Investment manager Downing has exited from two freehold gastropub investments managed by Upham Group.

Both gastropubs – The Navigator in Swanwick and The Winning Post in Winkfield - have been acquired by Upham Group.

Downing first partnered with Upham Group in October 2015 and subsequently refurbished the gastropub locations, both of which also have letting rooms. Upham Group itself has 15 pubs located across Hampshire, Berkshire, Sussex and Wiltshire. Additionally, all of Upham’s pubs and inns feature a range of fine real ales brewed by Upham’s own brewery, also based in Hampshire. 

France Invest, the French private equity and venture capital association, in partnership with Deloitte, and with the methodological support of Reporting 21, has published its sixth ESG Annual Report - 2018, which describes, quantifies and qualifies the French private equity industry's commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues by investment firms and their portfolio companies.

Fleetondemand, one of Europe’s leading mobility technology providers, has acquired Buckinghamshire-based vehicle management company FleetEurope for an undisclosed sum.  The significant deal was funded by Fleetondemand’s current long-term investment partner BGF, which acquired a minority stake in the technology business following a £5 million investment last year. BGF, the UK and Ireland’s most active investor, has committed more than £2 billion in over 285 growing businesses since it was set up in 2011.

Wellington Partners has announced the final close of its fifth-generation fund Wellington Partners Life Science Fund V (WPLS-V).  

FNA has closed a $5.5m Series A investment round led by IQ Capital, with participation from GETTYLAB. The funds will be used to further develop the FNA platform and solutions to help financial regulators and institutions operationalize advanced data analytics, identify fault lines in the financial system and prepare better for financial crisis and cyber threats.

Kernel Capital has led a £1.6m investment in Belfast-based Automated Intelligence, in syndication with private investors. The investment comprises of £750K investment from The Bank of Ireland Kernel Capital Growth Fund (NI).  Automated Intelligence has developed a data management platform AI.DATALIFT, giving customers insight and control over their ever-increasing volumes of data.  This is now a vital component of many significant UK organisations’ information governance frameworks with clients including DEFRA, Crossrail and NHS Trusts.  

Bluegem Capital Partners, the European mid-market fund focused on consumer brands,has announced the acquisition of Pool Service, the leading Italian professional hair care group and owner of the iconic Medavita brand, from the private equity house Accord Management and the Cattaneo family. 

Bluecrest Health Screening, a leading provider of affordable health checks, has secured a £17 million investment arranged by private equity firm Vespa Capital.

NPIF – Maven Equity Finance, managed by Maven and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund has invested a total of £25 million, supporting 40 SMEs and helping create over 200 new jobs since launching in February 2017.  An additional £20 million has been raised through private sector funding.

MPC Capital has acquired a 6.5 MWp solar PV project under development in El Salvador. The project has signed a 20-year USD-denominated power purchase agreement (PPA) with CAESS, the local subsidiary of the US-based energy company AES. This is MPC Capital’s second investment in Central America, after Tilawind, the 21 MW operating wind farm in Costa Rica.

BGF, the UK and Ireland’s most active investor in growing businesses, has invested £6.25m into Christopher Ward, the Maidenhead-based premium British watch brand, to accelerate growth.  Founded in 2005 by Mike France, Chris Ward and Peter Ellis, Christopher Ward has grown to become the UK’s leading direct-to-consumer watch brand, with customers in more than 100 countries.  Christopher Ward creates high-quality timepieces that combine British style and innovation with Swiss watchmaking skills. The brand specialises in mechanical and quartz watches, that are designed in the UK and manufactured in the home of horology, Biel, Switzerland.

PredictImmune, developers of pioneering prognostic tools for guiding treatment options and improving patient outcomes in immune-mediated diseases, has announced the completion of its Series B funding having raised £10M.