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LBO France has partnered with Bertrand Talbotier and the company’s management team, plus investment fund AfricInvest Europe, BNP Paribas Développement, BPI and Trocadéro Capital Partners, to acquire a majority stake in PIEX.
PIEX is a specialised distribution company which was founded in 1979 by Robert Jamain, incumbent CEO, and is now a key player in the distribution of pharmaceutical and parapharmaceutical products in French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa.
PIEX has recorded an average annual growth (CAGR) in its revenue of circa 12 per cent since 2005 and has reached EUR80 million in revenue in 2016, spread over more than 30 countries,
Moringa, a private equity impact investment fund specialised in agroforestry projects in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, has closed the fifth investment of its portfolio, taking a stake in Floresta Viva.
The Brazilian company is developing a groundbreaking agroforestry system revolving around organic heart of palm, a Brazilian delicacy that is commercialised through two environmentally-conscious brands.
Some 150,000 tons of heart of palm were produced in the world in 2015, and global production has been increasing year-on-year since the 1990s. Brazil is the first producer and consumer of heart of palm, absorbing 75 per cent of this USD500 million market.
NorthEdge Capital has made a significant investment in Cubic Motion, a creator of advanced computer vision for digital entertainment.
NorthEdge Capital manages GBP540 million of private equity funds and typically invests between GBP5-GBP45 million. The partnership provides growth capital to accelerate the deployment of the SIGGRAPH award winners’ real-time facial animation technologies.
Headquartered at Manchester Science Park, Cubic Motion is led by CEO Dr Gareth Edwards – winner of the 2015 IEEE Test of Time Award for Face and Gesture Recognition. The company employs a strong team of over 70 internationally acclaimed computer vision researchers, engineers, animators and producers.
PGC Capital, the Shanghai-headquartered boutique investment bank, specialising in property development and private equity, has applied for planning permission to build 517 residential apartments on a former car dealership site in Digbeth, Birmingham.
PGC intends to demolish the Renault site at 75-80 High Street and replace it with a new residential block containing a mix of 263 one-bedroom, 252 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom apartments.
The plans also include ground floor commercial units, parking for 153 cars and secure bike space for all residents with the possibility of an on-site cycle repair workshop also under consideration. The development will include two
SmartAssistant, a provider of intelligent Digital Advice, has secured EUR5 million in Series A funding led by growth capital investor Beringea. The funds will further SmartAssistant’s mission to make Digital Advice ubiquitous and help people make smarter decisions.
SmartAssistant offers businesses a unique technology with a business-user friendly interface. This allows them to create intelligent, digital advisers that guide a customer’s decision-making online, on mobile and at the point of sale (POS). Whether buying a laptop, a kayak or a mobile data plan, SmartAssistant digital advisers engage users in a personalised dialogue and recommend products, services, and content based on
WaveLIFT has secured funding of over GBP1 million to further develop its Artificial Lift pump technology for the oil and gas sector. The funding is led by Scottish business angel investment syndicate, Archangels, with co-investment from Scottish Enterprise and a private investor.
Based in Stirling, Scotland, WaveLIFT was launched in 2016 to develop conceptual down-hole pump designs for the Artificial Lift arena of the oil and gas industry. This technology is in high demand with 90% of wells requiring a form of Artificial Lift – which is the use of an artificial means to increase the flow of crude oil,
Westcon-Comstor’s parent company, Datatec Limited, has completed the sale of its North America and Latin America distribution business (Americas), as well as a minority share in its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) business, to SYNNEX Corporation (SNX), a Fremont, California-based company.
Westcon-Comstor Americas, a SYNNEX company, will continue to rely on the expertise and experience of the current Westcon-Comstor Americas team to grow the business. Meanwhile, Datatec retains majority shareholder interest in the new Westcon-Comstor International business to serve EMEA and APAC.
“The successful completion of this transaction allows us to continue developing best-in-class programs that
Private equity firm TA Associates has completed a strategic growth investment in PetPeople, a pet retailer of natural and high-quality dog and cat foods, treats and supplies.
TA Associates has replaced former investor Rosser Capital Partners, which exited its stake in the company as part of the transaction. No financial terms of the transaction were disclosed.
PetPeople stores are operated by a passionate and dedicated group of pet lovers who are committed to carrying the finest pet foods available and building long-term relationships with their customers, associates, business partners and communities. Friendly and knowledgeable store associates are trained to
The number of management buyouts (MBOs) in the UK has fallen again over the last year as Brexit-related caution grows, says accountancy firm Moore Stephens.
According to Moore Stephens, only 80 MBOs took place in the year to June 30 2017, down another 7 per cent on 86 in the prior year, itself a 20 per cent fall from 2014/15.
The firm says that as uncertainty over Brexit grows, both potential buyers and vendors in MBO deals have turned more cautious. M&A deals thrive on certainty, as management need to be confident about market conditions in coming years to
Funds advised by Apax Partners (Apax Funds) are to acquire a majority stake in matchesfashion.com, a leading digitally innovative global luxury-fashion brand.
The founders, Tom and Ruth Chapman, as well as existing venture capital backers Scottish Equity Partners (SEP) and Highland Europe, will retain minority stakes in the business. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in Q4 2017. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Founded in 1987 by Tom and Ruth Chapman matchesfashion.com is today a global luxury-shopping destination for men and women offering a modern edit of over 450
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