“Gulf Capital is delighted to win the Acquisition International Award The company is happy that the industry is recognising and appreciating our efforts across our alternative investments portfolio by honouring Gulf Capital with such an award.” - Dr. Karim El Solh, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Capital.
“We were extremely surprised and delighted to receive this award. It is an acknowledgement of the company’s successful strategy, which it has pursued since 1999.” - Dr. Rolf Lanz, Lead Partner, CGS Management Giesinger Gloor Lanz & Co.
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
Foreword ... WELCOME TO THE 2013 INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS
According to The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA), investment fund assets worldwide stood at €22.17 trillion at end 2012, reflecting growth of 1.0% during the fourth quarter and 11.0% since end 2011. Worldwide net cash inflows surged in the fourth quarter to €369 billion, up from €167 billion in the third quarter. EFAMA attributes this surge to strong net inflows into both long-term funds and money market funds. Long-term funds (all funds excluding money market funds) recorded net inflows of €263 billion during the fourth quarter, up from €175 billion in the previous quarter. This growth is in no small part thanks to the tireless efforts of professionals working within the industry, whose hard work and dedication to their clients have ensured their continuing success. The International Fund Awards 2013, sponsored by AI Global Media and Acquisition International Magazine, celebrate excellence within Private Equity, Venture Capital, Infrastructure and Real Estate. The awards recognise not only fund performance, but also the firms and people behind the scenes that are successfully forming, managing and advising on funds in the current market. The awards are given solely on merit and are awarded to commend those most deserving for outstanding work over the last 12 months. Our awards recognise leaders in their respective fields and, crucially, are nominated by their clients, their professional relationships and their peers. The International Fund Awards 2013 are a true representation of this ever-evolving market! Read on to find out who made the cut and what it takes to be an Acquisition International award winner.
3
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
And the winners Australia Ashurst Australia Pacific Equity Partners Pty Ltd
Austria tecnet equity NÖ TechnologiebeteiligungsInvest GmbH Belgium Clifford Chance Bulgaria Penev LLP Cayman Islands Campbells
Guernsey Carey Olsen
Corporate Governance Law Firm of the Year - Australia Australian Private Equity Firm of the Year
India Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co Trilegal
Austrian Venture Capital Firm of the Year
Israel Gornitzky & Co
Real Estate Tax Law Firm of the Year - Belgium
Infrastructure Law Firm of the Year - Bulgaria
Hedge Fund Financing Advisory Firm of the Year - Cayman Islands
Investment Fund Law Firm of the Year - Guernsey
Venture Capital Law Firm of the Year - India Private Equity Law Firm of the Year - India
Hamburger Evron & Co
Israeli Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year Real Estate Law Firm of the Year - Israel
Italy Amundi RE Italia Sgr Wise SGR SpA XAngePrivateEquity
Italian Asset Manager of the Year Growth Capital Firm of the Year - Italy Italian Hedge Fund Manager of the Year
Japan Atsumi & Sakai
China Zhong Yin Law Firm
Chinese Investment Law Firm of the Year
Globis Capital Partners & Co
Japanese Securitisation & Structured Finance Firm of the Year Japanese Venture Capital Firm of the Year
Cyprus Tufton Oceanic Ltd
Fund Manager of the Year - Cyprus
Luxembourg Cordea Savills Fund Managers (Luxembourg) Sàrl
Property Investment Firm of the Year - Luxembourg
Denmark SEED Capital Denmark
Danish Early Stage Investor of the Year
Malaysia Shearn Delamore & Co
Real Estate Law Firm of the Year - Malaysia
Dubai Gulf Capital Europe Argos Soditic Finland Attorneys at law Borenius Ltd France Astorg Partners K&L Gates Germany AUCTUS Management GmbH & Co KG CGS Management eVenture Capital Partners GmbH LaSalle Investment Management Global Aviva Investors
4
Best Investment Company of the Year - Middle East
Page 6
Private Equity Powerhouse of the Year
Finnish Private Equity Law Firm of the Year
Independent Private Equity Firm of the Year - France Real Estate Law Firm of the Year - France
German Private Equity Firm of the Year German Focused Mid-Market Fund of the Page 10 Year - CGS Early-Stage Venture Capital Firm of the Year - Germany Real Estate Investment Management Firm of the Year - Germany
Global Real Estate Multi-Manager Group of the Year
Mexico Greenberg Traurig LLP PwC Mexico
Most Trusted Law Firm of the Year -Mexico Mexican Start Up Legal & Tax Advisory Firm of the Year
Rivera Belden & García Sánchez
Real Estate Law Firm of the Year – Mexico
Netherlands Egeria
Dutch Fund of the Year -Egeria
New Zealand Simpson Grierson Norway Advokatfirmaet Wiersholm AS Poland Resource Partners Sp z oo Portugal Espanha e Associados Qatar Simmons & Simmons
Private Capital Law Firm of the Year - New Zealand
Norwegian Real Estate Law Firm of the Year CEE Consumer-Focused Investor of the Year
Portuguese Cross Border Tax Firm of the Year
Equity Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year - Qatar
Page 21
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
are ... Singapore Stamford Law Corporation South Africa Norton Rose LLP Spain Qualitas Equity Partners SGECR SA Sri Lanka Compass Synergies Private Ltd Sweden AB Novestra Accent Equity Niam AB Taiwan Formosa Transnational Turkey Paksoy UK Apache Capital Partners LLP Beringea Better Capital LLP Carlton Strategy Advisors Ltd Cordea Savills Investment Management Ltd Downing Corporate Finance Ltd Ebullio Capital Management LLP Ebullio Far East Commodity Futures Fund Environmental Technologies Fund E-Synergy Ltd Henderson UK Property Fund Leeds Day Legal & General Property
