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Does ESG really improve private equity portfolio performance and returns?

The cost to go green is costing private equity-backed portfolio companies a bundle. So, I looked into whether private equity firms and their portfolio companies were not only delivering on their green commitments but if their ESG objectives were actually paying off. Does ESG really improve performance? Read the full cover story in...

Taxing Vapes? Why Not Transform Them Instead?

OPINION: TOPIC OF THE WEEK The BBC reports that ministers in the UK are considering a new tax on vapes. While health concerns about youth vaping are valid, this move feels like a missed opportunity. It's time to change the conversation and explore how vaping technology could be repurposed as a force for...

Spain: why international private equity investors are on a mission to unlock its full potential

BuzzVestor Media looks at the latest private investment deal flow, valuations, sector and fundraising activity in Spain to gauge what to expect in 2024.

OpenAI’s fire and rehire of Sam Altman will have implications on AI sector due diligence and portfolio management

If you hadn't heard, Sam Altman was ousted from OpenAI this month (November 2023) reportedly due to a "breakdown of communications" with the company's board, not "malfeasance," according to an internal company memo. However, the move has sparked a wave of protest, with over 700 current OpenAI employees threatening to quit if Altman...

Toy maker Melissa & Doug bags $950 cash deal

Melissa & Doug theme set
Spin Master Corp. (TSX: TOY), a children's entertainment company, has reached a definitive agreement to acquire US-based Melissa & Doug, a well-recognised and trusted brand in early childhood play, for $950 million in cash. We used to buy Melissa & Doug products for our kids before we moved...

Private equity pivots in a trying economy

Check out how private equity portfolios faired in the first half of 2023 and what GPs and LPs expect about valuations, deal flow and debt for H2. You can download the report here.

Report names VC funds whose portfolio companies are at risk for a cyber-attack

cybersecurity
In 2023, the global cost of cybercrime is expected to reach $10.5 trillion, and venture capital-backed companies are a prime target. That's according to a cyber risk assessment of thousands of portfolio companies A cyber security risk assessment of thousands of venture capital portfolio companies found that 65% (3,565) are exhibiting ‘high’ rated risk...

Hunter Point takes strategic minority stake in secondaries firm Coller Capital

Coller Capital (“Coller”), the UK-based private capital secondaries firm, has announced that Hunter Point Capital (“HPC”) has made a strategic minority investment in the firm. The investment aims to support Coller’s long-term growth, notably with its Credit Secondaries business and its latest innovative RMB fund, as well as accelerating the expansion of its dealings...

Deals are down for another quarter: can private equity save itself from this economic funk?

#Privateequity and #venturecapital deal activity are down, Private Equity Wire has reported. It was to be expected. This economic funk we are all going through is as unique as it is universal. In all the years I have been monitoring private equity, things at the moment are seriously steeped in uncertainty. Perhaps this is an unpopular opinion,...

Higher yields and transparency boosting family office allocations to private debt

Family offices are increasing their allocation to private debt, according to a new survey from Aeon Investments, a London-based credit-focused investment company. Drivers for these locations are a combination of increased transparency in the alternative asset class and attractive yields, found the report. Its study surveyed senior executives at family offices with more...

Wealth managers: your intuition about your clients could be off, says new research

Too many wealth managers rely on intuition to determine client psychological profiles, Oxford Risk research shows New European research from behavioural finance experts Oxford Risk reveals that wealth managers admit to being regularly surprised by their clients’ investment decisions despite claiming to have a very good understanding of their psychological profiles.

Pension funds switch investments to hedge against inflation

83% of pension fund managers expect inflation to increase over the next 12 monthsAlmost all (98%) pension fund managers believe their schemes are already well hedged against inflation, largely because they have switched investments New research has revealed that almost six in ten (57%) pension fund managers are predicting further dramatic increases in inflation...

Alternative fund managers: it might be time to brush up on your Italian

More of Italy's pension funds will follow the footsteps of Foncer, Fondo Gamma Plastica, Fopen, Fondo Pensione Complementare Pegaso and Previmoda by increasing investments in alternative funds, it has been reported by think tank Itinerari Previdenziali. The above-named pension funds have recently committed €168m to invest in infrastructure through a project called Vesta. According...

