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ESPIRA Investments (ESPIRA), a newly established private equity firm focused on growth capital investments in small and medium size enterprises based in Central Europe, has held the first closing of its fund ESPIRA Fund I, which has a target fund size of EUR30 million.
An element of ESPIRA’s strategy is to invest in companies managed by balanced management teams of men and women. ESPIRA is the first private equity fund in Central Europe with such a strategy and only the second in Europe. ESPIRA was founded by two experienced investment professionals – Andrea Ferancová and Emília Mamajová.
ESPIRA Fund
Northleaf Capital Partners (Northleaf) has held the final closing of its global private credit fund, Northleaf Private Credit I (NPC I), with more than USD670 million in commitments from institutional investors.
Including recent closings of its private equity and infrastructure funds, Northleaf now manages more than USD10 billion in commitments across its global private markets investment platform.
NPC I provides investors with diversified exposure to private credit investments in North America and Europe, with a primary focus on lending to private equity-backed companies. The fund’s flexible investment strategy enables it to invest across the capital structure, including senior, unitranche, second lien, mezzanine and subordinated
The SoftBank Vision Fund has agreed to invest USD450 million in Compass, a real estate technology company.
This investment will bring the total capital raised to USD775 million. Compass will use the capital to expand to every major US city and increase its investment in technology to further empower Compass agents and their clients.
Compass is building the first modern real estate platform, which reduces the friction and frustration associated with selling, buying, or renting a property by providing real estate agents with a set of powerful tools to increase efficiency and sales volume.
“The combination of technology
Clearwater International UK has advised market leading tile specialist Domus on its sale to Europe’s largest floor coverings distributor Headlam plc.
With over 50 years’ experience, Domus provides specification consultancy and supplies tiles, engineered flooring and other hard surfaces to premium commercial and residential construction projects in London and the South East. These include Europe’s biggest single development project at Battersea Power Station, Heathrow Terminal 5 and Wembley Stadium. The business employs 151 staff and has generated turnover over GBP30 million (EUR34 million).
Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Headlam generates sales of over GBP700 million (EUR784 million), and
Two specialists in Banking and Finance and Investment Funds have joined Ogier in Cayman. Debt capital markets and structured finance expert Kristi Green, and hedge funds specialist Emma Sutherland, have both been appointed as Counsel.
Epidarex Capital (Epidarex) portfolio company Harpoon Medical (Harpoon), a pioneer in beating-heart repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR), has been acquired by Edwards Lifesciences for up to USD250 million.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, Edwards paid USD100 million in cash for Harpoon at closing on 1 December, 2017 with a potential for up to an additional USD150 million in pre-specified milestone-driven payments.
Epidarex was among Harpoon’s earliest supporters, funding the development of the company’s core technology shortly after it was spun-out of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Epidarex led the Series A funding. As part of
By George Ralph, RFA – Whilst popular in the US, here in the UK, cyber liability insurance is slowly gaining traction but hasn’t yet reached a level of widespread adoption.
Possibly because firms in the US have clearer liabilities where customers’ data is concerned, with a mandate to notify all clients of the breach, in writing, whereas in the UK, the costs associated with a cybersecurity incident, or data breach are less clear, varying from industry to industry, and between firms of different sizes. The imminent GDPR could change things, but we have yet to see that happen.
All cyber
Abacus Group has added 72 new client firms through the first three quarters of 2017 along with a host of platform and cybersecurity enhancements, and a new solution specifically for small and start-up funds.
Chris Grandi, CEO of Abacus Group, says the company has surpassed 100 employees as it completes its 10th year serving the investment community. In June, Abacus accepted a minority growth investment from WestView Capital Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm focused on middle market growth companies.
“Our rapid onboarding of new clients, product enhancements, new solutions and expansion of staff confirms that Abacus Group has
Churchill Asset Management (Churchill), a provider of senior and unitranche debt financing to middle market companies, has closed its second structured debt investment offering, a USD340 million collateralised loan obligation fund (CLO) named TIAA Churchill Middle Market CLO II Ltd.
This follows TIAA Churchill Middle Market CLO I Ltd, a USD382 million transaction, which closed in September 2016 and the more recent final closing of the Churchill Middle Market Senior Loan Fund, LP (and related investment vehicles) with over USD1.1 billion in committed capital in November 2017.
“We are encouraged by the positive response from investors to our second
IWSC Group has rebranded as The Conversion Fund in a move the firm says more accurately reflects the nature of the company as a private investment vehicle, partnering with entrepreneurs and innovative management teams to drive sustainable value.
With expertise in acquiring, incubating and growing businesses that span sectors in food, beverage, performance & arts, creative & media and exhibitions & networking, the rebrand places the company at an exciting intersection of acquisition.
The Conversion Fund looks to combine inspirational management, creative mindsets, and a disciplined approach to business planning, in order to disrupt existing business models in the
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