Milestone Capital Partners LLP Natixis Global Asset Management PwC Savills (UK)Ltd Slaughter and May Winckworth Sherwood LLP
Ukraine Avellum Partners
Corporate Goverence Law Firm of the Year - Singapore
USA ACON Investments Arenda Capital Management
Equity Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year - South Africa
Ares Management LLC
Spanish Investment Management Firm of the Year
Berkus Technology Ventures LLC Catterton Partners
Sri Lankan Investment Firm of the Year
CJK Investments
SME Investment Firm Of the Year - Sweden Swedish Private Equity Firm of the Year Swedish Fund Manager of the Year
Finesa Real Estate Group Greylock Capital Management, LLC
Real Estate Law Firm of the Year - Taiwan Page 32 Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Life Sciences Partners BV Turkish Real Estate Law Firm of the Year
Niche Real Estate Investment Management Firm of the Year - UK Commitment to Funding Award UK Fund of the Year - BECAP Fund LP Private Equity Commercial Due Diligence Firm of the Year - UK Property Investment Firm of the Year - UK UK Renewable Energy Fund of the Year UK Fund of the Year UK Top Performance Fund of the Year UK Growth Capital Fund of the Year East Midlands Fund of the Year - East Midlands Early Growth Fund UK Property Fund of the Year UK Property Law Firm of the Year UK Specialist Pooled Fund of the Year - Industrial Property Investment Fund (IPIF) UK Most Trusted Equity Partner of the Year UK Alternative Investment Provider of the Year Infrastructure Tax Team of the Year UK Commercial Property Management Team of the Year Corporate Goverence Law Firm of the Year - UK UK Real Estate Litigation Firm of the Year
Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP
Page 23
MSFCapitalAdvisors Muzinich&Co.,Ltd. Newport Wealth Management Omninet Capital, LLC Onward Investors ParkerGlobalStrategies,LLC. Prophet Equity
Page 24 Rex Capital Group Page 16
Schultze Asset Management LLC SilkRoad Equity LLC Steep Rock Capital U.S. Venture Partners
Page 24
Page 14
Vietnam VCI Legal Virgin Islands Litwak & Partners
Private Equity Law Firm of the Year - Ukraine
US Private Equity Firm of the Year Real Estate Private Investment Firm of the Year - California Global Alternative Asset Manager of the Year US Early Stage Venture Capitalist of the Year US Internet Infrastructure Investor of the Year Most Trusted Real Estate Management Firm of the Year - USA Mid Atlantic Real Estate Private Equity Firm of the Year US Emerging Markets Investment Team of the Year US Real Estate Law Firm of the Year Overall Fund of the Year -LSP-Health Economics Fund Alternative Investment Law Firm of the Year - USA Global Multi-Family office of the Year Global Corporate Credit Asset Manager of the Year US Wealth Management Firm of the Year US Distressed Real Estate Firm of the Year - California Commercial Real Estate Investment Team of the Year - Minnesota Best Performing Hedge Fund of the Year - Energy Lower Middle Market Deal of the Year - Assets of USA Mobile Boutique Real Estate Investment Firm of the Year - New York US Distressed Asset Manager of the Year US Real Estate Portfolio Company of the Year - Silk Road Realty Capital Russian Focused Private Equity Firm of the Year - Late Stage Innovative Venture Capitalist of the Year - US
M&A Vietnam Law Firm of the Year
Best Private Equity Law Firm of the Year Virgin Islands
5
Page 18
Page 23 Page 19
Page 21
Page 12
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
BEST INVESTMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR - MIDDLE EAST
Dr Karim El Solh is the Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Capital.
Gulf Capital is the leading and most active alternative investments firm with a primary focus on investing in the GCC region. Incorporated in Abu Dhabi in 2006 as a Private Joint Stock Company, Gulf Capital was established with a capital base of AED 1.225 billion from 300 of the most prestigious institutional and individual investors in the Gulf.
Gulf Capital expanded its portfolio of investments by entering into the real estate development arena in a joint-venture with the Related Companies, the most prominent US real estate developer, to form Gulf Related. The firm also launched a Credit and Mezzanine Business to meet the financing needs of fast growing companies across the region. With its private equity, real estate and credit initiatives, Gulf Capital is today one of the largest and most active alternative investments firms in the Middle East. Gulf Capital received the “Best Private Equity Firm in the Middle East” Award by Banker Middle East Magazine in 2011 and 2012. The Firm was also named as the best “Investment Company of the Year” at Arabian Business Achievement Awards in November 2012. “Gulf Capital is the most active and diversified alternative investment companies in the region and the only one with three successful business platforms of Private Equity, Real Estate, and Credit & Mezzanine funds,” said Dr. Karim El Solh, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Capital. Gulf Capital’s private equity division has a focused investment strategy which is based on the following principles:
Name: Dr. Karim El Solh (Chief Executive Officer) Address: Al Sila Tower, 25th Floor, Sowwah Square, Al Maryah Island, P.O. Box 27522 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates E: info@gulfcapital.com W: www.gulfcapital.com T: +971 2 671 6060
•
Acquire significant strategic or controlling stakes in established market leaders within the MENA region
•
Target companies with US$30 – $250 million of enterprise value in pre-identified, rapidly growing industries (oil & gas, healthcare, utilities, food and beverage, consumer goods, logistics, education, services, infrastructure and financial services).
•
Accelerate growth and enhance profitability through active ownership – Gulf Capital is a catalyst for change and growth.
•
Leverage the team’s capital markets expertise to position companies for maximum momentum at exits.
