Managers
By Jude Scott, Cayman Finance – In August 1864, 900 miles almost due North of the Cayman Islands, US Navy Rear Admiral David Farragut faced a pivotal moment. Leading a squadron charged with attacking Confederate forces in Mobile Bay, Alabama, Farragut’s flotilla encountered tethered mines known then as “torpedoes” which ultimately threatened his mission and his men. Acting decisively to navigate around the threat and pursue his objective, Farragut uttered the phrase that has now passed into military lore: “Damn the torpedoes! Full steam ahead!”
Leaders in every walk of life will meet challenges that could distract their focus, diminish
Wallbox has closed a EUR33 million financing round to help propel the company’s expansion into new markets and meet global demand for its award-winning Electric Vehicle charging solutions.
The investment is the latest endorsement of Wallbox’s proprietary technology and support for its mission to reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. The round was led by new investors Cathay Innovation and WIND Ventures with participation from existing investors Iberdrola and Seaya Ventures, and others.
The new funds will finance strategic growth initiatives including the opening of new offices globally, expansion of manufacturing and R&D facilities and the hiring of more
Thorntons Investment Management Limited has been provided with funding to support the acquisitions of Matheson Financial Consulting Limited and Sonas Wealth Management Limited by leading alternative finance provider for mid-sized SMEs, ThinCats.
Thorntons Investment Management is an Independent Financial Advisor providing a range of wealth and asset management services to high net worth individuals and corporate clients, specialising in investment management and wealth planning.
The company was set up in 1995 and today has significant Assets Under Management. Thorntons has offices in both Dundee and Edinburgh, with the acquisition of Matheson Financial Consulting seeing their services extend to Aberdeen.
As
Reckitt Benckiser’s (RB) venture division has led a GBP4 million funding round in India-based Bombay Shaving Company (BSC).
With a mission to make high-quality health, hygiene and nutrition accessible to all, RB’s venture arm is partnering with early-stage start-ups who share its ‘fight for access’.
Launched in 2016, BSC has a portfolio of over 100 products across shaving, bath and body, skin, and beard care. RB’s investment will support the company’s plans to scale its operations and provide BSC with access to RB’s global scale, expertise and mentorship, helping to grow the start-up as the leaders in men’s wellness.
Arjun
European private equity firm Montagu Private Equity (Montagu) is to acquire a majority position in ITRS Group (ITRS), a global provider of real-time monitoring and analytics software from TA Associates (TA), who will remain a minority holder alongside Montagu and Management.
Completion is expected next month, subject to customary closing requirements. The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
ITRS’ software portfolio supports the “always on” enterprise, ensuring operational resilience for businesses operating in environments where technology failure means business failure. Headquartered in London, the company has established itself as an innovative and trusted partner, and today has over
Lauxera Capital Partners, a newly created, international healthcare investment firm, announces that it has raised approximately EUR100 million for the first closing of Lauxera Growth I, its debut European HealthTech growth/buyout vehicle.
Despite Covid-19-related travel restrictions, the fund met this key fundraising milestone less than six months after launch. International institutional investors, strategics, and renowned family offices participated including Covea, Téthys, Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille, Financière Dassault, Candriam (New York Life), and Bpifrance which invested off of its balance sheet and via its Growth Fund of Funds (on behalf of private insurers and the Caisse des Dépôts).
Lauxera Growth I
UK private equity deal activity bounced back in the second half of 2020, although a profound slump in transactions in Q2 as lockdown gripped the M&A market meant that total annual deal volumes hit their lowest levels in more than seven years.
KPMG’s latest study of UK transactions involving private equity investors indicates that a total of 889 deals completed over the course of 2020, with a combined value of GBP87.2 billion. This was the fewest number of private equity transactions seen in the UK since before 2014, and a fall of 26 per cent on the previous year, which
Ignite Growth (Ignite), a UK-based investor focused on supporting the growth of ambitious, fast growing companies, has acquired Newcastle Tool & Gauge Ltd (NTG), as the first stage in a buy and build growth strategy.
Financial terms of the transaction, which is Ignite’s second buy and build platform investment, have not been disclosed.
Founded in 1979, NTG is a precision engineering business based in Gateshead. It manufactures low volume, high value parts for use in Severe Duty Engineering Applications, where its products operate in high temperature, high pressure or high stress environments.
Prior to Ignite’s investment, NTG had three shareholders,
ELSA, a mobile app that uses artificial intelligence and speech recognition technology to help language learners improve their English speaking skills and pronunciation, has cUSDosed Series B round of USD15 million in new capital.
This round was co-led by VI (Vietnam Investments) Group and SIG. Previous investors Gradient Ventures, Google’s AI-focused venture fund, SOSV, and Monk’s Hill Ventures also participated in this round. New investors are Endeavor Catalyst and Globant Ventures, which will assist ELSA’s expansion efforts in Latin America.
With over 13 million users worldwide, ELSA (English Language Speech Assistant) is the world’s best English speaking and pronunciation app.
Bazaar Group, a market-leading furniture manufacturer and ecommerce retailer based in Cramlington, Northumberland, has secured a multi-million pound investment from Comhar Capital as part of a GBP10 million deal to support its international growth plans.
Through the investment Comhar Capital has acquired a majority share in the business. The funding will support Bazaar Group’s future market development which is focused on international expansion, particularly new ecommerce platforms in the UK and Europe in order to address a growing online consumer audience.
Bazaar Group was established in 2005. The company has grown to become a soft seating category leader under the
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12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
