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GBP100 million has been invested in the region’s small businesses through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF).
Private equity investors in Africa are showing strong interest in internet and direct marketing retail, education and communication services according to a new research report, Bright Africa 2020 – Private Equity in Africa – from purpose-driven investment firm RisCura.
Consumer products have always been a focus of private equity investors in Africa, due to the opportunities presented by the continent’s growing middle-class. However, this new focus on online retail and services could indicate a shift from focusing on a broader target market with lower income to targeting a smaller market, but with higher income.
The Bright Africa 2020 research shows
User research platform Ribbon has secured GBP200,000 in a pre-seed funding round from investors including, MMC Ventures, RLC Ventures and a group of London based angel investors.
Ribbon has been launched by solo-founder Axel Thomson, to help product managers, product designers and user researchers build better digital products by making it easy to connect with and interview your own users.
Digital product teams are always aiming to understand how the products they build are perceived by their users, and how they can improve their product offerings. To gather feedback from users, teams traditionally have had to recruit research participants themselves, or
Odyssey Investment Partners, a growth-oriented private equity firm with a successful track record in insurance services, has partnered with the SIAA (Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance) management team to acquire the Company.
SIAA’s chairman and founder, Jim Masiello, says: “We’ve been exploring our perpetuation options for some time now, with special consideration to the ongoing success of our master agencies and member agencies across the country. This transaction provides for the continued success of our model and all who participate in it.”
Masiello will step away from the organisation after an accomplished and successful career as a leader in the
General Atlantic is leading a USD145 million (EUR122 million) financing round in Staffbase, a start-up provider of digital solutions for internal communications, to help the company grow internationally and strengthen its global leadership in the employee engagement space.
Existing investors Insight Partners and e.ventures will also contribute to this round of financing, KIZOO and Capnamic Ventures remain invested. As part of the partnership, Achim Berg, Operating Partner at General Atlantic and President of Bitkom, Germany’s digital association, will join the advisory board of Staffbase.
Established in Chemnitz in 2014, Staffbase has become a high-growth, multi-award-winning provider of an internal
Sanne, a global provider of alternative asset and corporate administration services has become the first successful applicant to secure a much-anticipated specialised depositary licence from the Central Bank of Ireland. Obtaining this licence further enhances Sanne’s capabilities in Ireland and its multi-jurisdictional proposition for alternative fund managers.
Read the full story at Hedgeweek…
Stephens, an independent and family-owned investment bank, has expanded its European capabilities with the addition of healthcare sector specialist Lars Friemann.
An experienced senior banker, Friemann joins Stephens’ integrated global healthcare sector team. Prior to joining Stephens’ Frankfurt-based team, Friemann spent eight years at Harris Williams & Co, where he was a director and founding member of the group’s German operations.
The global Covid-19 pandemic has intensified the spotlight on the healthcare sector, which is set to receive additional investor attention over the coming years. With consolidation in the US healthcare space currently well ahead of Europe, Lars will harness
Shore Capital Partners (Shore Capital) has completed a partnership with Innovative Packaging Company (IPC), a custom packaging solutions provider based in Vancouver, Washington.
Innovative Packaging Company was founded in 2012 by co-founders Jeremy and Matt Concannon as a full-service, value-add custom packaging distribution business. IPC’s core service offerings include packaging procurement, supply chain management, warehousing, and custom design services. The company sells a diverse product mix including flexible packaging, fibre-based packaging, hardware, and labels into strong food and beverage end-markets.
Jeremy Concannon, President of IPC, notes: “We are excited about the partnership with Shore Capital given their playbook for explosive
Bridges Fund Management (Bridges), the specialist sustainable and impact investor, has partnered with Matrix Telematics (Matrix), a fleet telematics and software provider that helps to improve driver safety, prevent accidents and reduce emissions. The investment values the business at over GBP60 million.
Bridges is backing the existing management team led by CEO Mark Packman, who founded Matrix in 2001 alongside Wayne Shillito. The Cheshire-based business uses data captured from in-vehicle telematics devices to create intuitive, highly detailed reports of vehicle and driver performance, enabling fleet managers to identify both safety risks and opportunities to reduce fuel and ‘wear and tear’
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Over the Hill and (still) far away for UK biotech companies
Over the Hill and (still) far away for UK biotech companies