Managers
Mid-market private equity firm LDC has exited its investment in Ministry of Cake, the UK’s largest dedicated dessert manufacturer, in a sale to French counterpart Mademoiselle Desserts for an undisclosed sum.
Headquartered in Taunton, Ministry of Cake produces over three million slices of hand-finished cakes, puddings and desserts every week, supplying many major restaurant, pub and coffee shop chains.
LDC backed a management buyout of the business from Greencore Group in May 2014 with an investment strategy to deliver major growth across all channels of the business.
The business subsequently completed the acquisition of The Creative Foods factory
BaltCap Private Equity Fund II, managed by BaltCap, is to buy the business operations serving the local markets in the Baltic States from European vending and coffee services company Selecta Group.
The Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian businesses altogether employ about 75 people and generate net sales in excess of EUR10 million.
“BaltCap considers Selecta’s Baltic businesses as very successfully managed entities with a fully committed and experienced staff delivering excellent client satisfaction and outstanding results," says Sandijs Abolins-Abols, partner of BaltCap. "Thus, we are excited to enter the business that will serve as a solid base for pursuing business
Vortex, a European renewable energy platform managed by the private equity arm of EFG Hermes, is to acquire 100 per cent of a 365 MW operational solar PV power portfolio in the UK owned by TerraForm Power.
The transaction is valued at an enterprise value of circa GBP470 million and comprises 24 operational assets, representing one of the largest portfolios of solar PV in the UK.
The closing of the transaction is subject to the completion of certain conditions precedents.
“This landmark acquisition caps a two-year period in which our private equity team has built Vortex from a
NewSpring Holdings, NewSpring Capital’s dedicated buy and build strategy, has acquired Vertical Management Systems (VMS), headquartered in Pasadena, California.
VMS is a technology innovation firm which provides integrated solutions to solve today’s key issues like fiduciary risk, fee transparency and revenue reconciliation.
VMS processes over USD600 billion in assets, five million accounts and 500,000 trades annually.
“Since joining NewSpring Holdings, we’ve been evaluating various platforms to launch a new financial services growth initiative,” says Jim Ashton, general partner, NewSpring Holdings. “When NewSpring learned of the VMS opportunity and given my years of experience working with Kevin and Bob, we
Livingstone's media and technology team has advised mid-market private equity house Bowmark Capital and the corporate private equity business of Rothschild Merchant Banking, Five Arrows Principal Investments, on the sale of Autodata to Solera Holdings for GBP340 million.
Livingstone had previously advised the founders of Autodata on its GBP143 million sale to Bowmark and Five Arrows Principal Investments in May 2014 and subsequently advised Solera on its GBP288 million acquisition of CAP Automotive in November 2014.
The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to complete in February 2017.
Established in 1975, Autodata publishes technical information on approximately 40,000 vehicle models from
Private equity firm Arlingtin Capital Partners has acquired Molecular Products Group (MPG) which was previously backed by BGF (Business Growth Fund).
Headquartered in Harlow, Essex, MPG is a manufacturer of advanced chemistry-based products serving the healthcare, defence and industrial markets.
The company primarily specialises in the manufacture and supply of chemical technologies for the treatment of breathable gases and is able to serve its global customer base out of its two primary manufacturing facilities in Harlow, Essex and Boulder, Colorado.
MPG was majority owned by the McKernan family whose father established the company in 1973. Since 1995 it
Private equity firm HIG Capital has acquired Bigsal, an animal nutrition provider in the north region of Brazil.
Founded in 2003 in the state of Rondônia, Bigsal focuses on ruminants and also provides supplements for fish, pet and other animal species.
Fernando Marques Oliveira, managing director and head of HIG Latin America, says: “We are very pleased to get involved with Bigsal. The company’s management and founding shareholders have done a terrific job in building the leading animal nutrition provider in Rondônia, and HIG will now support Bigsal in its geographic and portfolio expansion, both organically and inorganically. We
UK mid-market private equity firm Graphite Capital has agreed to sell Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS), the UK’s second largest distributor of car, 4×4 and motorcycle tyres, to Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd (SRI).
Listed on the Tokyo stock exchange, SRI is the sixth largest tyre manufacturer in the world. The transaction is subject to European Commission approval.
The sale price of GBP215 million represents a return of approximately 3.7 times Graphite’s investment in the company.
MTS is the UK’s second largest distributor of tyres to independent retailers and the third largest retailer of tyres, offering all major premium tyre
Vivaris Capital has created what it says is the first private equity hedge fund, which is designed to deliver superior alternative asset returns while mitigating downside risk.
The structure deployed by Vivaris uses a portfolio of investment grade securities to diversify risk and to provide liquidity.
The investment strategy targets middle-market, well-established companies and late-stage technology businesses that are at an inflection point and poised for growth. Capital and aggressive management then drive product, sales and market expansion.
The fund also invests in and acquires value-added residential and commercial real estate developments where renovations and marketing can lead
Gamut Capital Management has closed its debut middle market private equity fund, Gamut Investment Fund I, at USD1 billion, exceeding the fund’s USD750 million target.
Gamut’s flexible investment strategy incorporates leveraged buy-outs, corporate carve-outs, strategic partnerships, and distressed-for-control situations.
The fund’s target investment size ranges from USD50 million to USD150 million with an ability to selectively scale up its capital commitment in partnership with its LPs.
Gamut’s founding partners, Stan Parker and Jordan Zaken, have more than 30 years combined experience investing across sectors, capital structures and cycles. Target industries include agriculture, chemicals, telecom, industrials, mining, power, distribution,
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
