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Swiss institutions are looking to diversify their alternative allocations in a bid to improve yield and meet their long-term liabilities. Real estate, private equity and infrastructure funds (and co-investment deals) are a major part of their portfolios with hedge funds still viewed with a degree of caution.
Recently, asset managers like Swiss Life Fund Managers have responded to investor demand by launching the Swiss Life REF European Real Estate Living and Working vehicle, targeting housing, healthcare, office and retail assets. Swiss Life said the fund will invest in "B locations in A cities and A locations in B cities", an approach
Dealmakers are confident that Britain’s decision to leave the single market and head for a “Hard Brexit” won’t impact cross-border M&A activity with UK targets, according to a study carried out by Intralinks.
However, the Deal Flow Predictor, which reflects the viewsof 440 global dealmakers, also reveals that the UK Government’s intention to trigger the Article 50 process of leaving the EU saw a 2 per cent decline in early-stage M&A in the UK in Q4 2016 compared to the same period one year prior.
This means announced M&A deals in the UK look set to stall in 2017.
Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services and Safway Group, which agreed to combine on 20 March, have named Safway’s president and chief executive officer Bill Hayes as president and CEO of the combined entity.
Brand chairman and CEO Paul Wood will become a senior adviser and chairman emeritus.
“The opportunity that lies ahead for the combined Brand and Safway businesses is tremendous, and the chance to lead this next chapter is humbling and incredibly exciting,” says Hayes. “I share Paul’s safety-first mindset, starting with top leaders, and his focus on service quality and the flawless execution that our customers need from
Alternative investment manager FS Investments has launched its first closed-end interval fund, FS Energy Total Return Fund, which seeks to generate an attractive total return by investing in the equity and debt securities of public and private energy and energy infrastructure companies.
FS Investments already manages more than USD5 billion of energy and power assets, with a focus on directly originated private debt investments.
“FS Investments looks for ways to help investors access alternative sources of income and growth in the market, and we believe the energy industry has great long-term fundamentals if you have the flexibility to invest
Noerr has advised Kieser Training on setting up a joint venture together with the Chinese project developer EuroSinoInvest (ESI).
The joint venture marks Kieser’s entry to the Chinese market.
The first Kieser training studio in China is soon to open in Beijing, and another 20 studios will be established in the Chinese market in the next three to five years.
Kieser Training, which focuses on health-oriented fitness training, currently operates 138 training studios in Australia, Germany, Luxemburg, Austria and Switzerland, either itself or as a franchisor.
Kieser Training has for many years relied on advice from Noerr’s
118 Group has attracted investment from Pricoa Capital Group, the private debt and risk capital investment arm of Prudential Financial’s investment management business PGIM.
118 Group was set up in 2008 by entrepreneurs Paul Spinks and Patrick Bradshaw, who will maintain significant stakes in the business.
The group is the owner of the UK’s only business database of its kind, supplying information under license to credit reference agencies, mapping companies and every major search engine.
The group also operates a B2B marketing division, trading as Market Location.
The transaction provides shareholder liquidity and enables greater ownership of
The total value of the funds business in Guernsey grew by more than GBP28 billion last year, with the net asset value of funds under management and administration up by GBP6.5 billion (2.6 per cent) during the fourth quarter of 2016, according to the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC).
This built on the GBP21.9 billion growth during the first nine months of the year to take the total value of funds business in Guernsey to GBP255.9 billion at the end of December 2016.
“It is encouraging to see strong annual growth in Guernsey’s funds sector,” says Guernsey Finance chief
LBO France has entered into exclusive negotiations for the sale of CHRYSO, one of the four main global specialty chemicals groups for construction materials.
The sale of CHRYSO would be the first for the LBO France White Knight IX fund.
CHRYSO is an international producer of additives and admixtures which improve the performance of concrete and cement, and construction systems for the repair and maintenance of buildings. Additives and admixtures are used in concrete and cement in order to improve properties such as ease of handling, setting/dying time, fluidity and resistance to mechanical damage. Formulations are manufactured for use
Collyer Bristow has acted for an entity backed by venture capitalist Jon Moulton on the acquisition of an aluminium powder coating business in Birmingham.
Ragavan Arunachalam, who led the transaction for Collyer Bristow, says: "It is a great business which our client was keen to acquire. The hard work put in by the team to get this deal done will no doubt reap dividends for our client. We have assisted the client on a number of transactions, and are looking forward to the next exciting opportunity they identify.”
Adrian Field, on behalf of the buyer, says: “Thanks to their
Progressio SGR, the Italian private equity firm, is raising a new fund, Progressio Investimenti III, in response to LP demand and a doubling of proprietary deal flow over the past five years.
Progressio will raise EUR225 million for a final close at the end of 2017, after a summer first close. As with previous funds, the money will predominantly be spent on proprietary deals and primary buyouts.
The management team, which has averaged a 6.5x entry EBITDA multiple across its portfolio of prestige domestic brands like luxury fashion retailer Moncler, high-end furniture company Giorgetti, and Sanlorenzo Yacht, is targeting
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