Gulf Credit Partners, the credit and mezzanine arm of Gulf Capital, provides an alternative form of financing in a variety of situations, including private equity acquisitions as
6
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
well as company loans, thus supporting leading companies with solid track records and strong growth prospects. Gulf Capital recently received an anchor investment of US$ 20 million into its credit and mezzanine fund from the International Finance Corporation (“IFC”), a member of the World Bank Group. This brings the total investments in the Gulf Capital Credit Opportunities Fund to US$215 million, positioning it as the largest credit fund in the Middle East. “Gulf Credit Partners’ fund fills an acute gap in the market for MENA financing by offering credit solutions to corporate and private equity investors as they grow their businesses,” noted Dr. Karim El Solh. He explained that the credit fund has already invested in a wide range of opportunities such as private equity-backed acquisitions and growth capital for companies where debt and mezzanine finance is an attractive alternative to equity. Investments in corporate loans and bonds will also be considered, thereby covering the entire debt spectrum. “Unlike traditional asset-based lenders, the financing provided is based on the cash flows generated by the company,” he continued. “These financings are therefore very flexible, using various structures to meet borrowers’ needs including longer maturities and more deferred repayment dates or principal than those typically seen in traditional bank lending.” Gulf Related, the real estate arm of Gulf Capital, is a joint venture partnership with the Related Companies, the most prominent US real estate developer. Gulf Related is currently developing high profile signature retail and residential development projects in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Gulf Related, in partnership with Mubadala, is already developing The Galleria at Sowwah Square, a 51,000 square metres luxury retail and dining precinct. The Galleria is currently under construction, with 90% of the retail space leased a year in advance of the anticipated Fall 2013 opening. “The Galleria, which is expected to open on time and on budget, is a turn-key project for Gulf Related,” explained Dr. Karim El Solh. “From designing, to construction and project management to retail leasing and mall management, Gulf Related will operate this vibrant new shopping and dining destination in Abu Dhabi, housing a full range of luxury to mid-market international retail offerings and internationally branded food and beverage outlets.” In addition to the Galleria at Sowwah Square, Gulf Related has unveiled plans for a new $1bn mixed-use development on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi. The development, known as Sowwah Central, will feature a 214,000 square metres shopping centre along with a hotel and residential towers. Sowwah Central will link to 1.5 million square meters of development on Al Maryah Island, including The Galleria.
“happy that the industry is recognising and appreciating our efforts across our alternative investments portfolio by honouring Gulf Capital with such an award”
Very recently, Gulf Related also announced its formal entry into the Saudi Arabian residential market and the launch of an ambitious SR1 billion investment programme in this sector. The development involves a multi-million dollar world-class residential compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Gulf Capital is delighted to win the Acquisition International Award, and Dr. Karim El Solh stated that the company is “happy that the industry is recognising and appreciating our efforts across our alternative investments portfolio by honouring Gulf Capital with such an award.”
7
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
In order to thrive in a challenging regional market, Gulf Capital has adopted a holistic strategy. As part of the firm’s overall investment strategy, Gulf Capital continues to invest in defensive and fast growing sectors that benefit from the regional population growth, governmental infrastructure spending and rising GDP per capita. Gulf Capital’s portfolio of private equity investments now comprises an array of defensive investments in the water, power, services and healthcare sectors. 2012 was a very successful year for the company with several significant achievements. Gulf Capital’s portfolio company, Techno Group Investment Holdings (Techno Group“TGIH”), recently announced the acquisition of a strategic stake in Med Ray, Jordan’s premier diagnostic imaging centres company. This acquisition is part of Gulf Capital’s broader strategy to continue its investment programme in the fast-growing regional healthcare sector.
“Gulf Capital is firmly positioned today as one of the most active and successful investment companies in the Middle East. We are well positioned to take advantage of the attractive investment opportunities we are seeing across the region.”
Gulf Capital’s credit and mezzanine arm, Gulf Credit Partners, successfully completed an investment in Orion Group (Orion), a prominent provider of facility management services solutions in Turkey. Orion provides cleaning, catering, security and laundry services to leading corporate customers in medical, transportation, hospitality, retail and other sectors. Gulf Capital acquired 82.7% stake in SES, a leading provider of temporary power generation, and 80% of Abu Dhabi-based Reach Group, a contract staffing and temporary employment solutions provider for government entities. “Both investments follow the firm’s strategy of acquiring significant, strategic stakes in well established, fast-growing companies in the region which are leaders in their own industry and can benefit from the regional population growth, governmental infrastructure spending and rising GDP per capita,” observed Dr. Karim El Solh. Finally, Gulf Capital was named the “Best Investment Company of the Year” at the prestigious Arabian Business Achievement Awards 2012. Looking back on the year for the funds industry, Dr El Solh noted that, geographically, the GCC region and the markets in which the company operates have remained the most attractive for the PE industry. “On one hand, the GCC region has the largest economic base in MENA along with a high-growth economic profile and a fast-growing, young population,” he explained. “On the other hand, countries like Egypt have the largest population in MENA along with a huge potential of catch-up growth on the long-term. “In terms of sectors, defensive players remained the top pick of PE fund managers. As the MENA region furthered its economic development, many industries remained underserved, with demand surpassing the supply. This is the case in key sectors like healthcare, education, food and beverage, power and water, services, among others.” Gulf Capital aims to be globally recognised as the natural investment partner for both investors in alternative asset classes in the Middle East and for companies in the region seeking to maximise their growth and profitability potential. In 2013, in line with the firm’s commitment, Gulf Capital will continue to invest in the defensive sectors across the Middle East region and expand its portfolio of companies. “With thriving private equity, credit and real estate operations, Gulf Capital is firmly positioned today as one of the most active and successful investment companies in the Middle East. We are well positioned to take advantage of the attractive investment opportunities we are seeing across the region,” concluded Dr. Karim El Solh, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Capital.
