “lead investor” for more than 75 per cent of those transactions. Over the last 13 years, Par has backed some of the most exciting technology companies across the North of the UK. Its Edinburgh-based investment team identifies and backs
Tech-focused investment bank, ICON Corporate Finance, has advised Swindon-headquartered Retrac Group – one of the UK’s advanced manufacturing specialists in the Formula 1, Formula E, aerospace and defence sectors – enabling its employees to acquire the business in an eight-figure deal. ICON acted as lead adviser to Retrac, enabling the staff to acquire the business through an Employees Ownership Trust. Under the deal, five decades of ownership by the Carter family, has been transferred to the 115-strong workforce, who will be the beneficiaries of the company’s future success. In a dual announcement, experienced automotive and motorsport executive Dan Walmsley has
Consolis, a European manufacturer of precast construction solutions, has received a binding offer for its French civil works division Bonna Sabla from EIM Capital, a private equity firm focused on the acquisition, transformation and development of companies of tomorrow in need of a new impetus. The French civil works division Bonna Sabla consists of a portfolio of brands and activities that are leaders in their respective markets, including MPB, ABM, and a funeral business.   This project remains subject to consultation with employees’ representatives. Consolis will continue to own and operate Bonna Sabla until completion of the transaction, which is

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