Bowmans (Law Firm)’s Post

I recently read an article outlining the role that private equity funds can play in turning around distressed South African retailers. South African companies operating in the same sector often find themselves filing for business rescue during the same period. I decided to share my own thoughts buttressing the points made in the article linked below. Post-commencement financing, a well-thought out business rescue plan and a pragmatic business practitioner are three key factors that can help a company come out of financial distress. Private equity funds are uniquely positioned to provide all three: 1. Private equity funds have the means to inject the necessary capital into distressed businesses and take advantage of the statutory - priority given to post-commencement financiers in Section 135 (3) of the South African Companies Act.  2. Private equity professionals are well versed in turning badly managed assets into profitable going concerns making them valuable partners who can contribute to the formulation of a workable business rescue plan.  3. Private equity funds often have the right personnel who have sufficient gravitas to steer a company in business rescue back to profitability. #businessrescue #postcommencementfinancing #financialdistress #privateequity

"There are 799 FCPI and FIP funds on Morningstar and 84% of them have delivered returns below zero since their inception...the average return for the 799 funds is -10.7%." 😬 Tax break driven investing is almost always a recipe for bad performance, and European venture funds targeting retail investors are no different. It's a bunch of people who shouldn't be in venture making typically weak bets in bad companies. "I don’t see a bright future for this niche". Good. It was never about making great investments. "The worst performer is the Arkéon Pré-Cotation Régions 2013 A, with a loss of 60.5%." Goddamn. That's dot com bubble bursting levels of bad. "On average these funds charge a 5% entry fee, as well as an annual management fee of around 3%. To benefit from the tax break, investors need to stay invested in the fund for at least five years." And they say 2 and 20 is cushy. 🤦🏻♂️ 🇫🇷 🐔 🍷 🥖 https://lnkd.in/eWrASaws #vc #venturecapital #startups #entrepreneurs #entrepreneurship #tech #technology #innovation #investing #investors #investment #future #money #business

SC Ventures by Standard Chartered and NEXT176 to Launch a Wealth Platform That Makes Financial and Wealth Planning Accessible to All “The UAE and the Middle East are emerging as one of the leading destinations for wealth management globally — whether it’s high net worth income population, Millennials, or Gen Z — there is demand for technologically advanced and highly-customised wealth management tools supported by ongoing financial education,” said Benito Mable, Venture and Strategic Partnerships Lead based in the UAE, SC Ventures. “The assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East rose 16% to US$1.2 trillion in 2022, according to BCG. The region is expected to grow further and remain the fourth-largest wealth hub in the world making UAE a perfect market for our base.” https://lnkd.in/exNh6hGn Alex Manson Vuyo Mpako #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

Being part of a Private Equity firm Crewstone International Private Equity & Investments dedicated to supporting SMEs in Malaysia, we see the recent focus on small and medium-sized enterprises as a pivotal moment for the country's economic landscape. The article underscores the significant role that SMEs play as the backbone of the Malaysian economy, contributing substantially to GDP and employment. This aligns perfectly with our mission to identify and support high-potential SMEs that can drive innovation and growth through our fundraising mechanisms. #SMEs #FundRaising #PrivateEquity #Investors

marco, the trade finance platform catering to the needs of SME exporters in Latin America, has announced the successful closure of a $12 million Series A funding round. The round was led by IDC Ventures, with additional participation from IDB Lab (the innovation and venture laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank Group), Barn Investimentos, SquareOne Venture Capital, Arcadia Funds, LLC, Florida Funders, Miami Angels, Kayyak Ventures, and Neer Ventures, among others. Founded in 2020 by entrepreneurs Jacob Shoihet and Peter D. Spradling, Marco has quickly established itself as a key player in the trade finance sector, with a team of over 50 employees across its offices in Miami, New York City, and Montevideo, Uruguay. The company is committed to building the operating system for Latin American SME exporters engaged in cross-border trade - providing them with fast, easy access to financing, and evolving to offer a comprehensive suite of services designed to address the unique challenges SMEs face. Source: https://lnkd.in/exX2Gqu6 Sign up for more news updates like this in our daily newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eskQx7Ym #fintech #donedeal #funding #seriesa #fundinground #trading #investors #financialtechnology #financialservices #latam #fintechnews