8
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
GERMAN FOCUSED MID-MARKET FUND OF THE YEAR
Rolf Lanz is the Lead Partner at CGS Management giesinger gloor lanz & co., the investment adviser to the CGS Funds.
CGS Management is headquartered in Pfäffikon SZ, Switzerland and advises the CGS Funds, which invest in small and mid-sized industrial companies. CGS pursues a Buy & Build strategy, targeting industries in the German speaking countries (DACH-region), where the CGS Partners previously gained extensive operational experience. The targeted industries are: Machinery & Equipment; Electronics & Electrical Engineering; Plastics Industry; Construction Supplies; Measurement and Control Systems; and Industrial Equipment.
According to Dr Lanz, CGS Management differentiates itself in two key aspects. First of all, the partners have vast operational experience in the industries in which the funds invest today. “Therefore the value creation is especially based on operational improvements and not on leverage,” he explained. “Secondly CGS focuses on a Buy & Build strategy, in which operational experience is a prerequisite. That’s because the value in this strategy lies in exploiting the synergies. But normally the management of these small and mid-sized companies has no experience in integrating other companies, which opens a wide field of pitfalls. We strongly guide and coach the management teams through these processes.” CGS was extremely surprised and delighted to receive the award. Dr Lanz stated that it is acknowledgement of the company’s successful strategy, which it has pursued since 1999. “It is of course also a tribute to the recent successes of CGS with a fund close in March (oversubscribed) and the start of another Buy & Build story with the acquisition of two German market leading companies in February this year,” he added.
Name: Dr. Rolf Lanz. Address: Huobstrasse 14, 8808 Pfäffikon/SZ, Switzerland E: rolf.lanz@cgs-management.com W: www.cgs-management.com T: +41 55 416 16 40
Mr Lanz believes that CGS’ success is based on its hard work in the operational areas of the portfolio companies, which has become even more important in the challenging current environment. He noted that CGS’ reluctance with leveraging the companies has paid back in these times, and the company does not see any need to change its strategy in this respect. “We see more and more well recognised, family owned companies that look for a partner, who not only provides funds but also operational excellence and Buy & Build experience,” he observed. “That’s because the traditional European market of these companies show a weak development, while emerging markets promise more success. Often these mid-sized companies are not physically present in these markets and need to fight for market shares. In general they are under pressure to act more global.” In 2012, CGS had a very favourable fundraising process in a difficult environment, which led to a final close above target (CHF 180m) and above original hard cap (CHF 200m).
10
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
The company also successfully concluded the Buy & Build strategy of Maag Group by a trade sale to Dover Corporation. “Here we started with the acquisition of German Automatic Plastic Machinery and – through the Buy & Build strategy – created the world market leader in machineries for plastic processing,” enthused Dr Lanz. The initial acquisition was a single site Germany LP company. To expand globally, CGS opened sales and services centres in North and South America, in China, Taiwan and Malaysia. The company focused on R&D and developed a new machine generation (with which the company won the German Innovation Prize); developed special machines for the Asian market; and set up a production facility in China. “Through the Buy & Build approach the new group was in a position to offer its client system solutions instead of equipment and reached the critical size to set up a global sales organisation,” continued Dr Lanz. “We worked on synergies improving the margins by nearly 50%. Finally this led to a staff increase in the German site of 50%.” Besides these achievements, CGS also performed acquisitions for the new fund. Looking back over 2012, Dr Lanz stated that - in CGS’ market segment – there are possibly too many emerging investment trends, which can confuse investors. In the end, CGS had a great success by showing potential investors how the team develops highly ranked industrial companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to globally active groups – also in emerging markets. Discussing the culture within CGS, Dr Lanz said that the team and the team fit are the decisive factors for success. “Within CGS we have performance-orientated culture and we have reached over the recent years an excellent mix of skills and operational experiences in the different areas,” he opined. “We have experienced guys for example in Sales, R&D, Supply Chain, Production, Strategy, Financing, Controlling and especially in Integration issues. This allows us to form specialised smaller teams in the acquisition and the development phase of a portfolio company, with access to additional skills within CGS.” Looking to the future, Dr Lanz believes that Private Equity will increase as an industry, as investors will need to look for investment opportunities beside the traditional public equity and fixed income. “With the returns in these traditional markets pension plans for example will not be in a position to fulfil their promises,” he explained. “This expansion of Private Equity is also based on a cultural change: the succession in family owned businesses is found to a minor extent within the families, compared to one generation ago.” In terms of Private Equity, Dr Lanz expects that operational excellence will become even more important as the economic environment will remain difficult. However, he anticipates different, successful strategies in the market. “We may also see a development on the LP side, as banks and insurance companies withdraw more and more from the market due to the new equity rules,” he continued. “The whole corporate governance and the compliance issues will take more room and will drive costs in the management companies.”
“Work hard and focus on a value generation for your portfolio companies, as a result you will generate value for your investors and for the private equity industry as a whole.”
CGS intends to continue with its successful strategy, which will entail adding one or more professionals to the team. “We are working hard for the success of our portfolio companies and our investors. If this will be recognised again by the community next year, we are more than happy.” Mr Lanz concluded with some advice for other nominees for the award: “Work hard and focus on a value generation for your portfolio companies, as a result you will generate value for your investors and for the private equity industry as a whole.”
11
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
INNOVATIVE VENTURE CAPITALIST OF THE YEAR - US
Jacques Benkoski Jacques Benkoski is a Partner with U.S. Venture Partners.
U.S. Venture Partners is a leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm, helping entrepreneurs build world-class companies since 1981. The firm focuses on early stage opportunities in sectors where the partners have the domain expertise, operating experience and network relationships to contribute to the success of an enterprise.
