Allocations
GBP100 million has been invested in the region’s small businesses through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF).
Private equity investors in Africa are showing strong interest in internet and direct marketing retail, education and communication services according to a new research report, Bright Africa 2020 – Private Equity in Africa – from purpose-driven investment firm RisCura.
Consumer products have always been a focus of private equity investors in Africa, due to the opportunities presented by the continent’s growing middle-class. However, this new focus on online retail and services could indicate a shift from focusing on a broader target market with lower income to targeting a smaller market, but with higher income.
The Bright Africa 2020 research shows
User research platform Ribbon has secured GBP200,000 in a pre-seed funding round from investors including, MMC Ventures, RLC Ventures and a group of London based angel investors.
Ribbon has been launched by solo-founder Axel Thomson, to help product managers, product designers and user researchers build better digital products by making it easy to connect with and interview your own users.
Digital product teams are always aiming to understand how the products they build are perceived by their users, and how they can improve their product offerings. To gather feedback from users, teams traditionally have had to recruit research participants themselves, or
Odyssey Investment Partners, a growth-oriented private equity firm with a successful track record in insurance services, has partnered with the SIAA (Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance) management team to acquire the Company.
SIAA’s chairman and founder, Jim Masiello, says: “We’ve been exploring our perpetuation options for some time now, with special consideration to the ongoing success of our master agencies and member agencies across the country. This transaction provides for the continued success of our model and all who participate in it.”
Masiello will step away from the organisation after an accomplished and successful career as a leader in the
General Atlantic is leading a USD145 million (EUR122 million) financing round in Staffbase, a start-up provider of digital solutions for internal communications, to help the company grow internationally and strengthen its global leadership in the employee engagement space.
Existing investors Insight Partners and e.ventures will also contribute to this round of financing, KIZOO and Capnamic Ventures remain invested. As part of the partnership, Achim Berg, Operating Partner at General Atlantic and President of Bitkom, Germany’s digital association, will join the advisory board of Staffbase.
Established in Chemnitz in 2014, Staffbase has become a high-growth, multi-award-winning provider of an internal
Shore Capital Partners (Shore Capital) has completed a partnership with Innovative Packaging Company (IPC), a custom packaging solutions provider based in Vancouver, Washington.
Innovative Packaging Company was founded in 2012 by co-founders Jeremy and Matt Concannon as a full-service, value-add custom packaging distribution business. IPC’s core service offerings include packaging procurement, supply chain management, warehousing, and custom design services. The company sells a diverse product mix including flexible packaging, fibre-based packaging, hardware, and labels into strong food and beverage end-markets.
Jeremy Concannon, President of IPC, notes: “We are excited about the partnership with Shore Capital given their playbook for explosive
Bridges Fund Management (Bridges), the specialist sustainable and impact investor, has partnered with Matrix Telematics (Matrix), a fleet telematics and software provider that helps to improve driver safety, prevent accidents and reduce emissions. The investment values the business at over GBP60 million.
Bridges is backing the existing management team led by CEO Mark Packman, who founded Matrix in 2001 alongside Wayne Shillito. The Cheshire-based business uses data captured from in-vehicle telematics devices to create intuitive, highly detailed reports of vehicle and driver performance, enabling fleet managers to identify both safety risks and opportunities to reduce fuel and ‘wear and tear’
Broadridge Financial Solutions is to acquire Itiviti Holding (Itiviti), a provider of trading and connectivity technology to the capital markets industry, in an all-cash transaction valued at EUR2.143 billion (approximately USD2.5 billion) from Nordic Capital.
Gulf Capital, a leading growth markets alternative investment firm, has announced its two-year growth plans for ART Fertility Clinics, a fast growing provider of fertility treatment services in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
With increased awareness coupled with the technological advancements in the field, the fertility sector in India is forecasted to continue to grow at 12 per cent+ CAGR annually over the next five years. The new chapter of ART Fertility Clinics will see the implementation of an ambitious two-year rollout of 18 IVF clinics across India. The first two clinics in Gurgaon and New Delhi have commenced
Calculus Capital portfolio company ActiveOps has completed a successful Initial Public Offering on the Alternative Investment Market, generating an impressive 6x return for Calculus EIS investors.
ActiveOps has placed 45 million shares with institutional investors, raising gross proceeds of GBP76 million for selling shareholders, including Calculus Capital. The placing price of 168 pence values the company at GBP120 million. Dealing commenced at 8am this morning.
Calculus invested in ActiveOps in 2014, acquiring approximately 30 per cent of the company’s equity. Revenues have grown significantly in that time, from GBP7m in the year to March 2015, to GBP20 million in the
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