In the long-term game of #privatemarkets investing, patience is key. We always encourage investors to stay tuned into the companies they support for updated investment #valuations and #liquidity events, emphasizing the potential for returns. In our most recent blog post, we’re sharing a peek into historic returns. Here are some key highlights: 📊 91% of issuing companies are still in operation or have undergone successful liquidity events. 💡 77% of raises on FrontFundr are focused on equity offerings, empowering investors to become valuable part-owners in the startups they believe in. 📈 Our overall results not only match but exceed traditional #venturecapital estimated returns. 🔄 16% of our operating alumni have experienced an average share price increase of 80%. As we express our heartfelt gratitude to FrontFundr investors for supporting our mission, we’re working on our inaugural Year in Review report. This report will delve into the accomplishments of businesses that raised in 2023, offering insights into the evolving landscape of the #equitycrowdfunding industry in Canada. Stay tuned in the coming month for more on this! 🔮✨ In the meantime, read the full blog post here: https://lnkd.in/eX3WU3g3 #privatemarkets #venturecapital #equitycrowdfunding #retailinvestors #angelinvesting #startupfunding Luca Manglaviti Barry Macdonald, FCPA FCA, ICD.D Lauren Nickel, ICD.D Hiten Makim, CPA, CA David R Beatty C.M., O.B.E., F.ICD, CFA Charmaine Crooks, C.M, B.A, OLY Jill Earthy Daryl Hatton Annie Theriault Ibrahim Gedeon

𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 We are excited to announce that AVANA Companies & funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. have formed a new $250MM AVANA-Oaktree Private Credit Partnership (“AOPCP”). Both AVANA and Oaktree have extensive experience in the CRE industry and supporting SMEs across the USA. AOPCP will boost economic growth and job creation by providing private debt funding to US-based SMEs in the commercial real estate sector over the next three years. This partnership is particularly exciting to SMEs and Entrepreneurs given today’s tight lending environment. This partnership underlines the trust and credibility that AVANA Companies has built with industry leaders through 22 years of expertise in providing private funding for SMEs and private credit investment opportunities for institutional and retail investors. This will multiply our social impact exponentially, offering financing opportunities to entrepreneurs and supporting financial inclusion. Want more information about AOPCP? Please read our press release (https://lnkd.in/dewJfNfE) Sundip Patel, Sanat Patel, Matt Hunt, Michael Tansley, Chad Witcher #Partnership #CommercialRealEstate #CommercialLoans #BusinessLoans #teamwork #privatecredit

💰🇬🇧 UK Fintech Flagstone Secures £108 Million Investment 🇬🇧 💰 Cash deposit platform Flagstone just landed a hefty £108 million investment from Estancia Capital Management, LLC, a US cash management firm. This move targets the UK's £1.7 trillion savings market, where a shocking £1.1 trillion earns a measly 2% interest or less. Founded in 2015, Flagstone is now the UK's largest cash savings platform. Their platform lets individuals, SMEs, and charities spread savings across accounts from over 60 providers, maximizing returns with FSCS protection. Flagstone's success hinges on solving saver frustrations. Their platform finds the best rates, with the average customer holding five accounts and reinvesting seven times a year. Partnerships with wealth managers and financial service providers further boost their reach. The Estancia investment fuels Flagstone's growth plans. They aim to solidify their market lead, boost brand awareness, and strengthen partnerships. Exceptional customer service remains a priority, and Estancia's expertise will accelerate international expansion. Simon Merchant, co-founder and CEO of Flagstone, states: “At a time when funding capacity is down on a global scale, Estancia’s investment and market expertise provides us with the firepower necessary to really capitalise on the opportunities ahead of us, whether those be through organic growth, partnership and acquisitions, and prompt further consolidation of our market leadership position.” The deal, closing in Q2 2024, marks a significant development in the UK savings market. With Flagstone's platform and Estancia's backing, savers can expect more competition and potentially higher returns. #fintech #payments #financialservices