“We believe that our role is to help entrepreneurs build great companies in sectors where innovation leads to market disruption,” said Jacques Benkoski, PhD. “The returns get created naturally when significant value is built by the companies we invested in. Our experience and hands-on partnership with the entrepreneurs are unique and our CEOs are our best marketing weapon.”
Name: Jacques Benkoski Address: 2735 Sand Hill Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025 E: jbenko@usvp.com W: www.usvp.com T: +1 650 854 9080 Twitter: @JacBenko
12
Mr Benkoski was thrilled to receive the award and see recognition for setting up and executing on a highly differentiated strategy to invest internationally and specifically in Israel.“The strategy has obviously been working well but it is great to see it recognised with this award,” he added. Discussing the challenging current conditions, Mr Benkoski stated that the firm’s strategy has always been very much independent of the environment. The firm focuses on the key sectors in IT and healthcare where disruptive innovation has and continues to take place. “Our investments are sector diversified but also time diversified and we invest in good as in bad times at the same pace as the value of the companies we help build is demonstrated many years after we invest and often in different environments,” he explained.
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
sculpture in Silicon Valley
In 2012, several of the firm’s portfolio companies experienced tremendous growth, which Mr Benkoski described as “very gratifying to participate in”.“We try to help with strategic directions, with executive hiring and with business development in addition to the board-level guidance and the day-to-day discussions with our CEOs. I also invested in three new companies, which I hope will do very well,” he enthused. Mr Benkoski believes that the end of the consolidation cycle has been reached, and the firms that have made it through are significantly more resilient and experienced. He noted that the trend is actually back to the fundamentals which he believes made the industry successful: hard core innovation that goes after large markets ripe for disruption. “This bodes very well for us and firms like us that have always been focused on this approach. It requires rigor and patience but in the long run it is the way to create value for entrepreneurs, shareholders and society at large,” he observed. Commenting on the environment within the firm, Mr Benkoski stated that U.S. Venture Partners focuses very much on team culture. The firm’s decision process involves participation by all, even those who are not necessary versed in the field of the proposed investment. “Over thirty years of investment success has taught us that everyone actually contributes and having to explain to the wide distribution of investment professionals leads to better diligence and better decision-making,” he commented. Looking to the future, Mr Benkoski stated that the firm is continuing to go about its business in the same consistent way. It would be “another pleasant surprise” if this leads to another award next year. “We think the next few years will demonstrate the importance of hardcore technology investing,” he predicted. “The IT industry has never faced such a multi-faceted change – each component of the stack from the highest level of software all the way to the data-centre hardware components is simultaneously undergoing a revolution. We have been in this space and believe we uniquely understand it. The next three years will prove that more than ever.”
“The returns get created naturally when significant value is built by the companies we invested in. Our experience and hands-on partnership with the entrepreneurs are unique and our CEOs are our best marketing weapon”
While Mr Benkoski believes it would be “very presumptuous” to offer advice to the other nominees for the award, he would recommend that anybody in this business focuses on the long term and expects to be recognised sooner or later. “I really do believe that professionally, karma works,” he opined. In conclusion, Mr Benkoski stated that he is thrilled to receive the award: “I am very thankful and it just further motivates me to continue doing what I love to do.”
13
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
INFRASTRUCTURE TAX TEAM OF THE YEAR
Kevin Morris is an M&A Tax Partner at PwC UK.
PwC’s philosophy around infrastructure is simple – to provide advice to our infrastructure clients, whenever and wherever they need it, entirely focused around helping them achieve long-term investment success. Our people and our approach differentiate us from other advisors in the market as we have invested heavily in building an integrated infrastructure deals advisory team, with highly experienced specialists from many walks of life. Our team includes Transaction Services, Advisory, Tax, Valuations, SPA, Modeling and Post Deal Services. I am an M&A Tax Partner within our Infrastructure Tax Team, which is a team of tax specialists covering Power & Utilities, Airports, Ports, Rail, Renewables and PFI. We focus on tax due diligence, including vendor due diligence, tax structuring optimisation and Sale and Purchase agreement advice. As part of infrastructure transactions, tax structuring optimisation is an important part of the evaluation and investment appraisal for clients and can be a differentiating factor at times between being successful in a bid process or unsuccessful. Different infrastructure investors have differing tax profiles these need to be taken into account and addressed. With infrastructure investments of all kinds, it is important to understand the complexities for the tax relief for capital expenditure and there is a need to balance financial leverage with the long term health and annual yields of infrastructure businesses. Above all, our tax advice has to be consistent with the commercial objectives of both the infrastructure investors and the infrastructure assets themselves.
Name: Kevin Morris Address: 7 More London Riverside, London SE1 2RT E: kevin.morris@uk.pwc.com W: www.pwc.com/uk T: +44 (0)20 7212 6228
14
2012 has remained a strong year for infrastructure investment and a number of infrastructure funds and other investors have been active. Our Infrastructure Tax Team has advised on a number of deals this year including Sutton and East Surrey Water, Newcastle Airport, Manchester Airport Group and Stansted, Brookfield Utilities, Euroports, Seajacks, Veolia Water UK, Coryton Refinery, ASCO and Gunfleet Sands. As well as infrastructure funds, this year we have seen overseas investors from the Far East being much more active. We have advised a number of the Japanese trading houses such as Marubeni and Sumitomo, Chinese state investors and pension funds including UK and overseas especially Canada.
Armstrong Diversified Dynamic Solution Fund The Armstrong Diversified Dynamic Solution (DDS) fund is a discretionary global macro fund which targets a return of at least inflation plus 7% per annum, over a market cycle, with no more than two thirds of equity volatility.
