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Mid-market private equity firm LDC has backed the management buyout of Hull-based Giacom World Networks (Giacom), a cloud IT and communications solutions provider, for an undisclosed sum.
The business has experienced very rapid growth over the last three years as micro SMEs have taken advantage of the ongoing trend to move their software and IT solutions from on-premise to the cloud, to realise efficiency and cost savings. The transaction will enable the business to accelerate its growth through increased investment in its proprietary platform, the integration of additional cloud products and to expand its service provider network.
Founded by
The British Business Bank has published its second annual Equity Tracker Report, which shows a 58 per cent increase in equity investments into UK smaller businesses in 2015 to a total value of GBP3.5 billion.
The report, which was produced in partnership with Beauhurst, highlights the continued growth of equity investment for UK smaller businesses, demonstrates significant regional disparities and shows the sectors that are thriving. Although the long-term trend in equity investment is positive, there is evidence of softening in the market and the report suggests there is more work to do to ensure that the UK’s smaller businesses
Investec Growth & Acquisition Finance and Barclays have supported the Carlyle-backed, Nationwide Accident Repair Services in its acquisition of DWS Automotive Repair Solutions Ltd.
Established in 1982, DWS operates a chain of 17 repair centres providing accident repair and accident management services to motor insurers, fleet operators, dealer groups and motor manufacturers, predominantly around the M25.
The acquisition builds on Investec’s existing relationship with Carlyle and Nationwide. In March, Investec and Barclays provided acquisition and revolving credit facilities to support the firm’s strategy to provide an enhanced service offering to its customers.
Nationwide is the leading provider of automotive
HeidelbergCement Caucasus (HC Caucasus), Georgian Co-Investment Fund (GCF) and Hunnewell Partners (Hunnewell) have agreed a USD120 million joint investment project to upgrade HeidelbergCement’s existing cement and concrete facilities in Georgia.
The final closing of the agreement is scheduled for June 2016. Aside from the financial contribution, the partnership will enable HC Caucasus to capitalise on GCF’s portfolio of cement-intensive projects and Hunnewell’s expertise in primary construction materials.
USD100 million will be spent on a new cement production line in Kaspi using the dry process that will push down production costs substantially. The main work will begin in July 2016
Fircroft has strengthened its position in the mining, minerals and natural resources industries with the acquisition of Australian-based One Key Resources.
Established in 2011, One Key Resources is a specialist provider of workforce solutions to the mining industry and has become a market leader in the Asia-Pacific region.
The latest acquisition strengthens Fircroft’s portfolio of operations and provides the Group with greater access to the Asia-Pacific markets. Fircroft was backed by independent investment firm Equistone Partners Europe in 2012 in a deal worth £140m.
One Key joins Fircroft Group at a time of expansion following the the company’s
Investment advisory and placement firm for hedge and private equity funds Aqueduct Capital Group, has appointed Dr Pawan Chaturvedi as head of investments.
Chaturvedi joins Aqueduct from the UCLA Investment Company, where he was a senior investment director focused on all aspects of portfolio management and the private markets portfolio. Prior to UCLA, he was a partner at private markets advisor Altius Associates and a member of their executive management committee. His new role at Aqueduct will be working in collaboration with partners Tom Roupe, Frank Edwards and Steve Lessing.
Roupe, co-founder of Aqueduct, says: “Pawan is an extremely talented
Global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus has agreed a strategic partnership with global growth equity firm General Atlantic. General Atlantic will acquire a majority stake in the business, enabling Argus to fuel its next phase of global expansion.
Argus executive chairman and publisher Adrian Binks, who has led the company for more than 30 years, will continue in the business and retain the majority of his significant shareholding in the new structure alongside General Atlantic. Employee shareholders will also be given the opportunity to reinvest, while the family of Argus’ founder will sell their shareholding.
Argus was
TA Associates has completed a majority investment in Professional Datasolutions, Inc (PDI), a provider of ERP software and services to the convenience retail and petroleum wholesale marketer industries. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed
PDI’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solution and related services are designed to help convenience store retailers and wholesale petroleum marketers more effectively operate their businesses. The company’s core system, PDI/Enterprise, features multiple suites addressing a number of functional areas, including retail automation, supply chain management, business intelligence, financial reporting and workforce management. Serving large convenience store retail chains and wholesalers, PDI has
The Mosiewicz Family and Ambienta SGR are to sell SPIG to Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to complete within the third quarter of 2016.
Babcock & Wilcox, a US company founded in 1867 by Stephen Wilcox and George Babcock, is a global leader in energy and environmental technologies and services for the power and industrial markets. The company, based in Charlotte in North Carolina, employs approximately 5,700 people around the world. During its 150 year-long history the company has been a leading innovator introducing, among others, the world’s first installed utility
OrbiMed, an investment firm focused on the healthcare sector, has closed its second Israel-focused venture capital fund, OrbiMed Israel Partners II, LP, with approximately USD307 million in capital commitments.
Investors in the Fund include several of the world’s largest healthcare companies, in addition to dozens of institutional investors and family offices.
Consistent with its predecessor fund, OrbiMed Israel Partners II will target all stages and sectors of the healthcare industry, with a focus on biopharmaceuticals, digital health, medical devices, and diagnostics companies in Israel. The fund is targeting to invest in approximately 20 portfolio companies. Where appropriate, Israel Partners II
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