M&A spikes as uncertainty remains

By Victor Basta, Co-Head, DAI Magister Over the last few months, we’re seeing more and more buyers ‘show up’ well prepared and ready to transact before a target begins any M&A process. In many cases, especially for quality targets in key sectors, we’re seeing multiple buyers appear around the same time. We think...

Barclays enters self-employed mortgage market

Kensington Mortgages, a specialist broker and lender to the UK's self-employed, has been sold to Barclays Bank UK PLC. The acquisition will allow Barclays to become one of the few major banks with a specialist mortgage offering and provides an exit for Blackstone Tactical Opportunities and Sixth Street. The sale follows an auction...

NFT “rug pull” scam caught on video

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NFT adoption in the corporate blockchain could come to a halt if more "rug pull" scams arise. In a Sifted article, Demetris Papadopoulos, a marketing consultant and YouTuber who lives in Athens, relays how he lost $1,200 last October when he tried to buy a picture of a cartoon monkey online.  "It was another...

Crossborder M&A to shrink 80% by 2030

"If a portfolio manager teleported from 2020 into 2030, they would most likely not recognise their industry." Asset managers will increasingly struggle to run global enterprises, as cross-border investments shrink, according to new research. Globalization and cross-border M&A in the asset management industry will atrophy by 2030, with less...

The Pallo Backstory: The Freelancers That Launched An App To Fix Their Biggest Problem

I came across a fintech startup called Pallo over on Product Hunt. It wasn’t just the product that intrigued me, but the freelancers-turned-founders’ back story. Pallo, an AI integrated business and personal finance app designed by freelancers for freelancers, promises to be a game-changer for independent workers. Some of the first questions that come...

Private equity preps for greater SEC scrutiny on fees and LP side letters

Industry experts estimate that investors pay private equity and hedge funds more than $250 billion a year in fees and expenses, which does not take into account additional ancillary fees from limited partners and portfolio companies (Source: JD Supra). Let's digest that figure for a moment. Think of the domino effect greater SEC...

BuzzVestor Media connects the dots…

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From brainstorming your website's purpose to supplying its thought leadership content, we're here to help...

Thoma Bravo Advantage (TBA) SPAC values ironSource at $11bn

ironSource SPAC
Nasdaq has added another SPAC deal to its tally with ironSource, a business platform for the app economy, which has entered into a definitive agreement to merge with a group of investors led by Thoma Bravo Advantage (NYSE: TBA) (“TBA”), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company. The transaction values ironSource at a pro forma...

Progressive Energy’s HyNet North West: how a homegrown project became the birthplace of the UK’s hydrogen revolution

HyNet
Progressive Energy's homegrown hydrogen technology and project could act as a platform for others across the UK and abroad HyNet North West will bring an estimated £17 billion GVA for the North West It will create 5000 jobs within the region by 2025All new gas boilers in the country could be hydrogen-ready by 2025With government support, strategic...

Tesla, Bitcoin and the Twitterati: how business influencers are impacting stock chatter in 2021

how business influencers are impacting stock chatter in 2021
Tesla sees 60% surge in influencer conversations on Twitter post bitcoin investment Tesla has witnessed a dramatic 60% jump in influencer conversations following the electric vehicle manufacturer’s announcement to invest US$1.5bn to incorporate bitcoin into its payment infrastructure, according to GlobalData. However, what is perhaps more telling is that the electric automaker is likely...

Travel ban ‘justified’ says virologist as COVID variants can only mutate when it infects people; variants already detected in other countries and harming young populations

Travel ban justified as COVID-19 variant already in other countries and spreading fast
The UK and Denmark are world-leaders in genome marking and as such could be the reason why these two countries have detected the latest COVID variant first in Europe, rather than be the sources of the variant, BuzzVestor Media reports. The mutation of the virus, according to experts monitoring the pandemic on an...

BuzzVestor Media’s Twelve Days of a Merry Little Business

BuzzVestor Media wishes the millions of freelancers, small business owners and startups around the world a very Merry and Festive Business Season. Hoping some of these tips for 12 Days of a Merry Little Business inspire you.

Monarch secures $3bn for distressed opportunities fund, deploys more capital in a single year since 2008

Monarch Capital Partners V was oversubscribed and has been investing since it held a first close in May, according to a statement. The fund was launched in early 2020, prior to the US outbreak. Monarch Capital Partners IV, closed in 2017 after raising $1.25 billion. According to a Law 360 news report, in the...

