The number of smaller businesses in the UK has shot up: Here are the top-growing sectors November 9, 2017 The number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK has grown by almost a quarter over the past five years, new research from Hampshire Trust Bank and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) has revealed. The office administration and business sector led the way, as the number of SMEs operating in [...]
London gets another new private equity firm as Apiary Capital aims to raise £150m November 7, 2017 Another private equity firm is joining the melee of funds investing in the UK, as sources revealed that Apiary Capital is aiming to raise £150m to invest in lower mid-market companies. The firm, which is headed by former Bowmark Capital senior partner Mark Salter, is still in the early stages of fundraising, sources familiar with [...]
Bollington and Wilsons insurance brokers merge as private equity firm Inflexion buys both November 6, 2017 Private equity firm Inflexion has boasted a double buyout this morning, as it announced the acquisition of Bollington Insurance Brokers and Wilsons Insurance Brokers. The UK-focused firm also added that it would merge the two companies to create Bollington Wilson Group, which will generate annual gross written premiums in excess of £120m. Both Bollington and [...]
Asset managers are hugely underestimating the amount of capital they must hold to cover risk compared with watchdog expectations October 27, 2017 The amount of money which asset managers are holding to cover potential risks is falling well below the financial watchdog's expectations, according to a new report from KPMG. On average, asset managers in the UK are being told by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to hold 82 per cent more capital than they have already [...]
London’s latest private equity firm FPE Capital closes its debut fund at £100m to focus on smaller UK businesses October 26, 2017 The UK's private equity market is continuing to grab attention as FPE Capital, a new firm which will focus on smaller UK businesses, has closed its first institutional fund at £100m. The firm has spun out from Stonehage Fleming, a business which makes investments on behalf of high-net-worth individuals and families. FPE will target businesses [...]
Iconic sailing-wear brand Musto sets sail to Helly Hanson for £50m October 19, 2017 British outdoor clothing brand Musto, worn by the likes of Zara Phillips and yachtswoman Samantha Davies, has been sold to Norwegian sportswear company Helly Hansen for around £50m. Phoenix Equity Partners, the UK private equity firm which bought Musto in 2007 for £40m, has finally relinquished the company after an unusually long ten-year hold period. [...]
Graze’s private equity owners ready to chomp down on £300m sale October 15, 2017 The owners of healthy snack box delivery company Graze are preparing to get their teeth into a £300m sale, according to reports. Private equity firm Carlyle, which bought a majority stake in the business for a rumoured £50m in 2013, has appointed boutique investment bank Harris Williams to run the sale according to the Sunday [...]
Challenger bank OakNorth hits unicorn status as it grabs £154m to take its fintech global October 12, 2017 Money seems to be growing on the tree for OakNorth, a challenger bank which has just raised another £154m to take its proposition global. The business, which specialises in providing smaller loans to UK businesses, secured investment from Singapore's Clermont Group, Martin Hughes' asset management firm Toscafund and New York's Coltrane who have together bought [...]
Former Shawbrook duo launch new investment firm for speciality finance businesses October 11, 2017 A duo from challenger bank Shawbrook have embarked on setting up a new investment firm, focused on companies in the speciality finance sector. Marc Sefton and Kieran McSweeney have founded Aquilam Capital, which will focus on investing and lending to businesses in the consumer and small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) finance niches and in the [...]
A new female-led private equity firm focusing on beauty, health and lifestyle has launched a £65m fund September 19, 2017 Private equity may be one of the worst financial services sectors for promoting gender diversity, but today has seen the launch of the first female-founded specialist firm. Vaultier7, led by dealmakers Montse Suarez and Anna Sweeting, will focus on the beauty and personal care, health and wellness and lifestyle sectors. They have already launched a [...]