Allocations
Mogrify, a UK company aiming to transform the development of life-saving cell therapies, has held the initial close of its Series A funding round at USD16 million bringing the total investment to over USD20 million USD to date.
The funding will support internal cell therapy programs, and the development and out-license of novel IP relating to cell conversions of broad therapeutic interest. Mogrify is also actively recruiting, and will increase headcount to 60 scientific, operational and commercial staff located at its state-of-the-art facility on Cambridge Science Park.
The funding round was led by existing investor Ahren Innovation Capital (Ahren),
Hiro Capital has launched a EUR100 million venture capital fund, to back the future UK and EU specialists in the global games, e-sports and digital sports sectors.
The partners will use the fund to accelerate the growth of about 20 UK and European Games and Sports innovators.
Hiro Capital will generally invest at the post-seed stage, at Series A and B. The fund will back deep technology entrepreneurs and creative studios in Games, Esports and Digital Sports and in sector-specific applications of Cloud, Mobile, Streaming, Big Data, AI, Wearables, AR and VR technologies.
By covering all three sectors of
NorthEdge Capital has completed the acquisition of UK independent video game company Catalis Group in a deal that values the business at GBP90 million.
NorthEdge has invested GBP46.6 million through its acquisition vehicle Project Sword Bidco, whilst Vespa Capital, which has been a shareholder in Catalis since 2014, and CEO Dominic Wheatley have reinvested the majority of their shareholdings in Catalis as part of the transaction.
Catalis, which has been led by CEO Dominic Wheatley since 2012, provides a range of services into the high growth, global video games market through two divisions: Curve Digital; and Testronic. Curve is
BGF has successfully exited its investment in landscaping and grounds maintenance company, TCL Group. TCL has been acquired by idverde to create the UK’s largest provider of outdoor green services.
BGF first invested in TCL Group in May 2014 to exit an existing shareholder and provide funding for the acquisition of Burleys. As a minority equity partner, BGF has provided total investment of more than GBP16 million to the group, which now has regional hubs in Derby, Northampton, Dorking and Wiltshire.
Led by Executive Chairman Simon Cashmore, TCL has completed seven acquisitions since BGF’s investment, growing its UK presence
MUFG Investor Services, a global asset servicing arm of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), is to acquire select divisions of the fund administration business of Maitland, a privately owned global advisory, administration and family office firm.
Maitland personnel will join MUFG Investor Services offices in the Cayman Islands, Halifax, and Dublin.
When completed, the acquisition will add approximately USD20 billion in assets under administration (AUA) to MUFG Investor Services, bringing the total AUA to over USD600 billion and expanding the firm’s market share in major markets. The assets consist of hedge funds and private equity funds.
Additionally, new
Storm clouds are building on Europe’s M&A horizon, as record high valuations and rising economic macro risks sow seeds of caution among corporates.
As highlighted in a recent white paper by CMS, a full service global law firm, entitled “Storms brewing: European M&A Outlook 2019”, European M&A value over the last 12 months (Q3 2018 to Q2 2019) is down 22 per cent year-on-year to EUR652.2 billion. Only 27 per cent of respondents surveyed by CMS expect the level of M&A activity in Europe to increase over the next 12 months, compared to 65 per cent last year.
But against
National Fire & Safety, an end-to-end fire protection and life safety solutions platform and a portfolio company of Highview Capital (Highview), has acquired RCI Systems (RCI), a contractor of fire-sprinkler services headquartered in the greater Phoenix area.
RCI was founded in 1993 by Todd and Cynthia Little. The company’s turn-key service offering includes the design, build, installation, inspection, repair and service of fire sprinkler systems servicing a range of occupancies and structures, including office, retail, medical, education, government, industrial, distribution, residential and parking. RCI will continue to operate independently under its current name and branding as part of National Fire
State Street Corporation has launched Direct Access Lending, a securities finance product that enables direct, principal loans between the company’s lending and borrowing clients.
The new peer-to-peer product will leverage the size and strength of State Street’s Agency Lending and Enhanced Custody programs, and underscores a continued focus on aligning solutions and technology across State Street to help clients achieve their objectives.
To facilitate the direct lending transactions, State Street will leverage both its Agency Lending and Enhanced Custody programs to offer both sets of customers the benefits of each program required to operate in a peer-to-peer transaction
HelpSystems, a provider of IT operations management, security and analytics solutions, has secures a strategic investment from private equity firms TA Associates and Charlesbank Capital Partners.
The firms will join existing investors HGGC, management and employees. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Founded in 1982, HelpSystems is a provider of systems and network management, business intelligence, and security and compliance solutions. The company’s software and services monitor and automate processes, encrypt and secure data, and provide access to the information that large organisations need every day. HelpSystems maintains offices around the world with customers ranging from
Emplify, a data-driven employee engagement improvement company, has secured a USD15 million investment led by growth equity investor Edison Partners.
The company plans to reinvest the funds back into its core product and service innovation and into expanding its sales and marketing teams to drive future growth. Prior investors, including Allos Ventures, Cultivation Capital, Mark Hill, Bob Davoli from Gutbrain Ventures and 4G Ventures managing director Bill Godfrey, also participated in the round.
“Emplify is scientifically tackling the most pertinent issue employers face today: building a culture that attracts, engages and retains talent,” says Ryan Ziegler, general partner at
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
