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Some 89 per cent of private equity firms polled by New Street Group, the leadership and people solutions consultancy, say they are highly likely or likely to deploy capital in the next three-six months, suggesting funds see opportunities in the market amidst the coronavirus crisis.A sudden drop in share prices and valuations in recent weeks means there may be opportunities for PE funds to acquire UK businesses at a significant discount compared to historical averages.
In addition to strategic acquisitions, PE funds may also look to support stressed businesses recapitalise by buying strategic or controlling stakes.
The research
London-based growth capital investor, VGC Partners, has appointed Alex Read as Director, New Investments, as the firm looks to back more businesses from its GBP50m growth capital fund.Read joins from Alantra, a global investment banking and asset management firm, where he spent three years as an Origination Associate. In his role, he was involved in direct deal origination of privately-owned businesses and financial sponsor coverage with small-cap and mid-market private equity firms, reporting directly to the firm’s senior partners. Prior to this, he began his investment banking career at Spayne Lindsay & Co, a specialist consumer boutique advisory.
Read’s
By Mini vandePol, Asia Pacific Head of the Compliance and Investigations Practice, Anna Lamut, Registered Foreign Lawyer (New York, USA), and Claire Chen, Associate, Baker McKenzie – India is forecast to be the fastest growing economy among the G20 countries in 2020 despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Foreign companies and private equity funds, particularly those that hold a long-term view, will still find ample opportunities when this pandemic recedes, particularly in sectors such as health care, FMCG and financial services that are likely to withstand economic and social uncertainties over the long term.
However, India, like many emerging economies, presents a
More than 80 per cent of equity funding for UK blockchain startups has taken place since 2017, according to a new report by MMC Ventures, with bitcoin’s recent price rises reflecting increased adoption.
MMC’s newly released report on blockchain and crypto revealed that 60 per cent of UK blockchain companies have raised less than USD2 million in capital so far. Moreover, the UK has five times fewer blockchain companies than the US, and the equity investment has been 10 times lower overall.
“The current COVID-19 pandemic is likely to impact funding activity for all early-stage companies, Asen Kostadinov, the author of the
Appentra, a spin-off of La Coruña University, has raised EUR1.8 million in a new investment round led by Armilar Venture Partners and K Fund, also joined by Caixa Capital Risc, Xesgalicia and Unirisco, the investors that had already trusted the company since its very early stages. The new investors will bring a strong expertise as international VCs specialised in B2B software companies, and will help to fully realise Appentra’s vision.
Since its foundation, Appentra has become a reliable partner and software supplier among its customers in the United States, Saudi Arabia and Europe. Closing this round of investment successfully contributes to
TransFICC, a specialist provider of low-latency connectivity and workflow services for Fixed Income and Derivatives Markets, has closed its Series A investment round for GBP5.75 million.
Led by AlbionVC, it included new strategic investments from ING Ventures and HSBC.
The new investors join existing shareholders, Citi, Illuminate Financial, Main Incubator (the R&D unit of Commerzbank Group) and The FinLab.
The investment will be used to extend product and market coverage for existing and new clients. TransFICC’s current clients include five global investment banks and one global market data vendor.
TransFICC resolves the issue of market fragmentation by providing banks and
Latham & Watkins has appointed Kate Withers as a partner in the firm’s Corporate Department and a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice and Private Equity Practice in New York. Watkins advises clients of all sizes in connection with private equity and strategic corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, technology-focused joint ventures, carve-outs, structured investments, and complex licensing transactions.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kate to our premier global Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Practices,” says Marc Jaffe, Global Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Corporate Department. “Kate’s experience advising on sophisticated corporate transactions, combined with her highly technical background
Early-stage venture capital firm Ridge Ventures has added Head of Investor Relations Susan Stella and Principal Kamil Saeid to its team. Stella will lead marketing and communications strategy with limited partners. Saeid will source new investment opportunities and work alongside Ridge Ventures portfolio companies that have collectively raised more than USD1 billion in each of the last two years. A significant amount of Ridge Ventures’ fourth fund, with capital exceeding USD150 million, is still available for new deals.
“Susan’s vast experience in venture and Kamil’s empathetic, founder-first mindset are a welcome addition to the Ridge family,” says Alex Rosen, Managing Partner
World Green Building Council, a global network of around 70 Green Building Councils, has announced a collaboration with GRESB, the leading global sustainability benchmark for real estate portfolios, to recognise companies that make a Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.The Commitment, which recognises businesses committed to ensuring their portfolio of buildings operate at net zero carbon by 2030, and advocate for all buildings to be net zero carbon by 2050, is supported by Green Building Councils’ asset level net zero standards in 15 countries and counting, which all adhere to WorldGBC’s global principles for net zero carbon buildings and provide third party
The private equity industry and the legal firms servicing the space have witnessed an unparalleled digital transformation in recent weeks. Driven by the Covid-19 crisis, the legacy of this dramatic change will endure long after the calamity has passed.
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