Managers
IFC, LeapFrog Investments, and DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft – have invested USD165 million in convertible Tier 2 bonds issued by Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDBank), a Vietnamese private retail and SME bank.
While strengthening the bank’s capital base, the funding will help increase lending to retail and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including women-owned or -led ones.
The bond raise will also help HDBank enhance its environmental and social (E&S) risk management capacity by introducing IFC Performance Standards while improving the bank’s corporate governance policies in line with international best practices, including a
SwiftSkill, a digital platform that allows aspiring esports professionals to assess, track and improve their performance, has raised GBP150,000 in pre-seed funding from Jenson Funding Partners.
The funding will allow the business to expand its team and provide its service to additional esports game titles, to help gamers build their skills to become professional esports players.
SwiftSkill works by providing a digital analysis tool that gives player’s an insight into their performance. The platform analyses data from matches, providing insight, heat maps and a breakdown of their performance. Players can then identify trends and skills that will succeed in future
BCB Group, a European provider of business accounts and trading services for the digital asset economy, has closed a USD60 million Series A funding round co-led by Foundation Capital with participation from BACKED VC, PayU (the fintech and e-payments business of Prosus), Digital Currency Group, Nexo, Wintermute, Menai Financial Group, Circle, Tokentus Investment, Cowa, Profluent Ventures and LAUNCHub Ventures.
Arrowpoint Advisory has advised Stewart Milne Group on the divestment of Stewart Milne Timber Systems, a UK-based timber frame manufacturer, to the Donaldson Group, a timber and building products specialist, operating throughout the UK.
Stewart Milne Group (SMG) was founded in 1975 and is one of the UK’s largest independent housebuilders with offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester and 20-plus active sites UK-wide. SMG will now focus on investing in additional sites for its Homes Division, using their considerable land buying experience to take advantage of development opportunities.
Stewart Milne Timber Systems (SMTS), was established as the timber
Circularity Capital has continued to build its portfolio of European growth stage businesses enabling the circular economy, by co-leading a EUR30 million Series A growth capital round in Lendis.
Lendis has also raised EUR50 million in debt, contributing to a EUR80 million financing round in total.
The German-based business specialises in hybrid work equipment solutions, such as modular furniture and electronic devices, supplied on a rental basis.
Prime Capital, an independent asset manager and financial services provider based in Frankfurt, has held the final close of its sustainable multi-investor infrastructure fund Prime Green Energy Infrastructure Fund (PGEIF) with total commitments of EUR586 million, significantly exceeding its target volume of EUR500 million.
CVC Credit has co-arranged the unitranche debt facilities, featuring an ESG margin ratchet, to support Partners Group’s acquisition (on behalf of its clients) of Pharmathen, a European pharmaceutical company, which closed on 20 January 2022.
CVC Credit will support the continuing growth strategy of the business through its European Direct Lending Strategy, which focuses on lending to established European medium and large companies with proven business models.
Founded in 1969, Pharmathen is a contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) specialising in advanced drug delivery technologies for complex generic pharmaceutical products.
ECI Partners’ KB Associates has reached an agreement to join the Waystone Group, a global provider of institutional governance, risk and compliance services, subject to regulatory approval.
Wellth Ventures has launched as a venture capital investment firm committed to building a healthier, more sustainable and more connected world.
Through Wellth Ventures, Founding Partners Allie Hope and Suzie Baleson will focus on early-stage opportunities in the “Better-for-You and Your Planet” consumer product and hospitality-focused proptech sectors, and will support like-minded entrepreneurs with a unique vision for the future.
Hope and Baleson have extensive operating and investment experience across Wellth Ventures’ target sectors. Hope was until recently Chief Development Officer of Virgin Hotels, a collection of lifestyle hotels operated by the Virgin Group, while Baleson is the founder of
True Wind Capital (True Wind), a San Francisco-based private equity firm focused on investing in leading technology companies, and Elyan Partners (Elyan), a member of the Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity partnership, have made a growth investment in Envoy Global (Envoy), a provider of software and services solutions to the global business immigration market.
True Wind and Elyan are partnering with Palladium Equity Partners (Palladium), affiliates of which acquired Envoy in September 2021 and which will remain the company’s largest shareholder.
Based in Chicago, Envoy provides workforce management solutions that empower companies to hire the best talent regardless of where
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
