NLC’s Post

The European Leveraged Finance Association started with a vision shared amongst a small group of leveraged finance investors and has grown into a strong, credible voice for the buyside in Europe. Its growth shows what can be achieved with vision, coordination, and passion. It has been an honour to lead ELFA during its first stage of growth, and now it is time to pass along the opportunity to lead this amazing organisation to someone else. Next week we will post a job spec for the CEO role, and I am confident that it will attract many qualified candidates and that ELFA will continue to grow from strength to strength. The need for a strong, independent voice for the buyside has never been greater, and ELFA will benefit from the fresh perspective and energy that come with a new leader. I look forward to continuing to lead ELFA over the coming months, working with members, partners, and market participants as we continue our important work, following which I will handover to the new CEO. I intend to ensure a seamless transition. I am not going very far! The leveraged finance market will remain my professional home as I devote my time to bringing education on legal documentation to leveraged finance professionals with Fox Legal Training and supporting women on the path to empowerment with Good Girl to Goddess. I am excited for me, and for ELFA! I did not come to the decision to step down lightly, and the organisation will always hold a special place in my heart. During my time here, I found my voice as a professional woman in the finance industry, I developed diplomacy and communication skills, I honed my ability to achieve balance in complex situations, and I learned how to have my own back and forge genuine relationships with true allies. These are all skills that will serve me well throughout my career. One of the most challenging values to balance is commitment to a cause and the pursuit of one’s own dreams. We are fortunate when these align – having the opportunity to found and build ELFA in support of fairness, transparency, and cooperation was absolutely a dream come true. Now I have new dreams, and it’s time for me to pursue them with the same passion that drove me to create ELFA.   https://lnkd.in/evppqf4u

The private equity (PE) sector stands on the brink of a significant transformation, a shift underscored by the predictions of industry luminaries such as Dave Layton, CEO of Partners Group. These forecasts anticipate a dramatic consolidation within the sector, potentially reducing the number of private market fund managers to a mere 100 'next-generation' firms. Altus Partners, part of The LCap Group, has identified the emergence of two distinct groups within the industry: 1️⃣ those capable of swiftly raising capital, often diversifying their strategies to include continuation or impact funds in addition to their core strategy fundraises 2️⃣ and those facing challenges, potentially leading their funds into runoff 🔗 Find out more about how the future of talent in the consolidating PE market points to both challenging and exciting times ahead: https://lnkd.in/e7T_3KE3 Altus Partners is part of The LCap Group: Drax Executive, Rowan, Leadership Dynamics and PACE. #privateequity #leadership #talent #executivesearch #funds

We are proud to announce that The Vantage Point Financial Group, has been named a Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Team for 2024. This acknowledgement speaks to our collaborative culture as well as our commitment to, together, helping clients achieve what is most important to them. I am proud to share this news—and to be part of such a remarkable and talented team, working together to earn the long-term trust of our clients. It is an honor to work with peers who embody excellence and are true leaders in our industry. My teammates and I are honored and humbled by this distinction and are grateful for our clients and colleagues. After all, they are the real reason for our recognition. The Forbes rating is compiled by Shook Research and awarded annually in January, based on information from a 12 month period ending March of the prior year. Eligibility is based on quantitative factors and is not necessarily related to the quality of the investment advice. For more information on third party rating methodologies, please visit https://lnkd.in/e3fnMkT3 #forbes #shookresearch #investing #nflpa #economy #startups #investing

Excellent feedback and advice below, wise words regarding the value of a CFO to any business seeking investment and considering future exit! FD Flex Limited have you covered! #smebusinessowners #businessowners #parttimeFD

Why are some people shunning SEIS? This is one of those product-market fit mysteries, genuinely I think it’s a missed opportunity - especially for financial advisers and wealth managers. Yes investing in companies at their earliest stage is risky, and I get that there is a perception that a failure in any part of an advised investment  portfolio could damage the client relationship - but this is a manageable and expected fear worth explaining and at least offering. Because the upside (50% income tax relief) and downside protection (loss relief) help mitigate the risks. Failure is expected in this asset class,  Include the possible CGT benefits and you’re potentially covered up to 85% of your original investment. Surely in the context of ‘adding value’ to HNW and sophisticated clients, there is an opportunity worthy of more consideration here. Personally I advocate for a professionally managed portfolio approach, finding and picking winners is notoriously hard and time consuming. We discuss how many frogs a manager has to kiss to find those 5 or 6 winners in this super interesting video interview with Kealan Doyle of Symvan Capital. We also get into the idea of differentiated fee models for advisers, why the grass roots of VC is so important, the tax reliefs, failure rates and why a managed portfolio approach works. I always enjoy talking to Kealan, he just gets founders - which is a great attribute for a fund manager, and is one of those rare individuals that can see round corners. They have a stable of great B2B SEIS and EIS investments, that take their guess work out of very early stage venture investing. I want to encourage more advisers to take the time to understand the opportunity with SEIS and how they might carve out a high value and differentiated proposition in this area. I accept there is work involved in gaining specialist knowledge and enhanced due diligence - but I believe there is a genuine client demand for advice in this area, and I hope you will join me in banging that drum. #seis #venturecapital #earlystage #investment #eis #vc #vcinsights

