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BGF, the UK’s most active investor in growth economy businesses, has completed a multi-million pound investment in Cirrus, an award-winning provider of omnichannel cloud contact centre solutions.Founded in 2013 by Jason Roos, Cirrus’ software is used by private and public sector organisations looking to digitalise their customer service operations. The business has seen continued growth across the UK and North America making it one of the leading Contact Centre as a Service (CCaaS) platforms.
Surrey-based Cirrus’ technology allows businesses to interact with their customers across a wide range of digital channels (email, video, messaging and social media) in addition
Investec Bank (Investec) has held the first close of its inaugural debt fund, Investec Private Debt Fund I (PDFI), a discretionary direct lending fund with capital commitments of EUR165 million.Investec PDFI (the fund) is a close-ended Luxembourg-based special limited partnership focused on providing senior secured debt (including unitranche) and subordinated debt for PE and corporate backed businesses between EUR3 million to EUR75 million EBITDA primarily based in the UK, Ireland, Benelux, and DACH regions.
The fund has a primary focus on growth-orientated businesses in the lower end of this EBITDA range, which remain underserved by banks and fund providers.
The
Unreasonable Collective has held the close of its first syndicate investment in Air Protein, a pioneer in producing nutritious, ultra-sustainable, alternative proteins that can feed the world’s growing population sustainably, founded by Dr Lisa Dyson.The Series A is led by ADM Ventures, Barclays, and GV (formerly Google Ventures).
Unreasonable Collective, a by invitation only members club, was recently launched by the Unreasonable Group. The membership offers individual accredited investors from diverse backgrounds, unique access to co-invest alongside top institutional groups, via managed syndicates, in high impact, high growth ventures operating at the intersection of impact and technology, generating societal
Sidley Austin has appointed Idan Netser and Andrew Harper as transactional partners in the firm’s Palo Alto office. Netser will be a member of the Emerging Companies and Venture Capital, and Tax practices while Harper will be a member of the Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice. Both Netser and Harper join Sidley from Fenwick & West LLP.
“The addition of Idan and Andrew marks an important milestone in our strategic expansion in Northern California and in our emerging company technology practice more generally,” says Martin Wellington, managing partner of Sidley’s office in Palo Alto. “Idan has a well-deserved reputation
Business advisory firm Quantuma has provided lead advisory services to the shareholders of Leading Labels on the sale of their entire share capital to turnaround specialists Baaj Capital.
CVC Capital Partners Fund VII has signed an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of STARK Group, a distributor of heavy building materials in Northern Europe. STARK Group has grown rapidly in recent years through successful acquisitions and organic growth with a strategic focus on being a trusted partner bringing scale benefits to professional craftsmen. The company has been owned by an affiliate of Lone Star Funds since April 2018.
Headquartered in Denmark, STARK Group is a leading B2B distributor of heavy building materials for the construction industry in the Nordics and Germany, with a focus on serving professional craftsmen. The
Limerston Capital portfolio company Forensic Access Limited has completed the acquisition of IntaForensics Limited (IntaForensics).Oxfordshire based Forensic Access is a specialist in the provision of forensic science and support services to the UK criminal justice system. It forms part of the larger Limerston Capital-backed AFA International, led by CEO and Forensic Access founder Prof Angela Gallop, CBE.
Based in Nuneaton, IntaForensics specialises in digital forensics and cyber security, whilst also developing the leading digital case work management software in the market, LIMA. It offers digital forensic services to law enforcement and government agencies, providing analyses and reports for legal cases
DFG Investment Advisers, an alternative credit investment manager, has changed its name to Vibrant Capital Partners, Inc. The new name unifies the firm with its CLO business and several of its investment vehicles, which have operated under the Vibrant brand since 2012. In connection with the renaming, the firm has launched a new website, www.vibrantcapitalpartners.com.
Rehan Virani, Chief Executive Officer of Vibrant Capital Partners, says: “Our new name, Vibrant, reflects the next generation mindset of the firm and our unique culture grounded in passion, diversity and humility. We are excited to build upon our solid foundation to continue to provide
All States Ag Parts (ASAP), a supplier of replacement agricultural parts in North America and portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, has acquired Combine World, a Canada-based supplier of new, used, and reconditioned farm and light construction equipment and replacement parts. Combine World, which specialises in alternative parts for combines, is ASAP’s sixth add-on acquisition.
The acquisition of Combine World, based in Saskatchewan, expands ASAP’s presence into Western Canada, providing ASAP with two strategic locations to serve the world’s 8th largest agricultural economy. ASAP previously purchased Ontario-based Fawcett Tractor Supply in November 2019.
“This is a great acquisition for us,”
Edge Investments (Edge), a growth investor in the UK creative economy, has appointed Simon Andrews as Chief Investment Officer (CIO), to help drive growth and realise the potential of its current and future portfolio companies.Andrews has a wealth of experience throughout the venture capital world, joining Edge from the Business Growth Fund (BGF), the UK’s most active investment company, and having spent nearly eight years at Octopus Ventures prior to that. Before moving into venture capital entirely, Simon worked at Silicon Valley Bank working around M&A Advisory and debt financing solutions for venture-backed companies. He has also held positions at
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