Managers
Edge Investments, a creative industries investor, has raised a new £GBP0m fund, with UK Government support, to invest in high growth companies in the creative industries.
Edge’s new Edge Creative Enterprise Fund brings together private sector funding from leading institutions and high net worth individuals, with a significant investment from the Government’s British Business Bank.
Edge Creative Enterprise Fund’s purpose is to nurture and assist creative businesses to grow. By their nature, many of these companies start with a small number of employees, and a high degree of entrepreneurial flair. Edge provides the crucial capital and mentoring skills to
Audax Group has held the final close of Audax Private Equity Fund V at its hard cap of USD2.25 billion of aggregate committed capital from a select group of institutional and high-net worth limited partners.
The fund was oversubscribed and exceeded its fundraising target of USD1.75 billion.
Consistent with its predecessor private equity funds, Fund V will continue Audax’ proven strategy of investing in middle-market companies across a select group of industries and will pursue a Buy & Build strategy that seeks to transform smaller companies into strategic assets.
Since its founding in 1999, Audax has raised USD12
Intrapharm Laboratories has been acquired by German pharmaceutical company Riemser Pharma following a period of sustained growth.
Purchased by the existing management team in 2009, Intrapharm is a fast growing specialty pharmaceutical group marketing niche pharmaceutical products with a primary focus on prescription-based and selected ‘over the counter’ (OTC) products. Intrapharm has since established itself as an important supplier to both the NHS and pharmacy wholesale markets ensuring the ongoing supply of pharmaceutical products with proven therapeutic value and medical need. Current products address therapeutic areas covering Oncology, Ophthalmology, Pain, Gastrointestinal and Dermatology.
Intrapharm’s CEO Kevin James and COO
Law firm Howard Kennedy and its regulated London Stock Exchange sponsor, Howard Kennedy Corporate Services, have advised Pembroke VCT on the launch of its 2015 share offer.
Pembroke VCT, which is managed by part of Peter Duben’s Oakley Capital Group, will look to raise GBP15 million in 2015/16 and continue to invest in a diverse range of companies, with a bias towards consumer-facing businesses with either established brands or brand development opportunities.
Howard Kennedy has advised Pembroke VCT plc since its launch in 2013, when its first subscription offer raised GBP18.3 million. Since then Pembroke VCT plc has made
Investment bank Houlihan Lokey has acquired the investment banking operations of Leonardo & Co (Leonardo) in Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain and has become a minority partner in a joint venture with the management team of Leonardo, in respect of Leonardo’s investment banking operations in Italy. The transaction closed on November 16.
Leonardo is an independent financial advisory firm that provides corporate finance, financial restructuring, and other strategic advisory services to clients in a range of industries across continental Europe. With approximately 54 financial professionals including 12 Managing Directors, the business has offices in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan and Rome
AN affiliate of Private equity investment firm HIG Capital (HIG) has made a strategic investment in port logistics business Ship Supply International.
Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, Ship Supply provides timely and complex last-mile delivery of critical products and maritime services to cruise, cargo and military marine vessels. Through its asset-light business model, the Company has created a highly-scalable platform that executes on critical customer requirements in over 100 domestic and international ports.
“We are very excited about Ship Supply’s next phase of growth and to partner with HIG,” says Christian Giannakopoulos, President of Ship Supply.
Aethon Energy Management, a Dallas-based private investment firm focused on onshore oil & gas, has held the final closing of its second energy private equity fund, Aethon II LP.
Together with co-investments, Aethon's recent fundraising represents USD240 million in total capital commitments.
Aethon's recent activity exceeded the USD200 million target that the Company established at the outset of fundraising, and the fund received commitments from both new and existing institutional investors. The fund enabled Aethon's management to continue its strategy of acquiring and developing onshore oil and gas assets that provide attractive, asymmetric returns. Concurrent with this final closing
London‐based education technology start-up, BridgeU, has finalised a USD2.5 million seed fundraising round led by Octopus Investments, with participation from Fresco Capital and Seedcamp.
Other prominent investors include Jonnie Goodwin (Lepe Partners/Founders Forum) and Deborah Quazzo, who plans to contribute her personal investment in BridgeU to GSV Capital’s new EdTech focused fund.
BridgeU has developed the first adaptive university preparation and careers guidance platform for students and secondary schools for use both here in the UK and internationally. A SaaS solution, the platform uses machine learning techniques to recommend to students the best courses and appropriate Universities for them,
The John Laing Environmental Asset Group (JLEN) has acquired a solar PV portfolio for a cash consideration, including working capital, of GBP9.7 million.
The fully operational 2.3 MW solar energy generation portfolio comprises 303 systems of residential rooftop, commercial rooftop and commercial ground mounted solar PV installations, distributed across England, Wales and Scotland. The portfolio benefits from the UK feed-in tariff for 25 years from the date of installation of individual systems which is linked to an annual increase in the UK Retail Price Index.
The portfolio comprises a number of special purpose companies financed and owned by Venture
LoveCrafts has secured USD20 million in a funding round led by Highland Europe, with participation from existing investor Balderton Capital.
Addressing the USD100 billion craft industry, LoveCrafts is at the centre of the crafting community, with its sites LoveKnitting.com and LoveCrochet.com attracting millions of visitors every month. The company has experienced phenomenal growth, tripling each year and now distributes to customers in over 100 countries worldwide. LoveCrafts has physical operations in North America and Europe, and sites in English and German languages. In customer reviews LoveCrafts has outstanding levels of customer satisfaction.
LoveCrafts builds homes for crafters online, with a disruptive business
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
