Europe
Headlines
Kambio Ventures join forces with Jibrel Network to leverage blockchain infrastructure
Following the launch of Kambio Ventures earlier in the year, Kambio together with Jibrel will forge a new partnership to leverage blockchain infrastructure. Kambio Ventures is building a next-generation, blockchain-enabled and fully regulated capital markets platform for asset-backed security tokens – dedicated to start-ups and small...
Collas Crill appoints new head of corporate, finance and funds to BVI office
Offshore law firm Collas Crill has appointed partner Ian Montgomery as its new head of corporate, finance and funds in its British Virgin Islands office. The appointment comes as the firm looks to drive its commercial activities forward in the region and build its BVI office presence following Hurricane Irma. Ian was previously based in Collas...
Mazars announces five new partners
Mazars, the international accounting and advisory firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of five new partners in the UK. All five partners have been promoted from within the business and are drawn from across a range of service lines. The appointments reflect the firm’s ongoing investment in its core strategic markets including financial...
Philip Watkins joins Brown Rudnick's International Corporate practice as Partner
Brown Rudnick continues to bolster its cross-border M&A capabilities with the appointment of London private equity partner, Philip Watkins. International law firm Brown Rudnick LLP is pleased to announce the expansion of its International Corporate practice with the appointment of Philip Watkins as a Partner in the London Office. Philip joins Brown...
SETsquared set to contribute £26.9 billion to the UK economy and 22,000 jobs by 2030
The SETsquared Partnership, the global no.1 business incubation and start-up growth acceleration network, comprising five research-intensive universities: Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey, will contribute £26.9 billion to the UK economy by 2030, independent research undertaken by Warwick Economics and Development (WECD) has...
Finance
Le président Hoyer rencontre le président Macri à Buenos Aires
Les présidents ont échangé leurs vues sur le rôle de l’Argentine dans le contexte des réunions du G20 et de la complexité de la situation économique dans les marchés émergents.Read More
Denmark’s biggest bank reports on its Estonian shambles
“THE bank has clearly failed to live up to its responsibility,” said Ole Andersen, chairman of Danske Bank, on September 19th. Well, indeed. The findings of an inquiry into the laundering of money, much of it from Russia, through Danske’s Estonian branch are sobering. The euro amount rinsed through the branch’s books runs to 12 digits and...
How the yuan sets the tone in currency markets
MARIO DRAGHI, boss of the European Central Bank (ECB), is a polished speaker, clear and direct. Yet there was a moment after the bank’s monetary-policy meeting on September 13th when he was uncharacteristically vague. Asked how the ECB might recycle the proceeds from maturing bonds once it ends its bond-buying programme, he said the issue had...
What a controversial pastry says about China’s economy
Gift or graft? MOONCAKES are among the most divisive treats. For some the chewy pastries are delicacies on which to gorge for the Mid-Autumn Festival, a Chinese holiday that falls this year on September 24th. For others they are dry, dense and full of calories. But for economists they are something else entirely: an indicator of important trends...
The Fed stalls the creation of a bank with a novel business model
TEN years on from the financial crisis, the structure of American banking has not changed. At its core are government-guaranteed, and therefore cheap, deposits that banks put to work, primarily through lending. Deposits have become more important for bank funding in recent years; governments have become increasingly fussy about how the money is...
Legal
67% of law firms say skills shortages threaten growth
Despite the ongoing environment of geopolitical uncertainty, UK law firms remain optimistic about their growth prospects. That’s according to new research from specialist recruiter, Clayton Legal , which reveals that 66% of firms are looking to increase headcount over the next twelve months to contend with increased demand for their services. The...
Seedrs launches programme for financial intermediaries following record breaking Q3
The programme introduces wealthy individuals to early stage equity deals on Seedrs via their accountants, brokers and financial consultantsOver £3.6bn was invested into equity deals in the UK last year showing an increased appetite for startup investing45% of angels interviewed by the UKBAA about their early stage equity investments reported...
Lamont Pridmore warn high earners about HMRC raids
Higher rate taxpayers have been warned by leading Cumbrian accountants Lamont Pridmore to be vigilant over their tax affairs.The warning comes after new data from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) shows that its Affluent Unit took an additional £438 million pounds of high earners.Off the back of this success the Unit, which investigates the tax affairs of...
