UK / Ireland
North West Fund backs Playdemic
The North West Fund for Digital & Creative, managed by AXM Venture Capital, has invested in Playdemic, a UK-based social games developer.
UK Watch: continued optimism in Q3
Following an uptick of deal activity in the second quarter, the optimistic mood has continued into the third quarter, according to the latest unquote” UK Watch, published in association with Corbett Keeling.
New VC launches to boost UK tech entrepreneurs
Enterprise Capital Fund has launched in the UK to support early-stage technology companies.
Clifford Chance's Evans joins Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins has raided Clifford Chance's private equity practice for the second time this year with the hire of Tom Evans as partner.
Cambridge Innovation Capital raises £50m
Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) has raised £50m to back high-growth technology companies based in the Cambridge Cluster.
LDC backs Express Engineering
LDC has acquired a minority stake in Express Engineering, a UK-based precision engineering and contract manufacturing company for the oil and gas industry.
StepStone snaps up Greenpark
San Diego-based StepStone Group has completed its acquisition of London-based secondaries house Greenpark Capital.
Electra sells Lil-lets to Premier Foods
Electra Partners has sold its stake in UK-based feminine hygiene brand Lil-lets Group to Premier Foods.
Promethean holds £19m first close
Special situations investor Promethean Investments has reached a first close for its latest fund on £19m.
Goldman Sachs in £700m Hastings deal
Goldman Sachs’ Merchant Banking Division (GS MBD) has acquired a 50% stake in Hastings Insurance Group in a deal valuing the company at £700m.
Ardian-backed Diana acquires Confoco International
Diana Ingrédients, backed by Ardian (formerly Axa Private Equity), has acquired sales and marketing services provider Confoco International.
Ex-Prudential CEO joins Octopus board
Octopus Investments has appointed Rob Davey, former CEO of Prudential UK and Europe, as non-executive director.
LDC backs £20m round for The Training Room
LDC has backed The Training Room (TTR), a UK-based provider of vocational training courses for gym instructors, in a £20m funding round alongside the company’s CEO.
Jones Day hires BLP's Weir
International law firm Jones Day has hired Michael Weir as a partner in its private equity practice in the London office.
Albion leads investment in Aridhia Informatics
Albion Ventures has led a funding round for health and biomedical informatics firm Aridhia Informatics.
Connection invests £4.1m in Earthmill
Connection Capital has invested £4.1m in wind turbine installer Earthmill.
Manchester: it’s about who you know
Manchester
Forward Investment Partners backs Wool and the Gang
Forward Investment Partners has committed capital to Wool and the Gang, joining the late stages of the firm’s recent $2.8m round.
Isis backs Carousel with replacement capital
Isis Equity Partners has acquired a stake in logistic service provider Carousel Logistics through replacement capital.
BGF invests £8.7m in PTS
The Business Growth Fund (BGF) has invested £8.7m in London-based PTS Consulting Group.
Sovereign invests in Kindertons
Sovereign Capital has invested in Kindertons, a UK-based specialist provider of outsourced accident management services.
SEP supports Tryzens MBO
Scottish Equity Partners (SEP) has supported the management buyout of UK-based digital solutions provider Tryzens from its parent company Jaywig.
3i's Go Outdoors in £33m refinancing
Go Outdoors, a UK-based outdoor activities equipment retailer backed by 3i and YFM Private Equity, has secured a new £33m debt facility from Barclays.
Bridges Ventures closes fund on £125m
Bridges Ventures has held the final close of Bridges Sustainable Growth Fund III on £125m, beating its £100m target.