Helicopter charters set to take off this holiday season

The helicopter tourism market size is expected to grow by USD 97.60 million and register a CAGR of over 2% during 2020-2024. Europe is expected to offer several growth opportunities for vendors and the market will see maximum growth in the general helicopter tourism segment. Charter companies are also offering Black Friday deals. For...

PRESS RELEASE: BuzzVestor consults on news and careers site launch to empower freelancers and start-up community in ‘new normal’

The Freelance Informer – “Empowering the Freelance Economy” Millions of freelancers from tech developers to tutors now have a voice in the media. LONDON, UK, 16 September, 2020/BuzzVestor Media/ — Freelancers contribute more than £165bn of the UK’s economic output, yet rarely get the positive recognition that they deserve from the media or...

Amadeus Capital makes some very impressive international hires to tap healthtech and LATAM

Global technology investor, Amadeus Capital Partners, made some impressive hire announcements today in conjunction with their "major expansion" of its investment team. Edward Kliphuis and Kai Schmitz have joined as Partners and Ana Bernardo-Gancedo as a Healthcare Analyst. With Managing Partner Andrea Traversone, Edward Kliphuis will lead the Amadeus “Scale” investment activities, supporting the...

Food-tech: Are you invested?

In addition to these obvious benefits of the food-tech and agro-tech sectors in 2020, I see smart infrastructure and design, such as repurposed office real estate and office parks turned into hydroponic and vertical farms. I also see potential in community-based farms (traditional; hydroponic; vertical) within cities and on the outskirts to keep food well distributed and...

Singapore businessman linked to Wirecard – and 400 other companies- charged with falsification of accounts; more mysteries emerge in the Philippines.

The businessman, who has been listed as a director or company secretary to approximately 400 companies in the city-state-has multiple ties to Wirecard, said the FT report. The suspect is considered a key figure in an alleged multiyear fraud, accused of playing the role of trustee for fake bank accounts, which Wirecard told auditors were...

IT engineers and Estonian venture community lose one of their founding fathers

The Estonian IT entrepreneur, Toivo Annus, one of the founding IT engineers behind the global telecommunication application, Skype, unexpectedly died on 12 July, his widow has announced. “I inform you with the utmost sadness that last weekend, on 12 July, our beloved husband, dad, entrepreneur and investor, Toivo Annus, succumbed to an unexpected illness,”...

Local lockdowns answer to future COVID-19 flare-ups; test and trace starts this week; how to order a test

Schools, businesses and workplaces could be closed in areas that see spikes in infection rates, according to the UK government's plan to ease social distancing across the school system and greater economy in June.A Test and Trace system will start this week Thursday to test anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, which now include loss of taste and smell....

Low-income UK construction workers failing to claim millions says tax refund expert

With many construction projects on hold now more than ever construction workers must ensure they are keeping on top of their expenses, especially those accumulated and not claimed over recent years. RIFT, a PAYE construction travel expense claim specialist in the UK, says that their data shows that 31% of all PAYE construction workers...

Special situations market preps for “once in a lifetime” opportunity

The investment opportunities we will see as special situation investors will be bigger than anything we saw during the financial crisis in 2008/2009, according. Dr. Dirk Markus, Chief Executive Officer of Aurelius Equity Opportunities, a German investment company with a global presence that provides loans to distressed companies.   “North American value investors are...

Art of the deal: virtual reality and investment platform accessing new generation of art investors (even from their sofas)

Following  the complete sell-out of their initial share offering,  UK-based digital art investments platform, ARTCELS, released 400 additional shares on 8 April 2020, amid plans to create bespoke virtual art experiences, including an exhibition, that allow shareholders to enjoy their art assets from the safety of their homes during the pandemic lockdowns. In February, the...

UK Coronavirus business interruption loan scheme in “accredited provider” gridlock to disperse funds

The Corporate Finance Network recently conducted research with 13,000 SME’s. “Its conclusions are stark,” comments Tim Stocks, Chief Executive of specialist merchant bank, James Stocks & Co.   An estimated 18% could become insolvent within the next four weeks due to their inability to access HM Government support under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan...

Healthcare divestment generates 3.6x cash-on-cash return multiple for Arx

DCB has been acquired by a joint venture involving Sava Re and Triglav, two of Slovenia’s largest insurance companies. The takeover of DC Bled will enable Sava Re and Triglav to implement their strategic expansion into the Slovenian private health services market. Bled-based DCB is the largest private healthcare service provider in Slovenia. The...

