Managers
Digital financial services investment and advisory firm Anthemis Group, and Exponential Ventures, the newly formed disruptive innovation and venture capital arm of MMI Holdings, have launched a global investment partnership that will invest in early stage financial wellness companies. MMI has provided the initial EUR30 million commitment while leaving room for other likeminded firms to join the initiative.
The investment partnership will operate on the principle that by supporting companies that improve the financial wellness of individuals and SMEs, investors can achieve ‘profit with purpose’ and help to create a prosperous and inclusive global growth economy. To that end, the
IGF Asset Based Lending (ABL) has facilitated the management buy-out (MBO) for Testing Solutions Group (TSG), with a GBP1.5million deal. The three-year facility, will be used for the acquisition and to provide ongoing working capital.
Established in 2002, TSG is a specialist software testing company that was formed to help ensure successful business outcomes for clients’ IT systems. The company provides assurance and testing solutions, certified and practical training and recruitment services, predominantly in financial services and law.
IGF ABL created a bespoke and short-timetable option for TSG, resulting in a GBP1.5million deal that included Accounts Receivable and a
Bregal Freshstream has acquired Radley, the well-known British handbag and accessories brand. Cavendish Corporate Finance advised Radley on the deal.
Founded in 1998, Radley is now the leading British handbag and accessories brand in the rapidly growing affordable luxury market with a multi-channel business and established distribution network covering the UK, Europe and Asia. Since 2007, the business has been majority owned by Exponent Private Equity.
Following the deal, veteran retailer Don McCarthy will join the business as Chairman. McCarthy is an entrepreneur with over 40 years investing, operating and controlling many high street names. He has previously held
AnaCap Financial Partners (AnaCap) has reached a final close on its third Credit Opportunities fund, raising a total of EUR595 million. AnaCap Credit Opportunities III was oversubscribed at its newly increased hard cap, following extremely strong interest from existing and new investors, and is approximately 30 per cent larger than its predecessor vehicle.
Combined with the firm’s latest private equity fund, AnaCap Financial Partners III, L.P., AnaCap has now closed funds totalling nearly EUR1.5 billion in 2016.
The Fund will target performing, semi-performing or non-performing credit assets comprising primarily consumer, SME and mortgage debt across Europe, including loans, leases, securities
Noerr has advised the Chemnitz-based start-up Staffbase in a Series A round of financing. The investors Capnamic Ventures and KIZOO Technology are providing the company with over EUR2 million in total.
The new lead investor Capnamic Ventures will also drive expansion into the US.
Staffbase, which has been on the market for two years, is now Europe’s leading provider of employee and intranet apps for smartphones. Among its clients are Heineken, Siemens, Viessmann and T-Systems MMS. Staffbase provides companies with a platform for producing their own employee apps in a straightforward way. In addition, news, documents, calendars or shift schedules
Mid-market private equity firm LDC has completed the exit of Synexus, a global research site group which provides patient recruitment and treatment services in support of drug research for clinical trials, in a deal that values the business at GBP178 million.
Synexus has been acquired by Jaguar Holding Company Luxembourg SARL and the transaction generates a 2.3x money multiple for LDC.
Headquartered in Manchester, UK, Synexus is one of the only global patient enrolment and investigator site management organisations (SMO). It enrols and manages patients for large, complex clinical trials on behalf of a number of leading international pharmaceutical,
Dunedin-backed CET, which supplies specialist outsourced services to the construction and insurance sectors, has acquired Chesterfield based Omega Calibration Laboratories, its second acquisition in just four weeks.
This acquisition will provide customers with a broader range of services and further cements CET’s position as a leading UKAS accredited testing and outsourcing powerhouse in the UK.
Omega Calibration Laboratories provides specialist metrology calibration services and repairs to a diverse range of sectors, with clients including Bombardier and JCB. In early May, CET completed the acquisition of Doncaster based testing business, Construction Testing Solutions (CTS).
Both acquisitions, which have
Caerphilly-based Direct Healthcare Group has acquired Nightingale Care Beds, a provider of specialist bariatric products.
The deal is the first in a series of planned acquisitions for the Direct Healthcare Group. The Group was formed following the management buyout of Direct Healthcare Services (DHS) in April this year, which was backed by NorthEdge Capital.
Nightingale, based in Wrexham, has more than 20 years’ experience providing bariatric equipment and services to a range of healthcare sectors.It has developed a reputation for market-leading service and support, and is renowned for its bariatric support packages, which are configured to suit specific requirements.
Laven Legal Services to continue alternative funds expansion
Clients of Laven Legal Services, the law firm linked to Laven Partners, are to move to London-based law firm GRM Law’s expanding alternative funds and financial services team, led by partners Alper Deniz and David Egan.
In Luxembourg, GRM Law will partner with MMS Legal Services to provide a package of English law and Luxembourg Law advice within a single offering.
Since its foundation in 2005, Laven Partners has expanded into providing a range of services including compliance consulting (amongst which UK regulatory hosting), and due diligence on compliance and operational risks.
BGF has invested GBP5 million in Pinnacle Technology Group plc, (PINN) an AIM-listed provider of ‘IT as a Service’. The funding will support the acquisition of Cheshire-headquartered adept4 and Pinnacle’s longer term growth strategy.
Pinnacle provides ‘IT as a Service’ predominantly to small and mid-sized businesses. In the past four months, the company has acquired The Weston Group, a provider of business telecoms services and Ancar-B, an IT services company. Both businesses are headquartered in Yorkshire.
The acquisition of adept4, along with the integration of The Weston Group and Ancar-B, will add significant scale to the Group’s platform and
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
