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Global technology, media and communications investment bank Drake Star Partners has appointed senior investment banker Eric Ward as a partner in the firm’s London office.
Ward has over 15 years of M&A and industry experience, with a distinct focus on e-commerce and digital marketing, including retail tech, ad tech, martech, analytics and AI.
Ward has participated in many high-profile transactions in these sectors over the years. For instance, he recently advised Honeycomb on its merger with Group IMD, advised Hitfox Group (Berlin) on its secondary sale of shares in Finleap, Anatwine on its fundraising and subsequent sale to
Arlington Capital Partners has agreed to sell Polaris Alpha, a provider of mission solutions for complex defence, intelligence, and security customers, as well as to other US federal government customers, to Parsons.
Parsons’ acquisition of Polaris Alpha will be the latest in the company’s series of strategic investments focused on companies with technologies aligned to evolving threats in the land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains.
Parsons’ existing artificial intelligence (AI), signals intelligence, and data analytics expertise supporting defensive and offensive cybersecurity missions will be expanded by the integration of Polaris Alpha’s machine learning, data, video, multi-source analytics and
21 Centrale has added to its investment team with the appointment of Dorothée Chatain as Principal.
With more than ten years of private equity experience in an international Growth and LBO Fund, Chatain joins an investment team already made up of eight experienced professionals. As a senior member of the investment team, Chatain will take part in the sourcing, investment and support of the Fund’s portfolio companies.
Her arrival consolidates a team that recently welcomed two new talents namely Tracy Tran (KPMG) mid-2017 and Cyriac Schmit (Accuracy) early 2018, both as Associates.
Chatain says: “I am delighted to
Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management has appointed Ashton Bradbury as a non-executive director of Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 1 plc.
Bradbury brings more than 25 years of financial and investment industry experience to his role. Having run small company investment teams at Hill Samuel Investment Management and HSBC Asset Management Europe, Ashton founded the Old Mutual Global Investors Ltd (formerly Old Mutual Asset Management UK Ltd) small and mid-cap investment team in 2000 and became head of equities in 2008. Amongst many industry awards he was named Citywire Fund Manager of the year in 2002, Investment Week Fund Manager of the
UK private Equity firm Sovereign Capital Partners, has exited its investment in Kindertons, a nationwide provider of outsourced accident management services for motor insurers and insurance brokers, together with claims management services, to ExamWorks, a portfolio company of Leonard Green & Partners.
Completion is subject to change of control consent by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The exit will deliver a gross return of 8x and a 73 per cent IRR to investors.
Sovereign originally completed the management buy-out of Kindertons in October 2013, with Sovereign worked closely with the management team to appoint Jon
Sandton Capital Partners, a special situations investment fund, has acquired VVB Engineering Ltd (VVB), a specialist mechanical and electrical contractor, for an undisclosed sum.
Established in 1991; VVB is one of the leading contractors in the UK, for mechanical and electrical works in the construction and installation of tunnels. The company works on many high-profile projects in partnership with some of the main UK and European civil contractors, operating in five key strategic sectors; rail, road, airport, power and utilities and construction. VVB’s head office is in Ramsden Heath, Essex and they employ over 250 people with a turnover of GBP75million.
Morgan Lewis has appointed Paul Denham as finance partner. Denham, who advises clients on a wide range of leveraged finance and banking matters, will be based in the firm’s London office.
Denham advises banks, credit funds, borrowers, and sponsors on a wide range of financing and restructuring transactions, with a particular focus on leveraged and acquisition financings. He was formerly a Morgan Lewis associate.
“I am pleased to welcome Paul back to our firm in London,” says Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “Paul’s arrival demonstrates our commitment to the global financial centre of London and provides further support for clients
LiveOak Venture Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas, has appointed Mike Marcantonio as Principal, and Mason Rathe as Senior Associate.
Mike and Mason are the first investment professionals being added to the team outside of the three founding partners and will focus on both executing new investments and supporting the firm’s growing portfolio.
Marcantonio spent six years with Blue Heron Capital, where he made venture and growth stage investments in technology and healthcare-IT companies. He brings experience sourcing new investments, as well as extensive portfolio company support and board oversight for companies such as Tricast
Ipes, a provider of outsourced services to private equity in Europe, has strengthened its senior team in Jersey with the creation of new roles and new appointments.
Senior Managers Gary Ayres and Vimbai Bundu-Kamara have been appointed as Operations Directors and have joined the Jersey board. Gary and Vimbai will be jointly responsible for oversight and delivery of all aspects of client service and are the primary Senior Client Leads in the Jersey office.
Robin De Gruchy-Wilson has been appointed as a Client Director. Robin has more than 9 years financial services experience. Robin currently sits on a number
Emerson (EMR) has agreed on terms to acquire Aventics from Triton for a cash purchase price of EUR527 million. Aventics is among the global leaders in smart pneumatics technologies that power machine and factory automation applications.
Emerson is a leader in fluid automation technologies for process and industrial applications, and Aventics significantly expands the Company’s reach in this growing USD13 billion market.
Aventics builds upon and strengthens Emerson’s capabilities and solutions in key discrete and hybrid automation markets, including food and beverage, packaging, automotive assembly and medical equipment. Emerson’s expanded offering creates one of the broadest portfolios of
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