Avel Vor (RES and Caisse des Dépôts) sells its 30% equity stake in €2.4bn Ailes Marines project to Iberdrola

Avel Vor (RES and Caisse des Dépôts) sells its 30% equity in the €2.4 billion investment project, scheduled for commissioning in 2023 With a global 12.4 GW offshore wind project pipeline, Iberdrola currently operates three offshore wind farms: West of Duddon Sands (389 MW), Wikinger (350 MW) and the 714-MW East Anglia ONE (to...

IN-DEPTH: CYBERWARS THREATEN TO DERAIL CRITICAL INFRA

This article was first published by Inframation News, an Acuris company (25 November, 2019) With great power comes great responsibility. The famous ‘Peter Parker Principle’ devised by Spider Man comic book impresario Stan Lee should resonate with any fund manager responsible for assets deemed 'critical' to modern daily living. The inherent responsibility carried...

Energy supplier ban over smart meter enrolment could damage growth plans; DCC parent Capita sees £1bn value wipe-out

“These companies could face further punishments, and potentially lose their licences if they don’t resolve this situation soon,” says Owen. “These five energy companies might not be household names - accounting for fewer than 100,000 households between them - but the smart meter network won’t work properly until every supplier is using the same communications infrastructure.”

Interiors retailer Pier 1 enters Chapter 11 and searches for buyer

NYSE-listed Pier 1 Imports, the interiors and home accessories retailer that is also home to a collection by American interiors and makeover guru Joanna Gaines, is pursuing a sale of the company and has entered into a Plan Support Agreement with a majority of its term loan lenders. This means the Company and...

Greencoat acquires Letteragh Wind Farm in €35.4m deal; Graziano joins the board from Vestas

Listed Greencoat Renewables, a Euro-based renewable infrastructure company, has acquired Letteragh Wind Farm, a 14.1MW wind farm situated in County Clare, on Ireland's west coast, for an initial consideration of €35.4m. This brings Greencoat Renewables' portfolio of operational wind assets to 476MW. Seahound Wind Developments Limited developed Letteragh. HSH Nordbank provided project finance for the wind farm’s construction....

NHS Property Services to power portfolio with 100% renewable energy

NHS Property Services (NHSPS) has signed two new energy contracts via Inspired Energy to power its portfolio with 100% renewable power. British Gas will provide 100% renewable electricity and Corona will provide natural gas to all their properties across England by April 2020. NHSPS is responsible for around 11 per...

Private equity 2020: Citi’s Bailin expects bumper deal flow and HNW allocations to rise

Citi Private Bank’s Chief Investment Officer, David Bailin, says he is seeing high-net-worth clients allocating 20 per cent of their portfolios into the private market, with half of their private commitments increasingly earmarked for private equity. The CIO expects 2020 to be a very active M&A year for private equity given that the...

Carlyle’s Rubenstein: Warren’s GP debt pension obligation proposal for private equity ‘unlikely’ and has no Congressional support from either side

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https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/05/david-rubenstein-warren-wealth-tax-not-answer-to-society-problems.html?__source=twitter

Premier League footballer earns average lifetime earnings in 90 days; broadcast rights key to club growth and linked business opportunities

Everton 1-0 Watford An Everton fan shows his delight as he is surrounded by blue and white flags before the match at Goodison Park. Photo Source: Premier League/Getty Images

Asia-Pacific claims largest PV market share for cumulative capacity; North Africa looks to private finance to grow national renewables targets

Anchal Agarwal, Power Analyst at GlobalData, said: “The Asia-Pacific (APAC) is the largest regional market in terms of cumulative capacity with a share of 58.1% of global solar PV capacity in 2018. In terms of net annual additions, APAC alone installed 64.5GW of solar PV, which represents 70.8% of net installations in the same year. APAC is expected to remain the largest...

The $2.5bn Bird pre-money valuation sparks new optimism but hurdles remain in infrastructure and road ‘nuisance’

That valuation sounds like the business has a serious grasp on the market. BuzzVestor did a quick snoop to see where this market is going. And supposedly it has traction, according to a new report.   The Global Electric Scooter and Motorcycle market accounted for $7.5bn in 2018 and is expected to reach $16.5bn by 2027...