A Legal Perspective on the Government’s Brexit White Paper
Following pressure from sections of Parliament and the public, Theresa May’s government has published a 77-page white paper document to set out a strategy for leaving the EU. But what does it add to what we already know? Stephen Chater, a solicitor at Postlethwate Solicitors, member firm of the UK200Group, explains.The UK200Group is the UK’s leading...
32% law firms see private equity as a principal source of external funding
With growing competition from niche firms, law practices are actively seeking targeted acquisitions to scale-up in chosen disciplines. 32% see private equity as a principal source of external funding. Niche law firms seen as greatest source of competition. 59% of firms report a rise in competitive pressure. There is a sharp increase...
Deals
The Greater Manchester Loan Fund managed by Maven Capital Partners invests £500,000 in a leading supplier of design-led furniture
One-stop furnishing solution for the residential property sector will create eight new jobs following investmentThe Fund celebrates 5th anniversary investing £15 million in 32 businesses The Greater Manchester Loan Fund (“GMLF”), managed by Maven Capital Partners (“Maven”), has completed its 32nd deal investing £500,000 in Manchester-based...
Private equity capital calls shrink to lowest level on record
Private equity fund distributions have outweighed capital calls by a significant and striking degree over the past five years. Data from eFront, the world’s leading alternative investment management software and solutions provider, shows that since the start of 2013, distributions from private equity funds have remained at historically high levels,...
YFM Equity Partners invests £4.5m to support the continued growth of Collaborative Project Management Services Ltd
YFM Equity Partners (YFM), the specialist private equity fund manager, has invested £4.5m from its managed funds into Collaborative Project Management Services (CPMS) to support the continued growth of the business through ongoing new product and market development. YFM’s investment is the sixth investment from its £46m buyout fund. CPMS...
YFM Equity Partners backs the £10m MBO of DSP Database Managed Services
YFM Equity Partners (“YFM”), the specialist private equity fund manager has backed the MBO of DSP Database Managed Services (“DSP”), a leading provider of database and data platform managed services. Charlie Robinson and Ian Waterfield led the investment for YFM and this announcement marks the sixth investment from YFM’s Buyout...
H.I.G. Capital announces the sale of KidsFoundation
H.I.G. Capital (“H.I.G.”), a leading global private equity investment firm with more than €21 billion of equity capital under management, announced today that one of its affiliates has entered a definitive agreement to sell the KidsFoundation Group (“KidsFoundation”), the Dutch market leader in childcare services, to Onex Corporation...
Acq Lite
Curious quokka licks cyclist's pedals in Western Australia
March 9 (UPI) -- A cyclist taking a break in Western Australia captured video of a curious quokka licking the pedals of her bicycle.Shannon Ducker said she was taking a break from cycling on Rottnest Island when the quokka approached her bicycle and started licking the pedals.Ducker captured video as the apparently hungry animal enjoyed the taste of...
IHOP announces breakfast-themed PancakeWear clothing line
March 9 (UPI) -- Restaurant chain IHOP announced the debut of its breakfast-themed clothing line, PancakeWear, created to benefit a children's charity.The eatery announced it will soon be offering onesies, loungepants and socks in adult and child sizes featuring breakfast-themed prints."The ultra-comfy PancakeWear by IHOP collection is the perfect accessory...
Cat credited with rescuing Pennsylvania couple from fire
March 9 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania couple's pet cat is being hailed as a hero after alerting its owners to a late night fire that started inside their home.The McKeesport Fire Department said the couple were in bed about 1:30 a.m. Friday when their cat alerted them to something amiss inside their home."Fortunately, both were in bed at the time, and the...
Truck loses, drags two wheels on Oregon road
March 9 (UPI) -- A driver on an Oregon road captured video of a semi truck that somehow lost two wheels on a city road and dragged them for several yards.The video, filmed Monday on a street in Cornelius, shows the semi driving on a slow speed while dragging two wheels that somehow became separated from its trailer.The wheels drag behind the truck until...
'Sixth sense' sends woman back into store for winning lottery ticket
March 9 (UPI) -- A South Carolina woman said she owes her $250,000 lottery jackpot to a feeling that caused her to go back inside a store after finishing her shopping.The winner told South Carolina Education Lottery officials she was leaving The Spinx Company in Greenville when she felt compelled to go back inside the store and buy a $250,000 Extra...