Global Opportunities
Tactical Positions
Armstrong Investment Managers LLP * Global Macro Fund of the Year * Macro Fund Manager of the Year
* Fund Manager of the Year - Multi Strategy * Innovative Fund Manager of the Year
Real Returns
Armstrong Investment Managers LLP (AIM) is a London based asset manager which specialises in managing inflation benchmarked investment solutions with controlled volatility. Our top‐down global macro investment approach uses advanced quantitative models and takes advantage of long and short opportunities across different regions and asset classes. AIM’s focus on risk and inflation reflects the primary concerns of most investors, namely the risk of capital loss in the short term and the need for investments to significantly beat inflation over the longer term.
For more information, please call us on +44 203 440 5060, email at aim@armstrongim.com www.armstrongim.com * 2013 International Hedge Fund Awards : awarded by Acquisition International in partnership with prequin. Global Macro Fund of the Year – UK: Armstrong Diversified Dynamic Solution Fund , UK Innovative Fund Manager of the Year- Armstrong Investment Managers , UK Fund Manager of the Year - Multi Strategy – Armstrong Investment Managers, UK Macro Fund Manager of the Year- Patrick Armstrong. Issued by Armstrong Investment Managers LLP (“AIM”) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority with FSA number 503693. This advertisement is aimed at "Investment Professionals" as described in Article 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2001 (as amended). Any other readers should disregard its contents and should not rely on it.
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
donsimon / Shutterstock.com
UK PROPERTY FUND OF THE YEAR
Winner of the UK Property Fund of the year is the Henderson UK Property Fund, an open ended all balanced property Fund investing in UK real estate.
This fund was the top performing fund amongst its peers over a one year period in 2012 and for the fourth consecutive quarter has outperformed over a one, three, five and 10 year time horizon. The Fund has two exciting development opportunities in the pipeline so there is cautious optimism that this outperformance will continue for 2013. The Fund seeks outperformance by pursing a value add strategy and bringing forward innovative asset management initiatives. This award and performance to date is a true testament to the success of this strategy. Why invest in real estate? Real estate as an investment has to compete with alternative assets, typically equities and bonds, in investment portfolios. It was perceived in the past that equities had superior long-term investment performance, but excessive volatility across financial markets over the past decade have enabled real estate returns to challenge this position. In the UK real estate has outperformed or delivered strong returns over time compared to both equities and government bonds with traditionally far less volatility. In addition, with investors starved of income and concerns attached to credit risk, the attributes of tangible assets, such as real estate, offer investors additional protection in the form of collateral security. In light of this, as solid income and the opportunity of added value or asset management have become increasingly desirable, the virtues of real estate have attracted further investor interest in the current low growth and low interest rate environment, especially now that good secondary assets historically look well priced.
Name: Cameron Fraser, Fund Manager Address: 201 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3AE E: Cameron.Fraser@henderson.com W: www.henderson.com/property T: 0207 818 3099
Henderson Global Investors, with AUM of £68.9bn (March 2013) is one of the UK’s leading asset management houses, of which £12.7bn is invested in property. At Henderson, a full spectrum of investment fund services are on offer, all of which are supported by an extensive Research team. This includes finance, debt and currency management, performance analytics, client care, fund and transaction structuring and development. Despite the market trend to invest in larger funds of c. £500m plus which generally offer a tracker – like return, investors should select mangers who are able to deliver a more alpha type return. The small and nimble nature of the Henderson UK Property Fund (GAV of £157m, March 2013) means the Fund is easily poised to react quickly to changing market conditions and can focus on a bottom up approach to asset management to deliver that desired outperformance. For more information on the Fund and on how to invest, please contact Farrah Brown (Farrah.Brown@henderson.com; telephone 0207 818 5315). For further information on Henderson Property: www.henderson.com/property or follow Henderson on Twitter: @HGiProperty
16
This document is intended solely for the use of professionals and is not for general public distribution. Please note that past performance is not a guide to future performance. The value of an investment and the income from it can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the amount originally invested. Nothing in this document is intended to or should be construed as advice. This document is not a recommendation to sell or purchase any investment. It does not form part of any contract for the sale or purchase of any investment. Any investment will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the Prospectus (including all relevant covering documents), which will contain investment restrictions, risks and fees. This document is intended as a summary only and potential investors must read the Prospectus before investing. Issued by Henderson Global Investors Limited (reg. no. 906355), (incorporated and registered in England and Wales with registered office at 201 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3AE) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide investment products and services. Telephone calls may be recorded and monitored.
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
HAS YOUR HEDGE FUND INVESTMENT PERFORMED LIKE THIS?
$219,000
$149,000 $100,000
May 2008
December 2009
December 2012
The Offshore Portfolio has returned 18.3% per annum since its launch in May 2008.
Giving global investors access to Australian and Asian alternative assets
Unrivalled access. Unwavering Partnership. Unparalleled expertise Triple A Partners is a unique Asian alternative fund partnership. We have offices and affiliates in Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Sydney and London offering a strong global distribution network and world class service standards. The members of our highly knowledgeable senior management team have each worked in the fund management industry for over 20 years, during which time they have built a proven track record and strong personal reputations. Our corporate logo reinforces our approach. In Asia, the evergreen bamboo plant is associated with longevity and the bundle of three individual stalks signify strength through partnership - it is easy to break a single stalk of bamboo, but difficult to break three bound together.
www.aaapartners.com.au 17
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
US INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTOR OF THE YEAR
Catterton Partners is a leading consumer-focused private equity firm in North America, with a twenty-four year track record of success in building high growth companies. With its combination of category insight, strategic and operating skills, and wide industry network, Catterton has become a highly sought after private equity firm in the consumer sector.
