Managers
Law firm Howard Kennedy has advised the selling shareholders, and separately the incoming and existing management team, on the multi-million-pound investment from Rutland Partners into the Aston Barclay Group.
The transaction paves the way for a significant investment in the business which will consolidate it as the UK’s leading national independent vehicle remarketing provider. The MBO was led by new chief executive officer Neil Hodson, with Glenn and David Scarborough, the former managing director and commercial director respectively, remaining shareholders and non-executive directors.
The Howard Kennedy team advising the selling shareholders was led by Corporate Partner Gillian White and
Singapore Diamond Investment Exchange (SDiX), the world’s first commodity exchange for physically settled diamonds, has raised USD10 million in Series B+ financing.
The round, which closed on June, was led by existing investors Vertex Ventures and SDiX Chairman Alain Vandenborre (pictured). New investors in this round include Simon Murray, Chairman and founder of SMC and GEMS and former Group Managing Director of Hutchison Whampoa; and Richard Ji, co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of All-Stars Investment and former Asia-Pacific Head of Internet/media investment research at Morgan Stanley.
The new investment will support the continued execution of SDiX’s strategy to create
Clifford Thames, a provider of data services to the global automotive aftermarket industry, has been acquired by OEConnection Holdings the US-based e-commerce technology group, from its private equity owner LDC.
Based in Chelmsford, Essex, Clifford Thames manages information on millions of car parts which is used by manufacturers and leasing companies to manage vehicle repairs and maintenance. Its customers include Ford, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Renault and VW Group.
Operating from offices in seven countries across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific and employing almost 500 people, the business was originally founded in 1948 as a publisher of local newspapers, including the Stoke Newington and Hackney Observer. It evolved into data services in
High Street Capital has sold ShoreMaster to an affiliate of Invision Capital. ShoreMaster, based in Fergus Falls, MN, is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-quality boating products including boat lifts, boat docks and accessories.
This sale is the culmination of a successful partnership between High Street Capital and ShoreMaster’s management team which began in 2013. Together, we completed the carve-out from the company’s previous public company owner, expanded the dealer network and invested in manufacturing and other efficiencies to grow both the top and bottom lines.
Don Hurley, ShoreMaster’s President & CEO, says: “We are eternally grateful for
Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund (NVCF) has made a USD15 million lead commitment to Lumira Capital IV, a late-stage venture capital fund investing in high-potential biopharmaceutical and medical device companies.
With the closing of this investment, Northleaf has completed the NVCF investment program, with a total of USD300 million committed to a diversified portfolio of 13 fund investments and 11 direct investments.
“We are very pleased to be an anchor institutional investor in one of Canada’s top life sciences venture capital funds,” says Ian Carew, Director of Northleaf Capital Partners, which manages NVCF. “The commitment to Lumira represents NVCF’s final
Stratumn, a provider of network solutions securing processes between enterprises and their stakeholders through blockchain technology and advanced cryptography, has raised EUR7 million in a series A funding from Open CNP, the Corporate Venture arm of CNP Assurances, Otium Venture, Nasdaq and Digital Currency Group.
Less than two years after its inception and one year after its seed financing, Stratumn has now accomplished the largest funding round to date in the European blockchain and data security ecosystem.
Stratumn helps companies securing and streamlining regulatory and compliance procedures
As companies become ever more connected to one another, and the
WorldQuant Ventures has made an investment in Canalyst, an equity research technology provider for institutional finance professionals.
WorldQuant Ventures’ investment allows Canalyst to enhance its cloud based, on-demand equity model database by enabling continued investment in analytics capabilities, and expansion of its breadth of coverage for small- and mid-cap companies.
“We are excited to help Canalyst further develop and grow its platform to meet the increasing buy side demand for equity research technology,” says Steven Lau, Managing Director at WorldQuant Ventures. “Canalyst’s platform is a valuable resource for the broader investment community, allowing instant access to comprehensive, company-specific functional
InMotion Ventures, the venture capital business powered by Jaguar Land Rover, has partnered with global startup ecosystem Techstars.
InMotion will be working closely with the Techstars Mobility programme, based in Detroit. Launched in 2015, Techstars Mobility has to date invested in 22 mobility and transportation startups from all over the globe, collectively valued in excess of USD100 million.
InMotion will be supporting each Techstars Mobility class at every stage, contributing to the applicant shortlisting process, mentoring teams on the programme and making selected investments in graduating companies.
InMotion Managing Director Sebastian Peck, Head of Seed Programme James Nettleton
Investment of Foresight Group’s second institutionally-backed regional fund, the Foresight Regional Investment is ahead of schedule, having already deployed GBP15.5 million in five companies in its first twelve months.
The Fund was launched last year with support from investors including an anchor commitment from the Greater Manchester Pension Fund. So far in Manchester the Fund has backed golf equipment and clothing retailer Clubhouse Golf, facilities management provider Tudor Group and civil engineering and traffic management provider Utilities Design & Planning (“UDP”). These three companies have added 29 new staff since investment and seen revenue grow by 17 per cent and adjusted
Private investment firm Inverness Graham has acquired acquisition of GPSTrackIt, a provider of SaaS based asset-tracking and fleet management solutions across North America.
GPSTrackIt’s solutions deliver cost reductions, increased fleet efficiency, and equipment & asset protection. Inverness Graham teamed up with telematics and telecom market industry veteran, Keith Schneider, who joins as the company President and CEO. Founding owner, John Stull, retained a significant ownership position in the business and will remain on the Board of Directors.
“GPSTrackIt is a proprietary opportunity that was sourced through our proactive search efforts in the Internet of Things market. It is our 5th
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
