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PODCAST
In this week’s podcast, Mark Yusko – founder, chief investment officer and managing director of Morgan Creek Capital Management – discusses why, in his view, SPACs are now replacing the traditional Series C, D and E rounds, how retail investors could tap into previously ‘hard to access’ late-stage growth PE with the help of SPAC vehicles, and his take on the viability of the SPAC craze.
NEWS
Affirma Capital has held a first close of its fifth Korea fund, Ascenta V, with an AUM of USD403 million, to invest in buyout and growth capital opportunities in emerging markets including Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Singapore-headquartered Affirma Capital is targeting a final close for Ascenta V of USD636 million by October 2021. Affirma Capital increased the fund’s target size by 40 per cent from USD455 million, despite raising funds during the pandemic, according to the firm.
Ascenta V has received commitments from 14 limited partners so far including Korean sovereign wealth funds and major Korean banks. “We
NEWS
AND Digital, a British tech consultancy aiming to accelerate digital delivery for businesses by providing access to tech talent, has secured GBP8 million in follow-on funding from BGF, one of the UK’s most prominent growth economy investors.
“Since our inception, there’s been a pressing need for digital skills to become foundational to every organisation, regardless of sector or size,” comments CEO Paramjit Uppal comment on the funding round.
“Now, as Covid-19 persists, we believe even more deeply that every business is now a digital business – with software and data at its core, powered by talent at the heart,” he adds.
DEALS
Toshiba, currently courted by numerous PE groups, confirmed it has ‘received an initial proposal’ from CVC this week and will ‘ask for further clarification and give it careful consideration’, in what looks like a process which could become Japan’s largest ever buyout deal.
Toshiba issued a statement on 9 April saying that the initial proposal is conditional on clearance of anti-trust regulation, as well as the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act of Japan, and necessary financing.
The corporation also said that the proposal involved seeking finance assistance from co-investors and financial institutions in pursuing the proposed transaction. “We expect
IMPACT INVESTING
Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) is one of the investors in the Vinci Impact and Return Fund IV, contributing up to USD11.8 million to the impact fund, which has a USD150 million target.
“With our commitment we are supporting Brazilian SMEs, which are particularly important during the coronavirus pandemic. As the anchor investor in VIR IV, DEG strengthens the fund’s capital base, thereby mobilising other investors,” said Gunnar Stork, head of DEG’s Corporates/Project Finance/Funds Africa/Latin America division.
Other investors that have agreed to contribute to VIR IV include the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and
PODCAST
With the financial services sector having experienced a lot of consolidation recently, Private Equity Wire sat down with Hugh Elwes (pictured), managing director of Stephens Europe, to talk about financial services M&A and why the sector is so busy at the moment.
DIGITAL SUMMIT
The programme is now largely finalised for Private Equity Wire and Hedgeweek’s inaugural PrivateDebtLIVE Summit, a new flagship digital event that will be held on 21-22 April featuring a high-level line-up of speakers and sponsors.
VIRTUAL EVENT
Apperio, in partnership with Private Equity Wire, Institutional Asset Manager, and Hedgeweek, is launching an all-new live virtual conference dedicated to helping stakeholders in private funds exchange ideas and best practices for efficiently deploying and managing legal resources. REGISTER NOW
GUEST ARTICLE
Alex Di Santo, group head of private equity at Crestbridge outlines four considerations for venture capital managers looking to launch their first fund.
WEBINAR
In this webinar, produced in conjunction with FIS, we look at how digitisation has changed the way PE groups approach sourcing capital in the global marketplace. REPLAY NOW
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
