Allocations
Foresight Group (Foresight) has launched the FP Foresight Global Real Infrastructure Fund (GRIF), which has now received FCA regulatory approval. The actively managed fund will invest directly into publicly listed companies that own and operate real infrastructure or renewable energy assets globally.
The fund is targeting a total return of more than 3 per cent per annum above the rate of UK inflation (measured by UK CPI).
GRIF’s model portfolio has consistently outperformed both UK and global equity markets over the last five years, delivering higher returns, paired with lower volatility than the FTSE All Share Index and the FTSE
Lyreco Group has acquired DeskRight, an office supplies business focused on the Singapore market.
Lyreco says the acquisition will boost business at its Singaporean subsidiary, opened in 2006, as it benefits from DeskRight’s relations with local businesses and government agencies. This B2B client base will in turn benefit from Lyreco’s international scope, logistics expertise and global purchasing power.
The two companies will work together to capitalise on their complementary strengths and increase market share by improving client experience.
“We’re delighted to welcome DeskRight into the Lyreco Group. DeskRight has over 25 years’ experience on the market as well
Helios Investment Partners (Helios), an Africa-focused private investment firm, and the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund (EAEF) through their investment manager Lorax Capital Partners (LCP) have acquired 96.7 per cent of Misr Hytech Seed International (Misr Hytech), a breeder and producer of proprietary agricultural seeds in Egypt, and one of the Middle East and Africa’s largest independent seed companies.
Founded in 1993, Misr Hytech develops and produces hybrid seeds of white corn, yellow corn, grain and fodder sorghum, sweet corn, and vegetables in Egypt. The Company provides farmers with high-performing seeds that are adapted to the Egyptian market, leveraging its well-known brand,
Global growth equity firm General Atlantic has made a strategic investment in online travel booking platform Kiwi.com. Co-founders Oliver Dlouhý and Jozef Képesi will remain significant shareholders and continue to drive the company’s strategic growth plans in partnership with General Atlantic.
Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
Kiwi.com, whoch was founded in 2012, employs proprietary technology and algorithms to offer comprehensive flight options to value-conscious consumers. The company pioneered technology that matches passengers to multiple carriers and flights on single itineraries, and partners with airlines, online travel agencies, and metasearch engines to sell more than EUR1 billion
Gen Cap America has partnered with management to acquire Mayflower Sales Co (Mayflower), a Brooklyn-based distributor of premium physical security and storefront hardware products. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
“We are excited to partner with Mayflower’s top-notch management team, led by CEO Paul Swetow, in this investment,” says Gen Cap America Director Andrew Ginsberg. “We look forward to working with the Mayflower team to further build on the company’s long track record of providing quality products and exceptional service to its customers.”
Founded in 1917, Mayflower is a value-added distributor of premium products including locks, locksets,
Mishcon de Reya has advised Bill Toner, CEO, Madeleine Musselwhite, executive director and Nick Thomas, CFO of UK hospitality caterer CH&Co on the secondary buy-out of the firm by mid-market private equity investor, Equistone Partners.
CH&Co, employing nearly 6,500 people, has a prestigious client portfolio, providing catering services for some of the UK’s leading companies, charities and organisations, as well as holding a Royal Warrant for the provision of catering services to HM Queen since 2013. Having grown both organically and acquisitively over the past eight years, CH&Co generated revenues of GBP286 million in 2018.
The new partnership with
Ancala Partners (Ancala), an independent mid-market infrastructure investment manager, has sold its two portfolios of UK solar power plants for an undisclosed sum to funds managed by Arjun Infrastructure Partners (AIP).
The portfolios comprise 21 solar parks located across the UK with a combined capacity of 97MW.
Ancala structured and financed the development of the portfolios in 2016 and has since overseen their operation, including the installation of utility-scale batteries across several of the sites.
Lee Mellor, Partner, Ancala Partners, says: “We are delighted to have led the development and operation of this high quality and diversified portfolio of solar
Union Bancaire Privée has formed a partnership with independent family group Rothschild & Co, which offers solutions in global advisory, wealth & asset management, and merchant banking.
The two family-owned companies will be jointly providing an innovative strategy for both private and institutional clients to diversify their portfolios in the private equity market.
Through this partnership UBP will benefit from Rothschild & Co’s experience in private equity and widen its offering for clients wishing to invest in unlisted companies. Thanks to its cooperation with Partners Group since 2017 and its acquisition of ACPI in 2018, UBP has a diversified range
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, is investing up to RUB200 million in Motorica, a developer and producer of high-tech prosthetic appliances, which employ artificial intelligence (AI).
The transaction is part of the Investment Lift mechanism aimed at stimulating the growth of middle-sized non-resource companies with export potential. It will support Motorica’s business development including the growth of its export potential by increasing the supply of high-tech prostheses to international markets. The investment in Motorica also contributes to achieving the goals set in the annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly of 20 February, 2019, including
BigTime Software, a provider of cloud-based software for professional services firms, has closed a USD14 million investment led by Boston-based private equity firm Wavecrest Growth Partners, with participation from MassMutual Ventures and Migration Capital.
Chicago-based BigTime Software provides more than 2,000 professional services firms with an integrated “all-in-one” solution for budgeting, tracking, managing and invoicing within project-based firms. The firm was started in 2002 and bootstrapped by University of Chicago graduate Brian Saunders, who created the firm’s first software product, quickly transforming BigTime into an industry leading SaaS company. The firm has won numerous recognitions including being included in G2
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