Catterton currently has more than $3.5 billion of equity capital under active management and has raised nine funds since its founding in 1989. Catterton invests in all major consumer segments, including Food and Beverage, Retail and Restaurants, Branded Consumer Products and Services, and Media and Marketing Services. The vast majority of the firm’s investments have been in mid-sized or “middle market” consumer companies. The middle market consumer sector is large and attractive, with significant growth potential. Current holdings include Restoration Hardware, Ferrara Candy Company, Cheddar’s and Noodle’s Restaurants, Steel Series and Nature’s Variety Pet Food.
Name: Catterton Partners Address: 599 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 E: info@cpequity.com W: www.cpequity.com T: +1 (203) 629-4901
The Catterton investment process begins with proprietary market segment screening to find categories with sustainable growth and favorable profitability dynamics. Potential investments are then vetted using strict investment criteria focused on sustainable differentiation, exceptional management teams, and multiple opportunities for value creation. Once invested, Catterton, with its deep team of investment and operating partners, works closely with management to establish and implement the right strategic plan to foster growth, enhance operating performance, and maximize value through a variety of means, including partnerships with strategic players, mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity offerings, and recapitalizations. To facilitate this approach, Catterton utilizes growth-oriented capital structures and takes a conservative approach toward financial leverage. Catterton’s value-added investment approach has supported the growth of numerous market leading companies, such as Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, Build-ABear Workshop, Frederic Fekkai, Wellness Pet Food, Kettle Foods, Monosol, Odwalla, and PF Chang’s China Bistro. Recent transactions include investments in Fixtures Living, Edible Arrangements, Mendocino Farms, NJOY, ePrize and Primanti Bros.
18
An Opportunistic Approach To Emerging Markets Greylock Capital Management, LLC is a SEC-registered investment adviser. } Has approximately $625 million in regulatory assets under management } Specializes in event-driven, absolute return strategies in the global credit markets } Invests in undervalued, distressed, and high yield assets Greylock Capital’s investment team seeks to identify under-analyzed and inefficient markets. } Extracts value through strategies built on years of international restructuring experience and on-the-ground investment analysis } Emphasizes capital preservation and growth through prudence, value investing and strategic hedging Greylock Capital’s 16-year performance record is one of the longest among emerging market fund managers. } Greylock Capital does not employ leverage, has low turnover in portfolio assets and offers complete transparency to its investor base, which includes sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, endowments, foundations, funds of funds, family offices and high net worth individuals Greylock Capital has a full institutional platform, with offices in New York, Singapore and Ghana.
For more information: 99 Park Avenue, 11th Floor New York, NY 10016 P: (212) 808-1800 marketing@greylockcapital.com www.greylockcapital.com
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - MEXICO
Rivera Belden & García Sánchez (RBG) is a law firm conformed by a Group of professionals highly qualified in granting services to institutional clients and to advise in the structuring of legal projects requiring specialization and innovation. RBG was founded with the purpose of offering a new alternative for national or international requiring sophisticated legal services providing high quality services at reasonable costs. We specializes in representing Mexican and International banks, insurance companies, development banks, financial entities, institutional organization and International and Mexican companies in their transactions in México. We also advise real estate funds and developers on their investments, acquisitions, placements and leasing transactions. RBG’s clients includes MetLife, Eurohypo, Bank of Tokyo, GE Capital, the International Finance Corporation, the Inter-American Investment Corporation, Bancomext (Banco de Comercio Exterior), Lloyds Bank, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, The American British Cowdray Medical Center, Grupo Bafar and many of the leading Mexican and International real estate developers and investment funds. We have obtained awards and prizes as the best Mexican Law Firm and Lawyers Practicers in the areas of Asset Finance and Real Estate from the International Law Office in London and the prestigious legal magazine Who’s Who. The Fundamentals of our firm are:
Name: Guillermo Rivera Belden Address: Av. Juan Salvador Agraz No. 97, piso 4-A, Col. Santa, Fe, 05109, México, D.F. E: grivera@rbg.com.mx W: www.rbg.com.mx T: (52-55) 5004-0480 through 87
High Quality Services: Our client’s satisfaction is our highest priority. The firm’s attorneys are well trained and devoted to provide the highest quality of legal services, taking into consideration our clients particular needs. Expedited Response: Recognizing that time is essential to our clients, we commit to provide our services in an expedited manner, without compromising quality. Team Approach: To best serve our client’s interest, we offer a team of expert attorneys in all areas of practice of our firm, having all kind of skills for working as a team and considering all perspectives of our client’s matters. Understanding our clients: We focus in understanding the business and needs of our clients to provide them personalized high quality legal services. Reasonable fees: We know that payment of excessive legal fees has been one of our client’s main concerns. To support our clients with such concern, we offer our legal services at reasonable competitive rates, without compromising quality.
Chepe Nicoli / Shutterstock.com
21
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
MID ATLANTIC REAL ESTATE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM OF THE YEAR
Diversified International Partners (DIP) is a $200 million real estate private equity fund developed for Latin American institutional and qualified high net worth investors. DIP was launched in May 2012 and is sponsored by Finesa Real Estate Group, a private equity firm and operating company headquartered in the Washington, DC metro area. Finesa retained Transwestern Investment Management (TIM), a subsidiary of Transwestern Investment Group, as the exclusive investment manager of the fund.
