Craft beer brand Brewdog is trying to mature after a tough year of marketing disasters October 22, 2018 It’s been a tough year for Brewdog, much of it the brand’s own fault. Tone-deaf advertising campaigns and PR mishaps have frustrated its fans and “equity punk” investors (I speak from personal experience – I’ve been a shareholder since 2015). The Scottish craft beer brewer, founded in 2007, is as well known for its marketing stunts as [...]
Leaseplan cancels planned float as stock markets wobble October 11, 2018 Car leasing group Leaseplan today announced it was cancelling its planned initial public offering (IPO) just a week after confirming its float plans. The private equity-backed company, which has a market capitalisation of more than €6bn (£5.2bn), blamed market conditions for its decision. Leaseplan said last week that it was planning to float on the [...]
Hiring for success with Joss Search founder and recruitment expert Sivan Joss October 8, 2018 Recruitment gets a bad rep. There’s a cliche that recruiters are wheeler-dealers, who always call at the worst time, don’t listen to what candidates or clients want, and are just scheming to get jobseekers into any role possible, regardless of whether or not they’re qualified. But while some of you reading may have had bad [...]
Terra Firma founder Guy Hands launches new special opportunities fund to buy Finnish modular building company October 4, 2018 Private equity tycoon Guy Hands has launched a new special opportunities fund that has invested in Finnish modular building company Parmaco. The deal, which comes after the £4bn refinancing and recapitalisation of Annington Homes in July last year, will see a Terra Firma led consortium acquire Parmaco from Finnish private equity group MB Funds. Read more: Guy Hands plotting £1.3bn sale of Italian solar [...]
Blackstone challenges Bloomberg with deal for $20bn Thomson Reuters arm October 2, 2018 Private equity giant Blackstone has completed its biggest investment since the 2008 financial crisis by taking over Thomson Reuters' financial and risk unit. The deal, which values the business at around $20bn (£15.5bn), sees the Blackstone-led consortium of private equity funds take a 55 per cent stake. Thomson Reuters keeps 45 per cent of the business, [...]
Corporate services firm Hawksford opens new London office October 1, 2018 Corporate services firm Hawksford has launched a new London office following the acquisition of audit and accountancy practice SH Landes. The New Oxford Street office, which will be led by Steven Landes, demonstrates confidence in London as a global centre for international finance, the company said. Read more: We found dogs and ice cream rotas in [...]
Private equity powerhouse Advent International closes £1.7bn deal to acquire pharmaceutical company Zentiva October 1, 2018 Global private equity firm Advent International has acquired European pharmaceutical company Zentiva for €1.9bn (£1.69bn). Advent International confirmed today that it backed the divestment of the European generics division of biopharmaceutical company Sanofi to create an independent business. The private equity firm will focus investment on the company's operations, production facilities and research and development (R&D). Read more: Advent has [...]
Planet Organic prepares for expansion drive after fund takeover October 1, 2018 Scottish private equity firm Inverleith has taken a majority stake in London-based retailer Planet Organic, unveiling plans to double the organic supermarket’s store count over the next five years. Inverleith has made an equity investment into the company, which currently has seven stores in London, to grow its footprint. Planet Organic, the UK’s largest fully-certified [...]
Chained to its rival? Halfords swoops in for embattled bike chain Evans Cycles September 27, 2018 Britain’s largest bike chain Halfords is in talks to rescue its beleaguered rival Evans Cycles, according to Sky News late last night. Halfords is understood to be one of several parties which have shown interest in buying Evans, which has hurried up the bidding process in an effort to avoid collapse. The news comes [...]
Poll: Brexit won’t lead to financial services brain drain September 26, 2018 Just 630 UK finance jobs have moved abroad since the Brexit vote, a Reuters poll found today. It contrasts fears voiced immediately after the vote that leaving the EU could badly damage the UK’s financial services sector. Read more: Brexit: Rees-Mogg tells businesses to accept customs delays Reuters’ poll of 134 financial giants found [...]