Softbank ‘unicorn’ Grab gets stung with $21m fine

With 45 investors supporting the business, including Invesco, Experian Ventures, and Softbank Vision Fund, the proposed fine puts a dent in the company’s reputation following its July US$2bn 5-year Softbank-backed digital infrastructure plan to expand into Indonesia. Following the merger between Grab and Uber in late March 2018, Grab swiftly became the dominant player...

Money on my Mind: Why it’s wise to get the latest on IHT before you KTB

We, mortals, are left to the whims of politicians when it comes to inheritance taxes. It is a morbid thought, a toss-of-the-coin-countdown to when you think you may kick the bucket (KTB). However, Chancellor Javid made some musings over cutting inheritance tax (IHT) at the recent Conservative Party Conference. Or at least he shared...

Private equity’s General Atlantic bearish on China

Private equity firms are divided on the stability and growth trajectory of China-based portfolio company investments. Uncertainty is ruling this space, but General Atlantic CEO Bill Ford remains positive and is looking at China long-term. About 55% of General Atlantic’s portfolio is invested outside the United States, with about 10% in China, reports CNBC.

UPS drone airline: pulling in revenues, spurring new eco-system gains, building scale over time

This week the world’s first revenue-generating drone airline, yes that’s a thing now, was launched by UPS and approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration through an industry-first Part 135 Standard certification, UPS reported. Last Friday, UPS subsidiary, UPS Flight Forward Inc., launched the first drone delivery flight by any company under Part 135 Standard at...

What every Founder/CEO can learn by opening a can of Play-Doh

Transforming a challenge into a solution is something my mother has often succeeded in. One of my first memories of this trait occurred on a rainy day in 1979. Head tilted chin in hand, a look of forlorn on my freckled cheeks, Mom walked into the kitchen and found her kindergartner sulking and counting raindrops. The family...

Climate-resilient infra funds on the cards as EBRD launches $700m bond

The EBRD has launched the first-ever dedicated climate resilience bond, raising US$ 700m with the issuance. BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs, and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB acted as joint bookrunners, which saw demand from approximately 40 investors in 15 countries. The proceeds from the five-year bond will be used to finance the...

Climate change: the new private-sector led asset class?

This week global advisory and insurer, Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW), launched in tandem with governments including the UK and Jamaica, the Global Commission on Adaptation and the World Economic Forum, a private-sector led Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment. The definition of climate-resilient infrastructure investment will need more explaining or at least more fine-tuning,...

DeVos’ OAPC latest family office to take stake in private equity firm

Signs that family offices will keep overall portfolio allocation in private equity at or slightly above 15% are expected to continue as interest rates stay low and uncertainty and volatility in global public markets and geopolitics prevail into 2020. This allocation away from the traditional asset classes of equities and fixed income improved...

Gojek attracts AIA investment to launch into life and health insurance sector; Amazon and Gojek in preliminary talks

AIA Financial and Gojek will work together to "provide life and health insurance services and wellness propositions to its users, drivers, and merchants across Indonesia.” Other series F round investors include Visa. The two companies will work together to provide greater options on cashless payments and more seamless experiences for consumers across Indonesia and Southeast Asia...

Blackstone founder bestows life lessons in self-help memoir

From educating German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the benefits of private equity-backed businesses to overturning single-gender education at his alma mater Yale, the book has been described as a memoir filled with life lessons. https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/09/17/blackstone-co-founder-stephen-schwarzman-autobiography-squawk-box.html

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Does ESG really improve private equity portfolio performance and returns?

The cost to go green is costing private equity-backed portfolio companies a bundle. So, I looked into whether private equity firms and...

Taxing Vapes? Why Not Transform Them Instead?

OPINION: TOPIC OF THE WEEK The BBC reports that ministers in the UK are considering a new tax...

Spain: why international private equity investors are on a mission to unlock its full...

BuzzVestor Media looks at the latest private investment deal flow, valuations, sector and fundraising activity in Spain to gauge what to expect in 2024.

OpenAI’s fire and rehire of Sam Altman will have implications on AI sector due...

If you hadn't heard, Sam Altman was ousted from OpenAI this month (November 2023) reportedly due to a "breakdown of communications" with...
Melissa & Doug theme set

Toy maker Melissa & Doug bags $950 cash deal

Spin Master Corp. (TSX: TOY), a children's entertainment company, has reached a definitive agreement to acquire US-based Melissa & Doug, a well-recognised...