Managers
With all change of control and regulatory approvals now in place, JTC has completed the acquisition of Irish asset manager Ballybunion Capital Limited (Ballybunion), first announced in September 2021.
Kirk & Kirk, a high fashion glasses and sunglasses retailer whose major investor is private equity firm Growthdeck, has seen more than 40 per cent year-on-year revenue growth in the past 12 months, despite the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Growth at Kirk & Kirk has been driven by the business securing a number of major new wholesale agreements, with more than 400 independent stockists worldwide now retailing its frames.
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice has completed the USD2.5 billion sale of Sirius Computer Solutions, a provider of technology-based solutions for corporate and institutional customers, to CDW.
Textkernel, a search and match technology specialist has made the add-on acquisition of US-based AI company Sovren.
Sovren, which delivers a similar product suite, predominantly within the North American market, is based in Texas, USA. The combination of both companies creates a market leading player in the AI-based search and match technology space. This seamlessly fits into Textkernel’s mission to connect people and jobs, better.
With this strategic step, Textkernel continues its exciting growth trajectory and strengthens its North American and APAC footprint. Both Textkernel and Sovren have achieved impressive growth in recent years, both inside and outside the USA.
European revenue-based finance provider Round2 Capital, has expanded its commitment to the Nordic tech market with a EUR4 million investment in Finnish SaaS company Vainu.
The investment fund, based in Vienna, Berlin and Stockholm, has been working with Vainu since 2019 and provided both revenue-based financing and equity in the current round. With this fresh capital, Vainu was able to transform its business, doubling its annual average customer value (ACV) while systematically moving away from a small standalone customer segment.
Vainu is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) vendor that operates a company information platform to help customers achieve rich personalisation in sales
All-in-one charge point and EV-friendly energy tariff comparison service Rightcharge, has raised GBP700k in a fully subscribed Seed funding round, to help accelerate the adoption of smart EV charging in the UK.
Investors include Link Venture Capital (a Norwegian cleantech VC), and a host of Angel investors such as James Hind (founder of carwow), Mike Allen (Zeus Capital/ early investor in carwow), Stuart Dyble (co-founder of Influence emobility / former board member at Jaguar Land Rover) and Julia Stent (former Commercial Director at uSwitch).
Rightcharge unlocks the benefits of smart charging for EV drivers by helping them find the right
The number of acquisitions made by private equity-backed businesses across the UK shown signs of stabilising after a buoyant period, according to Rickitt Mitchell’s Buy and Build Barometer.
The Dutch central bank has approved a EUR193 million funding round agreed between bunq and Pollen Street Capital, a British private equity firm.
The deal values the Amsterdam-based challenger bank at EUR1.6 billion and sets a new record for a series A investment in a European fintech company.
bunq will use the injection of funds to fuel the company’s growth across Europe, following this year’s introduction of German, French and Spanish IBANs to its offering and the opening of offices in Paris and Cologne. To help achieve this goal, the bank plans to double its total number of staff
Pitchdrive, a Belgian-based start-up funding platform investing in European early-stage ventures, has held the first closing of its second fund at EUR20 million, organised in collaboration with SmartFin.
Pitchdrive leverages data-driven deal selection and extensive entrepreneurial expertise towards one goal: to offer promising technology start-ups the initial funds they need to launch their business. Pitchdrive was founded by known tech entrepreneurs all confronted with an underserved and scattered European seed investment landscape. Among the founding fathers of Pitchdrive Fund II are Jonas Dhaenens, Jürgen Ingels, Lorenz Bogaert, Wim Derkinderen, Toon Coppens, Luc Verelst, Koen Christiaens, and Boris Bogaert.
Pitchdrive’s Fund
The private equity investment platform of Edmond de Rothschild Group and PeakBridge, a specialist in Agri-FoodTech investing, are partnering to accelerate the growth of Peakbridge’s investment platform.
Their shared goal will be to support Agri-FoodTech startups in their growth stages. The joint effort will, at first, target EUR250 million in assets under management, and will look to grow further in the future. Given the global reach and capabilities of both organisations, the intent will be to impact long-term environmental and social challenges.
Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity and PeakBridge bring together two well-aligned organizations that, through the power of innovation
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
