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DIVERSITY
A list of 80 City investment management firms have agreed to back an initiative to increase black representation within key functions in portfolio management and finance.
The new initiative, called #100blackinterns, aims to bring together long only and hedge funds, private equity, credit and real estate managers, together with consultants and pension funds within the investment management industry, to give portfolio management function internships to young, university-educated black people.
The firms taking part in the program have committed to offer a paid internship to a black candidate next summer in a frontline investment position, and applications are welcome from black
INVESTMENTS
General Atlantic has entered a strategic partnership with fitness community and apparel brand Gymshark in its first-ever fundraise, valuing the business at over GBP1 billion.
The valuation means that Gymshark joins the list of fewer than 25 British companies to have secured unicorn status since 2001. It is the second British company to have done so without previous support from external investors.
In connection with GA’s investment the founder is increasing his stake in the company to more than 70 per cent. GA will take a 21 per cent stake in the business following the deal, and Melis Kahya Akar,
NEWS
Thomson Reuters has acquired CaseLines, a cloud-based court document and evidence management platform, in order to digitally transform legal processes.
NEWS
PitchBook Data has released its healthcare focused Q2 European M&A Report, showing European M&A totalled an impressive EUR563.6 billion in H1 2020, keeping pace with 2019 figures despite the pandemic.
THE NEW NORMAL
Michael Johnson (pictured) is responsible for continuing to grow and evolve Crestbridge’s overall funds proposition. Here he discusses how Covid has created barriers to private equity fundraising, what challenges GPs are facing going forward beyond Covid and how managers can best position themselves to address these.
Q&A
Lisya Bahar Manoah (pictured) recently joined Catalyst Investments as a partner, based in Tel Aviv in Israel. The firm was founded in 1999 by Edouard Cukierman, Yair Shamir and Boaz Harel.
WEBINAR
In this webinar Intralinks and industry experts evaluate how PE groups have been adjusting to performing ODD during the lockdown. We explore the technologies that have played a key role in helping PE firms identify and overcome issues and what specific areas of ODD work well ‘virtually’. Could this virtual approach be the new normal going forward?
Other key topics discussed include:
How are PE groups themselves responding to investor ODD requests during this period to ensure they are meeting expectations?
What key questions should COOs/CFOs be asking if they look to embrace virtual ODD?
Panel:
– Jason Barg // Partner, Lovell Minnick Partners
–
INVESTMENTS
InnovHeart, a developer of novel transcatheter mitral valve replacement systems for the treatment of mitral valve disease, has received EUR20 million in a round of equity financing from a syndicate of investors.
The Series B round was raised from existing Milan-based investor Genextra which has been the sole investor since 2015, and a syndicate led by Panakes Partners, with CDP Venture Capital and Indaco Venture Partners joining the round.
The equity will be used to complete the first-in-human clinical evaluation of the company’s Saturn TMVR system using a trans-apical approach. The new capital will also allow InnovHeart to finalise the
NEWS
UK-focused primary buyout specialist Kester Capital has closed its latest fund, Kester Capital II, at its hard cap of GBP90 million within a nine month fundraising period.
Kester Capital was advised on the fundraising, which was oversubscribed, by placement agent Elm Capital and Travers Smith, who provided legal advice. Investors in the fund include both new and existing UK, continental European and US institutional investors.
Kester’s second fund will invest in UK SMEs requiring institutional capital for the first time, with a focus on healthcare, business & financial services and TMT, as these sectors experience high growth at the moment,
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
COMMENT
UK economic recovery may hinge on investments into SMEs – investors comment
COMMENT
UK economic recovery may hinge on investments into SMEs – investors comment