Managers
Investor appetite remains strong for specific opportunities with the right dynamics in the UK’s casual dining sector – despite the current challenging conditions on the high street, according to Connection Capital, a specialist private client investment business.
The firm recently completed an allocation to a management buyout (MBO) of Rosa’s Thai Café, alongside leading private equity firm TriSpan, a specialist in this sector.
Rosa’s is a profitable 17-strong chain of Thai restaurants, primarily based in London, which is now targeting a roll-out to 45 sites (both restaurants and ‘grab-and-go’ outlets) UK-wide over the next five years. Openings to date
Fresh Direct Produce, a portfolio company of middle market private equity firm HKW, has acquired Islands West Manufacturing (Islands West). Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, Islands West is a family-owned wholesaler of produce, processed fruits, dried spices, and fresh-cut vegetables. Fresh Direct Produce, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a distributor of more than 1,000 domestic and imported organic fruit and vegetable items.
“This acquisition meets several key objectives for Fresh Direct Produce, offering our customers a range of complementary new products, a wider and more
Lucid Group, a portfolio company of private equity investor LDC and a specialist in healthcare communications, has acquired healthcare consultancy Healthcare 21.
Lucid Group currently comprises five medical communications specialists, Bluedog, Leading Edge, Lighthouse, Lucid Partners and ViVid. HealthCare21 meanwhile, has been producing healthcare materials and programmes for its clients, reaching and engaging healthcare audiences for over 23 years. The team has experience in scientific strategy, content creation, editorial excellence and digital design – capabilities that Lucid Group will leverage to create impactful client campaigns.
Both Lucid Group and HealthCare21 clients will experience significant benefits from this new relationship with
KKR has acquired a majority stake in Burning Glass Technologies, a real-time labour market data source, from Providence Strategic Growth. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
The investment is part of KKR’s Global Impact strategy, which is focused on identifying and investing behind companies whose core business models provide commercial solutions that contribute measurable progress toward one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By providing the data to drive lifelong learning and market-aligned training, Burning Glass is delivering measurable progress in achieving two of the United Nations SDGs – Quality Education, and Decent
Arfaei will be responsible for helping to identify and evaluate investment opportunities for the firm’s venture capital business. Previously, he served as a Managing Director with BMO Capital Markets, where he was a senior equity research analyst covering major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
“Alex’s unique combination of equity research and industry operating experience will significantly benefit our team as we seek to source innovative investment opportunities for the current and future Pappas Ventures funds,” says Art Pappas, founder and Managing Partner of Pappas Capital. “We are pleased to welcome Alex to Pappas as we continue to execute on our mission
Arfaei will be responsible for helping to identify and evaluate investment opportunities for the firm’s venture capital business. Previously, he served as a Managing Director with BMO Capital Markets, where he was a senior equity research analyst covering major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
“Alex’s unique combination of equity research and industry operating experience will significantly benefit our team as we seek to source innovative investment opportunities for the current and future Pappas Ventures funds,” says Art Pappas, founder and Managing Partner of Pappas Capital. “We are pleased to welcome Alex to Pappas as we continue to execute on our mission
CAPZA – a private investment platform focusing on small and midcaps – has acquired a minority stake in Audensiel’s capital, a consulting company specialised in technological innovation and digital transformation.
Founded in 2013, Audensiel has experienced five years of strong growth thanks to its innovation culture, agile organisation and differentiating positioning at the heart of the convergence of industrial systems and information systems for key accounts.
Its multi-specialist offer is based on three areas of expertise:
• Technology: cutting-edge R&D engineering projects (onboard systems, robotics, processes, industrial site automation, etc)
• Digital: digital transformation consulting, design and
Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower mid-market, is to sell The Luminaires Group, a North American manufacturer of specification-grade and architectural lighting fixtures, to Acuity Brands.
Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
“Luminaires’ management team, under the leadership of Christian Fabi, built a world-class business with an incredible culture and a deep commitment to serving its customers with innovative lighting solutions,” says Marc Buan, a Sentinel Principal. “During our partnership, Luminaires has successfully completed a complex consolidation of three separate divisions and has integrated two add-on acquisitions, which
Plans for a cleaner and healthier Britain stepped up a gear today, as Ministers announced more than half a billion pounds of investment in green technologies.
The Treasury has launched a GBP400 million fund, CIIF, to bolster Britain’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure, with the first GBP70 million provided by government and UAE renewables investor Masdar – allocated for 3000 charge points.
This more than doubles the number across the UK to 5000. The fund is managed by London based Zouk Capital.
Rapid charge points can recharge a family car in as little as 20 minutes, compared to existing
Global fundraising for insurtech neared USD3 billion in H1 2019 and is on track to reaching USD6 billion by the end of the year, according to latest Insurtech M&A Market Report from international technology mergers and acquisitions advisors, Hampleton Partners.
Last year, insurtech fundraises increased 27 per cent, with 257 deals closed in 2018 vs 202 deals in 2017.
Hampleton Partners also noted that nearly one third of insurtech investments targeted European companies, with Europe’s global investment share growing from 23 per cent to 31 per cent.
This trend is spearheaded by insurtech hubs in Germany, the UK and
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
