Managers
Using information from the recently released Preqin Investor Outlook: Alternative Assets H2 2015, Preqin explores institutional investors’ objectives, satisfaction with returns and activity within the real estate asset class in this extract from Preqin Real Estate Spotlight.
Investor objectives for real estate
A diverse range of institutional investors choose to invest in the real estate asset class, each with their own set of objectives. Fig 1 shows that there are a multitude of reasons that surveyed investors place above returns as their main motivation. The diversification benefits of real estate were cited by the largest proportion of respondents,
Togethera, the private photo and messaging platform aimed at families and close friendship groups has successfully closed a GBP220,000 crowd-funding round with Crowdcube.
The app – started by TrustedPlaces founder, Sokratis Papafloratos and former Facebook staffer Matt Dempsey – has seen a surge in sign-ups over the last year as users look for alternatives to other platforms seen increasingly as either insecure or simply cluttered and invasive.

Togethera is used by families and close-knit friendship groups looking for a private space online and on mobile where they can share photos, videos and updates without the worry of who's looking at
On-line travel business Momondo Group has secured a GBP10 million working capital line of credit from Silicon Valley Bank, the bank of the world’s most innovative businesses and their investors.
Momondo will use this facility to provide additional liquidity as the business pursues its ongoing growth strategy through global expansion and product development.
Momondo Group has a portfolio of three core brands, Cheapflights, momondo and Skygate, and operates dedicated sites in over 30 countries and territories around the world, in more than 20 languages. Momondo Group offers travel search and inspirational travel information, advice and tips to millions of
TVSMILES, the first quiz app that rewards its users for interacting with various ad formats in a gaming environment, has raised EUR5 million in a recent financing round.
In addition to new lead investor Omnes Capital (EUR2m), TVSMILES is set to receive new capital from its existing investors Ventech, e.ventures, German Startups Group, SevenOneMedia and its current business angels. TVSMILES will use the investments to drive the expansion of its UK business as well as product development.
TVSMILES is a quiz app that rewards users with “Smiles” for interacting with TV- and various digital ad formats. “Smiles” can be
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) is to acquire a stake of approximately 21.5 per cent in Homeplus, Tesco’s South Korean business, for USD534 million.
CPPIB made this acquisition as part of a consortium led by MBK Partners. The total transaction value is approximately USD6 billion.
Operating in South Korea since 1999, and with more than 1,000 retail outlets across the country, Homeplus is one of the largest multi-channel retailers in Korea and the number two player in both hypermarkets and supermarkets.
“We are pleased to invest alongside our longstanding partner, MBK Partners, in one of the leading
StartupXseed Ventures, a strategic seed funding company, has launched Aaruha Technology Fund (SEBI Registered), to invest in startups focussing around areas of High Technology Businesses including Security, Semicon and Embedded Devices.
The vision of the company is to enrich and provide a stronger holistic support to the start-up ecosystem in India in general and Bangalore/Hyderabad in particular and aims to provide end-to-end support to the seed level companies, in line with the country's current focus on "Make in India".
BV Naidu (pictured), Managing Partner, StartupXseed, says: "We are glad to announce the launch of Aaruha Technology Fund. The start-up
European private equity firm Cinven has exited its investment in Avolon following completion of the acquisition of the international aircraft leasing company by Bohai Leasing Co, the Chinese leasing business and part of HNA Group, for USD7.6 billion.
Bohai and Avolon have reached a definitive merger agreement at a price of USD31 cash per common share, representing a 55 per cent premium to Avolon’s initial public offering (‘IPO’) on the New York Stock Exchange in December 2014, at USD20 per share.
Cinven, along with its partners, created Avolon in May 2010 with an enterprise value of USD1.4 billion including
In this excerpt from Preqin Investor Outlook: Alternative Assets, H2 2015, we take a closer look at how investors source and select new investment opportunities, based on the results of our interviews with over 100 investors in hedge funds.
As our extract from the Preqin Special Report: Hedge Fund Manager Outlook reveals, fund managers are finding the fundraising environment more competitive. Therefore, it is more important than ever to understand how investors source and select new investment opportunities, in order to be in with a greater chance of gaining some of the capital earmarked for new investment. With this
Elian has agreed terms to buy SFM Europe, a provider of corporate services with more than EUR1 trillion of assets under administration.
Elian sees the acquisition ‘as an outstanding strategic fit for Elian as SFM Europe has a long established reputation for providing the highest level of client service, coupled with industry expertise and an outstanding portfolio of clients.”
According Paul Willing (pictured), chief executive officer of Elian: “This deal complements our corporate services business and extends the group’s geographic reach in the key European financial markets of Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Lisbon, Madrid and Milan.”
Established in 1999, and spanning
CensorNet has raised GBP2m in Series A funding. The funds will be primarily invested into bolstering its R&D for its popular platform, which helps organisations manage the risk of cloud applications in an increasingly mobile work environment.
The round was led by Talis Capital, with existing investors and management participating. Vasile Foca has joined the board as investor director.
SMEs and non-profit organisations use CensorNet to visualise, control and protect all internet activity and the use of cloud applications across all devices. CensorNet solutions give greater visibility to senior management and control to IT departments, allowing organisations to address
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