Managers
Spencer Capital Holdings has acquired SouthWest Dealer Services (SWDS), an independent full-service provider of finance and insurance (“F&I”) products and services to auto dealers in the United States.
SWDS has more than 250 employees that currently serve over 550 active dealers across 14 states in the south-western and mid-western US. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
SWDS is an independent full-service F&I distribution platform, founded in 1988 by Steve Alderson. The firm’s approach utilises local sales forces whereby dealers have a hands-on experience with SWDS representatives in their individual markets. SWDS currently operates eight strategic locations, situated within
Crestbridge (Luxembourg) has provided AIFM ManCo services for the launch of SFRE (pronounced Sapphire), an open-ended investment fund providing long-term capital to banks focused on serving the real economy.
The fund aims to deliver a triple bottom line of ‘prosperity, planet and people’.
"We are delighted to participate in the launching of this Fund, reinforcing our position both as a leading SuperManco in Luxembourg but also a supporter of the socially responsible investment market", says Daniela Klasén-Martin (pictured), Managing Director and Country head of Crestbridge (Luxembourg).
As announced in Paris on 11 March, SFRE was initiated by the
Darktrace has raised USD18m in a Series A funding round led by Talis Capital, with participation from Invoke Capital and Hoxton Ventures.
Based on advanced machine learning and mathematics developed at the University of Cambridge, and with customers including BT, Virgin Trains and Drax, Darktrace is rapidly shifting the way cyber security is approached as the market transitions to a new model based on early-stage detection of cyber threats that bypass traditional controls.
The company will continue its fast global growth and today announces its expansion into Asia Pacific.
“Darktrace is growing at a phenomenal rate. It has been barely
European crowdfunding platform FundedByMe has launched a bitcoin pilot programme designed to assess client interest in paying using the digital currency. This test will take 45 days.
“We see that among our investors, a great many of them are early-adopters. We also know that bitcoin users are familiar with new inventions at an early stage. That’s why we thought that we may offer both groups something interesting,” says Daniel Daboczy, CEO and cofounder of FundedByMe.
The bitcoin pilot project has started with the launch of an equity-crowdfunding campaign for Safello, a bitcoin trading platform. Safello will also transfer bitcoin payments
Healthcare investment firm Vivo Capital has held the final closing of Vivo Capital Fund VIII at USD750 million, which brings the firm's total funds under management to more than USD1.7 billion.
Vivo plans to invest the capital primarily in later development stage pharmaceutical and medical device companies in the US and in revenue stage healthcare companies in greater China. Vivo plans to continue assisting companies in both countries in their efforts to forge cross-border partnerships, enabling companies to acquire new products and expand the market for their existing products. Vivo also intends to continue its successful strategies of building companies
Reevoo, a specialist in enterprise level content marketing solutions, has announced a further funding round, which brings new monies raised to in excess of GBP6.5m.
This new injection follows a period of rapid growth and blue-chip company wins. This investment will be used to extend Reevoo’s product portfolio as well as extending sales and marketing into new territories and verticals. MMC Ventures led the funding round alongside existing investors: Eden and Banexi as well as new investor Talis Capital.
Reevoo collects trusted user-generated content to provide businesses with a platform for consumer engagement, advocacy and customer intelligence. It
New private equity firm Plus2 Capital has held the closing of its first fund. The firm’s founding partners, Nathaniel Broughton and Brandon Laughridge, recently formed Plus2 after completing multiple acquisitions in Southern California in partnership with Succession Capital, a division of Lynx Equity Limited.
“Plus2 Capital is our opportunity to combine our background as tech entrepreneurs with the experience we gained doing transactions for Succession,” says Broughton, who has offices in La Jolla.
The firm will focus on acquiring companies with USD4-USD30 million in revenue and USD1-USD3 million in cash flow EBITDA, which can benefit from an injection of online
Palatine Private Equity has completed the management buy out of the mortgage broking business, John Charcol, and the financial planning business of the Towergate Group.
The Financial Planning business will be announcing a new brand in the coming weeks whilst John Charcol will continue to trade under the brand it has successfully built over the last 40 years.
Palatine Private Equity has backed Ian Darby and the existing management team of both businesses in the management buy out. Darby has joined as full time Executive Chairman of the businesses and will work alongside the incumbent management team. The
Global private equity firm HIG Capital has completed the recapitalisation of Fox River Fiber. Fox River will be combined with Rolland Enterprises Inc. (“Rolland”), a market leader in the production of recycled fine papers and security papers, which was acquired by an HIG affiliate in 2014.
Headquartered in De Pere, WI, Fox River is a leading “green” manufacturer of premium de-inked recycled pulp produced using post-consumer waste paper. Fox River operates out of a highly automated state of the art facility. The Company’s products are sold to paper mills for use in printing and writing, tissue and towel, and Food
K2 Capital Partners has held the final closing of its debut fund. Investors include leading investment institutions, family offices, and high net worth individuals.
K2 Capital Partners is targeting well-established, profitable lower middle market companies with sales between USD10 million and USD40 million operating in growing industries. The firm’s strategy is to focus on smaller businesses which fall below the investment parameters of most investment firms, and offer a successful exit path for business owners. K2 Capital Partners will invest in businesses that can benefit from the firm’s significant capital base, deep industry relationships, and substantial operational resources. It will
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
