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Hutton Collins has provided a combination of mezzanine and equity financing to support Duke Street’s acquisition of wagamama from Lion Capital. Hutton Collins has taken a minority equity stake, while the rest of the business will be held by Duke Street and management.
Funds managed by Hutton Collins Partners have invested in Wagamama on two previous occasions, initially supporting Graphite Capital in its 2004 recapitalization of the business, and subsequently backing Lion Capital’s acquisition in 2005.
This is Hutton Collins’ fourth growth capital deal in the past 12 months, following investments in IT services company 2e2, also backed by
The management team at Legis has successfully completed a buyout of the business. The share capital of the funds, corporate services and trust business has been acquired by a newly-formed holding company, Legis Group Holdings Limited, with funding from HSBC and backed by a significant investment from Bailiwick Investments Limited.
Chief Executive Stuart Platt-Ransom says: “We have assembled an experienced and dynamic management team and, under their ownership, Legis is now positioned to become a best of breed independent.”
Legis has almost doubled its staff numbers over the last three years with some staff working for the company for up
Independent fund manager Aston Ventures is primed to make its first acquisition for the recently launched KHG Private Equity Fund. Following a successful period of initial fundraising, a significant level of capital is now available to invest in a portfolio of profitable private companies.
The open-ended fund, regulated by the Isle of Man’s Financial Supervision Commission, will continue to fundraise and is forecast to have GBP20 million of capital by the end of 2011. Whilst the vast majority of private equity funds are closed-ended structures, the open-ended nature of the KHG Private Equity Fund will enable investors to take advantage
Funds advised by Apax Partners have entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Trader Corporation (Trader) from Yellow Media Inc. (TSX: YLO) for approximately USD745m. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.
The assets being acquired comprise AutoTrader.ca, Canada’s leading online automotive classified marketplace, and approximately 30% interest in Dealer Dot Com, Inc, a leading digital dealer marketing service provider in the United States and Canada.
Mitch Truwit, partner at Apax Partners, says: “This is a very exciting online opportunity in a sector that Apax knows very well thanks to our existing investments in
Ashley Highfield (pictured), Microsoft’s UK Managing Director & VP for Consumer and Online, has been appointed to GMT Communiation Partners’ Industry Council – a network of key technology, media and telecoms industry experts
Highfield is responsible for Microsoft’s UK consumer services across PC, mobile and internet platforms including Windows, Windows Phone, Xbox Live, MSN, Hotmail and Internet Explorer. He is also responsible for Microsoft’s online advertising business, one of the UK’s leading digital advertising sales teams. Highfield joined Microsoft in December 2008 from Kangaroo, the proposed video-on-demand joint venture from the BBC, ITV and Channel4, where he was CEO.
Previously
IK Investment Partners (IK) has acquired Asian company formations business the Offshore Incorporations group of companies from the Carlyle Group.
The intention is to create a world leading global trust and corporate services provider by merging the corporate service part of the Group, Acceptor and Credence Trust, with IK’s portfolio company Vistra Group (Vistra). Financials for the transaction were not disclosed.
Vistra is a leading provider of fund administration, trust and corporate services in Europe, with a strong financial track record.
The Offshore Incorporations group today comprises three specialist entities: Asia’s leading company formation specialist, OIL; one of the leading
Mid Europa Partners, a private equity firm focused on Central Europe, has signed an agreement to acquire a 49.05% stake in the CEE road freight transport company Waberer’s Holding Zrt. (Waberer’s) through acquisition of shares from Waberer’s founder and CEO, György Wáberer. Subsequent to the acquisition of shares Mid Europa will effect a EUR12 million capital increase.
Following completion of related transactions, Wáberer will continue to own the balance of the shares with an option to increase his ownership to the same level as Mid Europa. Mid Europa’s equity investment will significantly strengthen the capital base of Waberer’s and enable
Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group has established a team to conduct buyout and growth capital investments in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The team is co-headed by Managing Directors Marlon Chigwende, former Managing Director & Head of Private Equity Africa for Standard Chartered Bank, and Danie Jordaan, former Executive Committee Member and Partner of Ethos Private Equity.
The team also includes Managing Director Genevieve Sangudi, most recently a Partner and Managing Director of Emerging Capital Partners. Jordaan begins his duties immediately while Chigwende and Sangudi will begin in early May.
Greg Summe, Carlyle Managing Director and Vice Chairman
Gemvara, Inc, the online retailer of customer-designed fine jewellery, today announces the closing of a USD15 million round of Series C funding led by Balderton Capital, one of Europe’s largest venture capital firms, with participation from existing investors Highland Capital Partners and Canaan Partners.
Balderton’s Mark Evans will join Gemvara’s Board of Directors. Gemvara plans to use the capital to further enhance its jewelry shopping experience, expand the breadth of merchandise featured on its platform and continue providing highly personalised customer service.
"We were inspired by Matt Lauzon’s far-reaching vision of future e-commerce, and his team’s deliberate execution to
Huron Capital has sold its interest in Quest Specialty Chemicals, Inc in a transaction that produced 4.1 times its original investment.
In order to give effect to the transaction, Quest was recapitalised by Audax Group, Moelis Capital Partners, and Quest management. Huron’s investment in Quest was the 2nd largest equity investment made through The Huron Fund II, LP, a USD185,000,000 fund which had its final close in May 2005. UBS Investment Bank advised Quest on the transaction and Honigman, Miller, Schwartz and Cohn served as counsel to Quest.
Founded in 2003 by Huron and chemical industry veterans Frederick Quinn
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