Such talented speakers joining us to explain the range of equity finance in the East Midlands. Book now to see how you can grow your business with their help. #equityfiance #midlandsbusiness #businessfinance

FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank's Strategy 2030 has an ambitious aim—to convert unbankable opportunities into bankable projects through Market Creation. Dalberg reviewed development interventions across three public funds managed by FMO to help create a future investment pipeline.  Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e2p9iKMY #Strategy2030 #MarketCreation #InnovativeFinance #DevelopmentImpact #DalbergInsights 

Are you on the journey of scaling a founder-led or family-owned businesses? Have you considered private equity investment? Here are three key take-outs from a recent article on what PE investment can bring: De-Risking Expansion: By introducing a mix of experienced management, private equity enables businesses to reduce reliance on the founder during periods of growth. Capital for Growth: Access to capital allows for accelerated expansion plans Strategic and Operational Guidance: Private equity can provide invaluable expertise in operational efficiency, strategic planning, and industry insights. When you're looking at embarking on a growth journey private equity can be more than just capital. Read the article in full here >> https://bit.ly/3vpKDtG Rowan are part of The LCap Group: Altus Partners, Drax Executive, :eadership Dynamics, PACE #PrivateEquity #business #leadership

🌟 Exciting News Alert! 🌟 The team and Edge are thrilled to share some very exciting news! Our design innovation powerhouse, is gearing up for a significant expansion following a substantial investment injection! Thanks to the generous support from the North East Small Loan Fund, facilitated by the diligent efforts of NEL Fund Managers, we are primed to accelerate our mission of catalysing innovation across sectors. Led by our visionary CEO, Simon Green, our team at Edge is dedicated to empowering businesses in the public, private, and third sectors to revolutionise their offerings, keeping pace with evolving market demands. Our focus on human-centred design enables us to craft solutions that not only meet market needs but also drive tangible impact. As we set our sights on broader horizons, including the UK, US, Middle East, and Far East markets, we're thrilled to announce the creation of two new roles, expanding our talented team to seven individuals. At Edge Innovation, we're not just about business growth; we're committed to driving positive social and environmental change. Sustainability is a core pillar of our operations, and we're determined to enhance the environmental footprint of our projects while maximising their effectiveness. Our esteemed clients, including Teesside University, Newcastle University, Derwent Valley Car Club, Tees Valley Combined Authority, and numerous local charities, attests to the transformative power of our approach. Simon Green, CEO of Edge Innovation, remarked, "Innovation and practical thinking have always been integral to the North East's economic landscape, and we're proud to carry on that tradition. By prioritising sustainability and leveraging our team's expertise, we're poised to seize the abundant opportunities that lie ahead, both domestically and internationally." Susan Snowdon, investment executive at NEL Fund Managers, echoed the sentiment, emphasising the unique position and invaluable contributions of Edge Innovation within the North East economy. Our journey at Edge Innovation is just beginning, and we're thrilled to embark on this next chapter of growth and impact. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to push the boundaries of design innovation and pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable future! #DesignInnovation #Sustainability #BusinessExpansion #NorthEastEconomy

Always an inspirational time at the #SBA #SmallBusinessWeek awards! Last night we celebrated two Small Business Investment Companies (#SBIC) of the year, presented in two categories – “Emerging Manager” and “Established Manager” – wonderful to recognize the diverse and dynamic work of the fund manager in the SBIC program at different points in the asset management business lifecycle.  Initial press release: https://lnkd.in/dFcfTceZ Mizzen Capital (Elizabeth Karter) was recognized as the 2024 Emerging Manager of the year. Mizzen’s objective is to provide debt investments into U.S.-based, underserved companies in the lower middle market, tailoring capital structures to fit small businesses' needs while prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level of investment strategy. A certified women- and minority-owned firm, Mizzen embraces diverse perspectives and since SBIC licensing in 2020, Mizzen has invested in 36 companies, with approximately 44% located in low-income areas and 64% in smaller enterprises, creating a projected 1,724 jobs. Argosy Private Equity (Lane Wiggers, Don Charlton, and Sarah B.) is the 2024 Established Manager of the year. Argosy targets lower middle market investments in family- and founder-led businesses, with a majority being in smaller enterprises. Argosy’s focus includes niche manufacturing and B2B services companies largely outside urban and suburban areas, including LMI areas and #HUBZones. Since 1997, Argosy has invested $1 billion into 135 small businesses headquartered across 34 states with operations in 45 states and employing over 46,000 employees. cc Thomas Morris, Bailey DeVries, Jennifer Shieh, Heath Morris