Foresight Group (Foresight), an independent infrastructure and private equity investment manager, has invested GBP4 million into MR Machine Knives Limited (MRMK), providing equity release and growth capital to the business. The investment and Foresight’s involvement will support founder and Managing Director Michael Bailey in the continuing growth of the business, leveraging the outstanding reputation that MRMK has built up since its inception. MRMK is a specialist manufacturer of machine knives based in Sheffield, a city world-renowned for its stainless steel production and industrial heritage. The Company supplies a diverse range of knives for the food production and packaging industries. The Company

NewSpring, a family of private equity strategies, has completed 16 separate investments in lower-middle-market companies to date in 2020. This deal flow pace is ahead of prior years and demonstrates the firm’s unique ability to invest through all economic periods with its proven, flexible, multi-strategy approach.   “NewSpring’s multi-strategy approach was formed to support the range of capital needs often experienced by businesses in the lower-middle market, which is large and highly fragmented,” says Jon Schwartz, President and COO of NewSpring Capital. “By specialising in this market segment for over 20 years, building deep relationships with proven, innovative management teams, and

The Riverside Company, a global private equity firm focused on the smaller end of the middle market, has invested in Bonnie & Don Flavours (B&D), a Canadian-based manufacturer of natural and organic flavours and extracts.  B&D is the second add-on to Riverside’s Flavor Platform, following the initial platform investment of National Flavors (NF) in February of this year and the add-on of GSB & Associates, Inc. in June. “We are thrilled that B&D will be joining the NF family,” says Riverside Managing Partner Loren Schlachet. “B&D is highly complementary to the platform – it will expand NF’s geographic presence by adding

Growth private equity firmTA Associates has completed a significant growth investment in The Benecon Group (Benecon), a developer and manager of self-funded medical benefit programs. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.   Founded in 1991 by Samuel Lombardo and headquartered in Lititz, Pennsylvania, Benecon helps design and implement self-funded health plans for small-and-medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Via its Actuarial, Compliance, Finance and Producer Services divisions, Benecon offers a full suite of services for thousands of public and private employers across the United States. Benecon’s subsidiary, ConnectCare3, provides wellness consulting and clinical services for Benecon members, including patient advocacy, nurse

Whirli, a toy sharing subscription service, has raised GBP4 million in a seed funding round led by Octopus Ventures, with participation from MMC Ventures.The toy industry is a giant sector with annual global retail sales of ~GBP70 billion. It has however faced a decade of challenges and stagnation, culminating with the collapse of Toys R Us in 2018. Whirli has caught the interest of venture funds for its different approach – one that promotes sustainable consumerism, appealing directly to Millennial and GenZ parents. Today’s parents are far more engaged with the circular economy and how they can take advantage of