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Private equity-backed pan-European hostel operator Generator Hostels has opened its latest hostel in Hamburg. The venue is the second Generator hostel to open in Germany, joining the existing Berlin hostel, and is the sixth opening in Generator’s growing European hostel platform.
Generator Hamburg is part of a GBP200 million investment programme by private equity firm Patron Capital to roll out the hostel concept across Europe together with a significant capital investment programme to revitalise the original flagship location in London. The Group is also currently developing two further sites – Berlin Mitte and Barcelona, which will open in the first
The latest figures tracing the performance of Jersey’s finance industry reveal particularly strong growth in its funds sector during the first quarter of 2012, with a 3.5% increase in the net asset value of funds under administration and a total of 1,412 funds registered, the highest figure since 2009.
In further good news for the funds sector, the total number of unregulated funds, geared towards sophisticated, professional and institutional investors, also increased by an impressive 8.5% whilst the number of regulated funds grew by 1.4%.
The statistics, collated and prepared by the Jersey Financial Services Commission, are for the three
Gresham Private Equity, the UK mid market private equity specialist, has successfully exited Marston Group through the sale of the business to Inflexion Private Equity. The performance of the Marston Group will result in a strong return on investment for Gresham.
Gresham led the management buy-out of Drakes, a leading enforcement business, from its private owner. As is typical of a Gresham investment, the plan was to professionalise and grow – both organically and through acquisition. Drakes then acquired the business of John Marston & Co, a market leader in enforcement of High Court writs, in 2008.
The combined business,
New York-based private equity firm Arsenal Capital Partners has acquired Copernicus Group Institutional Review Board (CGIRB), a provider of compliance services which play an integral role in the clinical trial process for new drugs and medical devices.
Copernicus IRB, established in 1996, is a leading independent provider of federally mandated IRB panels.
The primary responsibility of IRBs is to ensure that the rights and welfare of human research subjects are protected. IRBs must review and approve the handling of research protocols and study-related information before research involving human subjects can begin and throughout the study thereafter. The company, with offices
Private equity firm Catterton Partners has made a capital investment in Mendocino Farms, the rapidly-growing gourmet sandwich casual restaurant brand.
Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed but Mendocino Farms plans to use the investment to fund expansion throughout Southern California and eventually to new geographic regions.
Mendocino Farms takes a fine dining approach to developing gourmet and classic sandwiches through its use of premium ingredients and unique flavour combinations with a value-conscious focus. The Mendocino Farms name and concept pay tribute to the county in Northern California that is known for its support of the slow food movement
In a signing ceremony in Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao this week witnessed the launch of the Russia-China Investment Fund (RCIF).
The USD2-4 billion private equity fund, established jointly by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and China Investment Corp (CIC), aims to generate strong returns from equity investments in projects that take advantage of the increasingly robust economic relationship between Russia and China.
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of RDIF, and Lou Jiwei, Chairman and CEO of CIC signed a Memorandum of Understanding on completing the establishment of the joint fund and outlining the key principles
Foresight VCT portfolio company Aquasium Technology Limited (Aquasium) has completed the sale of EBTEC Corporation (EBTEC), the electron beam welding specialist and subsidiary of Aquasium, to EDAC Technologies Corporation (EDAC) for approximately GBP11 million, generating a return of GBP2.7m to the VCT.
Foresight VCT made an investment of GBP1.9m in Aquasium, the technology focused holding company whose specific aim is to acquire and build up companies in the broader technology sector which have good mature technology and products but are not realising their full potential. Aquasium acquired EBTEC from Smiths Group in 2005, since when the business has benefited from
Entrepreneur James Caan and corporate financier Paul Herman have launched bluebox, an advisory service that they believe will redefine how businesses prepare for sale.
Paul Herman, CEO of bluebox, says: “Currently 70pc-90pc of business sales fail. This causes distress to business owners and their families, because of the emotion involved and the significant costs associated with an aborted sale.
“Innovation in the corporate finance market is long overdue. bluebox provides a service to business owners well in advance of sale; to help prevent the sale process falling over, by identifying any areas of weakness and providing the steps necessary
Business Growth Fund (BGF), established to help the UK’s fast growing smaller and medium sized businesses, has invested GBP3 million of growth capital in the Cennox Plc group of companies (including ATM Parts and Mainet) which provides services to the ATM (cash machines) sector.
Cennox was founded in 2004 by Clive Nation as a specialist ATM services group and has been successfully built up through organic growth and acquisition to comprise of two main businesses: ATM Parts and Mainet. Blue chip customers include Barclays, HSBC, Nationwide, IBM, Bank Machine, Loomis and G4S.
ATM Parts is a leading international supplier of
MapMyFITNESS, a health and fitness technology company powering the Internet’s largest and fastest growing community of fitness enthusiasts, has secured USD9 million in Series B funding led by Austin Ventures and Milestone Venture Partners.
Strategic business partners Competitor Group, Inc. and The Running Specialty Group, LLC also announced their participation in the funding as part of larger business partnerships.
MapMyFITNESS is an online and mobile platform that helps over nine million active users plan workout activities, measure their fitness and track their progress both in real-time and over time. The company leverages a fast-growing business model that has doubled revenue
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