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Private equity investor Privet Capital has acquired Vivid Toy Group for an undisclosed sum.
Vivid is one of Europe’s leading independent branded toys and games companies, licensing, designing, manufacturing and selling a combination of in-house developed toy and games IP and third party intellectual property licenses to major retailers in the UK, France, Germany, Benelux and US markets including Tesco, Argos, Wal-Mart, Carrefour, Toys“R”Us, Smyths, The Entertainer and Amazon.
The company is headquartered in the UK (Guildford), and has additional sales and marketing operations in France (Paris) and Germany (Frankfurt), as well as operations in China (Hong Kong).
Kirkland & Ellis is advising Ally Bridge Group, as a joint offeror with a consortium established by an affiliate of the target company’s controlling shareholder and GL Capital Group, in its proposed HKD2.34 billion (USD300 million) privatisation offer for the H shares of Shandong Luoxin Pharmaceutical Group by way of a voluntary conditional cash offer.
The transaction is conditional on, among other things, Shandong Luoxin’s shareholders approval.
Shandong Luoxin is a Chinese pharmaceutical company whose H shares have been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2005. The voluntary conditional cash offer will only be extended to the
Gordon Brothers, a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm, has expanded its footprint to Australia.
Based in Sydney, the new office will be led by seasoned restructuring and turnaround management professional Tim Stewart, who will serve as managing director, Australia.
"We at Gordon Brothers see tremendous opportunity in the Australian market," says Frank Morton, CEO, international. "Tim's restructuring expertise and ties to the local turnaround community are extensive. Under his leadership, and in partnership with Gordon Brothers Finance Company, we will deliver capabilities and capital long overdue in the Australian market."
"I am thrilled to lead Gordon Brothers'
Independent private equity firm Aksìa Group has acquired 70 per cent of Alpha Test, a Milan-based professional education company, specialising in books and courses for preparation at university admission test.
Previously owner of a 45 per cent stake since 2013, Alcedo III Fund will exit from the shareholding structure following this transaction.
After the creation of the Covisian group, the third player in the BPO and contact centre industry in Italy, and the acquisition of 100 per cent of Lameplast COC Group, the Italian and European leader in the preparation, filling and packaging of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics,
DH Corporation (D+H), a provider of technology solutions to financial institutions globally, is to be acquired by Vista Equity Partners for CAD25.50 per share in cash.
This includes the assumption of all debt obligations including the issued convertible debentures.
The total enterprise value is approximately CAD4.8 billion.
The transaction price represents a premium of approximately 36 per cent over D+H's closing share price on 5 December 2016, the last trading day before media reports surfaced suggesting the company was exploring strategic alternatives.
Vista intends to combine D+H with another of its portfolio companies, UK-based, Misys, a global
Platinum Equity has closed Platinum Equity Capital Partners IV, a USD6.5 billion global buyout fund.
The fund was heavily oversubscribed, driven by the success of Platinum's M&A&O strategy that integrates investment expertise with deep operational capability and resources.
"We are grateful to investors for believing in Platinum, supporting our growth and trusting us to invest their money wisely," says Tom Gores, chairman and chief executive officer of Platinum Equity. "Our job now is to continue earning that trust by deploying this capital effectively. We have the capacity, the capability and the capital necessary to handle transactions of any size
Aspiring challenger bank, Beyond Funding, a new start-up based in Manchester’s business district Spinningfields, has just appointed two directors from Deloitte.
Competition for private debt deals has never been higher with a record amount of dry powder in 2016 despite reduced fundraising, according to a report by bfinance.
Senior direct lending funds have become riskier over the past four years, with leverage creeping up and unitranche loans becoming increasingly dominant as managers try to keep IRR expectations on track despite spread compression.
Meanwhile the industry attempts to respond to investor appetite for purer senior debt vehicles and new European demand for US direct lending, says bfinance’s latest Market Intelligence paper “Direct Lending – What’s Different Now?”
The paper draws
Willis Towers Watson has launched a fund for institutional investors which is aimed at providing a compelling alternative to index-linked gilts in funding liabilities and enhancing returns.
The new fund, called the Secure Income Fund, provides institutional investors with an inflation-linked cash flow through investments which generate a better risk-adjusted return than investment-grade credit and index-linked gilts.
It encompasses a wide range of strategies across real estate, infrastructure, renewable energy and real asset debt and uses all implementation options including secondaries and co-investments.
Willis Towers Watson has been investing in secure income assets (SIAs) since 2006, and has
Two thirds (65 per cent) of small and medium-sized tech and telecom firms plan to grow dramatically or moderately over the next two years, according to a report launched by venture capital investor Albion Ventures.
Only 7 per cent think they will shrink or wind down.
Based on interviews with more than1,000 SMEs including 150 tech and telco firms, the fourth Albion Growth Report sheds light on the factors that create and impede growth in post-Brexit Britain.
With nearly half (48 per cent) of tech entrepreneurs planning to grow their headcount over the next two years, finding skilled
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