Latest News
AcuFocus, a privately held ophthalmic medical device company, has secured a private investment of approximately USD66 million in a financing round led by KKR.
AcuFocus develops and markets breakthrough small aperture technologies for the improvement of near vision.
The investment follows several key milestones for AcuFocus, including the controlled commercial launch of its flagship product, the KAMRA corneal inlay, in the US and CE Mark approval for its second product, the IC-8 intraocular lens.
Both technologies use the small aperture effect to treat presbyopia, the natural loss of near vision that eventually affects everyone over the age of
HarbourVest Bidco has received an irrevocable undertaking from a SVG Capital shareholder in respect of 31,221,994 SVG Capital shares and letters of intent from SVG Capital shareholders to accept its offer in respect of a total of 35,419,782 SVG Capital shares.
These represent, in aggregate, approximately 20.0 per cent and 22.7 per cent, respectively, and together 42.7 per cent, of the issued share capital of SVG Capital as at 9 September 2016 (the last business day prior to the commencement of the offer period).
The irrevocable undertaking remains binding in the event of a higher, or any other, bid or
Bedell Cristin Guernsey has promoted two lawyers, Jon Barclay and Richard Sharp, to partners in the firm.
Barclay practised as a barrister at a leading UK chambers and was admitted as an advocate in Guernsey in 2006.
He specialises in international financial services litigation, with a particular focus on cross-border asset recovery, regulatory disputes, and fraud investigations. He has been instrumental in helping to build and enhance the firm’s strong litigation practice in Guernsey.
Sharp (pictured) specialises in advising on insurance, listings, and general corporate and commercial transactions. He joined Bedell Cristin in 2012 and was admitted as an advocate
Kirkland & Ellis International has appointed Thomas Laverty as a partner in the firm’s investment funds group based in London.
Laverty was most recently managing director and funds counsel at Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA), a division of Macquarie Group and the world’s largest infrastructure asset manager.
“We are delighted that Thomas has joined Kirkland,” says Richard Watkins, a London-based investment funds partner. “He joins us as we continue to expand our offering across real assets — his unique experience and perspective will be highly attractive to a broad range of real asset fund sponsors.”
Chicago-based investment
Zencap Asset Management has launched Zencap Infra Debt 2, attracting a total commitment of EUR236 million for its first closing from four institutional investors in the insurance sector.
The new vehicle, a French FCT, will invest through Natixis’ infrastructure platform, which provides access to infrastructure debt and bespoke servicing on each investment up until maturity.
The vehicle complies with the requirements of French Fonds de Prêts à l’Économie.
The strategy offered by the fund provides institutional investors with portfolio diversification and commitment to sustainable development through investment in various sectors such as social infrastructure, utilities, renewable energy, transportation,
Hermes Investment Management has launched the Hermes Direct Lending Strategy with an initial commitment from a cornerstone institutional investor.
Hermes intends to follow this with the launch of a fund later in the year, subject to regulatory approval.
The strategy aims to provide access to the stable, low-correlated returns offered by predominantly senior-secured loans to small and medium enterprises. It will initially have a UK focus, where there is the largest and most creditor-friendly lending market in Europe, while maintaining flexibility to invest across the continent.
UK senior-secured transactions will be originated through partnership with Royal Bank of
Private equity is enhancing value in operating companies, according to analysis by CEPRES looking at thousands of PE-backed operating companies post the global financial crisis.
CEPRES has found that during the period there has been a steady and significant increase in average compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of EBITDA for PE-backed companies.
Further, CEPRES found that increase in valuation of companies post the financial crisis is driven more by EBITDA growth than prior years.
This evidence supports the view that activist PE fund managers are effective and able to deliver on the promise of delivering returns through value
Ellis Whittam, the Chester-based business services firm, has secured an investment from mid-market private equity investor LDC to accelerate organic growth and fund future acquisitions.
The business, which provides advisory and fully-outsourced employment law, HR and health and safety services, was founded in 2004 by solicitor Mark Ellis.
It supports more than 10,000 UK employers, including Pure Gym, Culina Logistics, Red Letter Days, The Chartered Management Institute, The Chartered Quality Institute and Toni & Guy.
For the financial year ending April 2016, Ellis Whittam generated sales of over GBP11 million and profits (EBITDA) of over GBP3 million. It
Clearwater International has advised the owners of Deku-Pack on its cross-border sale to UK-based DS Smith, a provider of paper, corrugated packaging and recycled materials across Europe and plastic packaging worldwide.
DS Smith operates across 36 countries and has more than 26,000 employees.
Denmark-based Deku-Pack specialises in point of sale (POS) and display solutions for in-store marketing. The business is focused on fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), retail and media markets and consists of five subsidiaries: Pro-Display, Deku-Stans, Vejle-Print, DM Plast and Emballage Form.
The transaction allows DS Smith to focus on FMCG and expand its offerings to
Tikehau IM has arranged a unitranche financing for the acquisition of Financière Rive Gauche (FRG), a subsidiary of Spanish group Martinsa-Fadesa, by the Atland Group, an investment of the Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners’ Winch Capital 3 fund.
This unitranche, fully arranged by Tikehau IM, will enable the Atland Group to double the size of its housing and property development activities.
The Atland Group is a global real estate player active in three markets: housing, hotels and corporate real estate through Fonciere Atland.
Special Reports
Featured
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
