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FLOWERBX, an online, wholesale, flower-delivery service, has closed a GBP4.2 million (USD5.5m US) fundraising round. The new funding will pave the way for the company’s US launch, scheduled for May 2019.
This follows a successful raise of GBP1.5 million of seed equity in 2017, which was used to invest in a highly-scalable technology infrastructure and expansion into a number of key European regions, including France, Belgium, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands.
The new round of funding comes from a small group of family offices and angel investors, including original and new investors. These include some of Britain’s most successful
When the International Monetary Fund released its forecast at Davos last month it expected a 1.6 per cent growth in Europe and a 3.5 per cent growth globally. When things are going well it’s all about value creation but when things are going badly it is the global macro environment – which perhaps some managers use as a safety blanket.
With global macro risks on the rise, GPs are bracing themselves for what could potentially be a major economic correction in 2019 but not all PE managers are worried.
Speaking at the 2019 International Private Equity Market event in
Mid-market private equity investor LDC has completed the sale of ATG Access (ATG) to Hill & Smith Holdings (Hill & Smith) in a deal which values the business at GBP22.5 million.
Headquartered in Haydock, ATG designs, manufactures and supplies high security vehicle barrier systems used to secure buildings and venues from vehicular impact and terrorist attacks. Installations include airports, stadia, railway stations, office developments and shopping centres.
LDC first backed the management team at ATG in 2013, providing a significant minority investment to support its international growth strategy and the development of new innovative security products in its portfolio.
With LDC’s support, ATG
Cairngorm Capital Partners’ (Cairngorm Capital) second fund, Cairngorm Capital II, has acquired Sentry Doors Holdings Limited (Sentry Doors). This transaction marks Cairngorm Capital’s entry into the fire protection sector.
Established in 1989, Sentry Doors is a specialist manufacturer of timber fire and security door-sets for the social housing, public sector, commercial and residential markets. Operating nationally from a 32,000 square foot facility in Doncaster, Sentry Doors has established a strong reputation for manufacturing products that meet the most rigorous quality and fire certification standards. Its commitment to regulatory compliance and high manufacturing standards has resulted in independent third party accreditations
PNC Bank, National Association, has closed a USD140 million senior secured credit facility to support Maryland-based Ames Watson’s acquisition of Lids Sports Group (LSG). PNC Bank served as administrative agent.
Founded in 1992, Indianapolis-based LSG is the largest omni-channel licensed sports retailer in North America, selling fan and fashion-oriented licensed sports headwear and apparel across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico through 1,159 retail locations.
Ames Watson is a privately held diversified operating company that purchases, transforms and partners with middle market companies to create long term value. It is a permanent capital vehicle with committed assets and the
Nine months after Active Assurances teamed up with Activa Capital and Bpifrance, the specialist digital insurance broker has announced a merger with AFI Assurances, a specialist health, accident and life insurance brokerage.
AFI Assurances is an independent French insurance broker based in Evry (Essonne), specialised in digital health, accident and life insurance for B2C customers. The company, founded in 1996, is led by its founder, Frédéric Bacmann.
AFI Assurances has long-standing relationships with major insurance companies such as Generali, Swiss Life, Malakoff Médéric, and Allianz.
With a growth in its business of 25 per cent per year, AFI
Private investment firm Auxo Investment Partners has acquired Andrie, a Michigan-based Jones Act bulk transporter of specialty products including liquid asphalt, cement, light oil petroleum products, and calcium chloride throughout the Great Lakes.
The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, marks Auxo’s sixth acquisition in 16 months, and builds on the firm’s December 2017 acquisition of M/G Transport Services, a leading dry-bulk transportation and logistics company based in New Orleans.
Andrie has a fleet of 19 vessels, with a cargo capacity of over 125,000 tons and employs 150 people.
“This company has been a big part of
Ironwood Capital has made an investment in American Roller Company (American Roller), headquartered in Union Grove, Wisconsin. The company is a servicer and manufacturer of industrial rollers and specialty coatings for use in web converting systems.
“We were impressed with the company’s breadth of roller solutions and the outstanding management team,” says Ironwood Capital Managing Director Jim Barra. “They have an impressive list of customers, including many long-time blue chip customers who rely on American Roller’s expertise to help keep their own operations running smoothly.”
“American Roller has built up a strong brand over decades of successfully providing technical solutions
Jersey’s funds industry continued to see a rise in the number of alternative fund managers choosing to market their funds through national private placement regimes (NPPR) in the second half of 2018, according to the latest figures from Jersey’s financial regulator.
Data from the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) shows that the number of Jersey-registered managers opting to market into the EU through NPPR rose 4 per cent between July and December 2018, and by 13 per cent compared to December 2017, to stand at 168.
Meanwhile, the total number of Jersey alternative funds being marketed into the EU
Global private markets AUM and total deal value both reached record highs in 2018 while fundraising eased slightly from prior records, according to McKinsey & Company 2019 annual review report: ‘Private markets come of age’.
The report offers comprehensive analysis of 2018 with the full year’s data across five asset classes – private equity, infrastructure, private debt, natural resources and real estate. As well as examining capital flows and deployment, the report considers innovations in the market, evolving dynamics between Limited Partners and General Partners, and emerging trends by asset class.
According to the report, private equity net asset
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