The strategy of the DIP fund is to actively seek investments in the best markets across the United States. With a focus on multi-family, retail, office, and industrial/flex properties, the fund targets cash flow generating assets using a combination of Core, Core-Plus and Value-Add strategies. Properties which offer opportunities to increase operating results through hands-on operating efficiencies represent the ideal investment profile. To launch the fund, Finesa successfully secured commitments from some of the most prominent pension fund and endowment managers in Latin America. Finesa exceeded its initial funding target of $50 million by over 40% - securing commitments in excess of $71 million. Additionally, capital raising efforts have continued to be successful and the fund has made investments in various target markets across the US.
Name: Andres Gonzalez/ Tyler Jamison Address: 15850 Crabbs Branch Way, Suite 380, Rockville, MD E: DIP@finesagroup.com W: www.FinesaGroup.com T: +1-301-979-9151
NICHE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR - UK
APACHE CAPITAL Apache Capital Partners LLP, with Offices in London and Bahrain, is a niche real estate investment management firm. Apache Capital was established in 2008 to take advantage of the prevailing market dynamics in what we believe is a generational investment opportunity.
Name: John Dunkerley/ Richard Jackson Address: 7 Curzon Street, London, W1J 5HG E: jdunkerley@apachecapital.co.uk rjackson@apachecapital.co.uk W: www.apachecapitalpartners.co.uk T: 0044 7801258321
We manage niche real estate investment strategies, each with integrated investor participation, which are designed for today’s markets whilst reflecting tomorrow’s profits. The clearly defined value-added strategies provide investors with the ability to invest in a diversified UK property investment platform, on a property-byproperty basis, combining mainstream and niche sectors, with the benefit of both capital growth and income returns. The founding partners are seasoned property investment professionals who have completed over £10bn of property transactions. We have an in-depth knowledge of the property industry and an intimate understanding of the fundamentals of property at a local market level. With an average experience of over 25 years, we have a proven track record in managing and delivering excellent returns for our investors.
23
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
UK MOST TRUSTED EQUITY PARTNER OF THE YEAR
Milestone specialises in longer term investing, backing management teams in growth businesses through buy and builds i.e. roll outs and acquisition led strategies. We are independent, being owned and controlled by the three partners, and we invest in the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and French speaking continental Europe. Our investment criteria are simple: 1. Buy and builds only; 2. Minimum EBITDA of £2m; 3. Businesses head quartered in the above geographic locations; and, 4. Majority only deals.
Name: Philip Conboy Address: 14 Floral Street, London, WC2E 9DH E: philip.conboy@milestone-capital.com W: www.milestone-capital.com T: 0044(0)20 7420 8813
We are not sector specific but have done deals across all sectors and therefore have significant experience and knowledge to bring to most deals. Recent deals include the roll out of Coffee Nation where we helped management to double the installed base and more than doubled underlying profits before selling the business to Costa Coffee and returning nearly 4 times our investors’ money. We are currently pursuing an acquisition based strategy with the team at Compre and to date have completed five bolt-ons since we completed the deal two years ago. Finally we pride ourselves on backing our management teams and being straightforward to deal with hence we are proud to be the Winners of the Award for Most Trusted Private Equity House of 2013!
UK GROWTH CAPITAL FUND OF THE YEAR
Environmental Technologies Fund provides entrepreneurs and investors with access to one of the most experienced venture and growth capital investment teams in Europe.
Name: Patrick Sheehan Address: 20 Berkeley Square, London W1J 6EQ E: info@etf.eu.com W: www.etf.eu.com T: +44 (0) 20 7318 0700
24
ETF is dedicated to investing in great growth companies with global aspirations that are making a big environmental impact. The team has in aggregate more than 140 years of successful hands-on investment experience across Europe, Asia and North America. ETF is backed by some of the world’s leading institutional investors and is supported by the European Communities Growth and Employment Initiative, MAP.
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
25
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
VENTURE CAPITAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - INDIA
REAL ESTATE PRIVATE INVESTMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR - CALIFORNIA
Company: Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co. Name: Ashwath Rau Email: : ashwath.rau@amarchand.com Address: 5th floor, Peninsula Chambers, Peninsula Corporate Park, Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai – 400013 Telephone: (91 – 22) 24964455, 66604455
Company: Arenda Capital Management Name: Ryan Millsap Email: : info@arendacapital.com Web: : www.arendacapital.com Address: 9460 Wilshire blvd #850, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 Telephone: +1.310.370.9811
Founded in Mumbai in 1917, Amarchand is India’s largest and leading full service law firm with service offerings that include a variety of practice areas. Each area is driven by senior professionals including partners or principal / senior associates, supported by teams of associates of varying seniority. At present, Amarchand has 69 partners and over 650 associates in its 7 offices in India.
Arenda Capital Management LLC is a private investment firm based in Los Angeles, CA
Amarchand has been consistently rated as the top corporate firm in India by various international professional organizations, law directories and professional journals including IFLR 1000 - The Guide to the World’s Leading International Business Law firms, Euromoney, Asia Pacific Legal 500 and Chambers Global. RSG India ranked the firm No. 1 amongst India’s top 40 law firms consecutively for the 3rd year in 2013. The funds practice in particular is highly reputed and has received several awards / recognitions including from the Indian Business Law Journal, Deal Makers Law Awards, VC Circle Edge.
FINNISH PRIVATE EQUITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
Company: Attorneys at law Borenius Ltd Name: Paulus Hidén Email: : paulus.hiden@borenius.com Web: : www.borenius.com Address: Yrjönkatu 13 A, 00120 Helsinki, Finland Telephone: +358 9 6153 3436 Attorneys at law Borenius is one of the largest leading law firms in Finland. The firm was esablished in 1911 and has offices in Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, New York (Attorneys-at-law Borenius LLP) and St. Petersburg (Attorneys at law Borenius Russia Ltd). Attorneys at Law Borenius is a member of the Borenius Group together with local independent law firms operating in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius.
26
that invests in real estate and real estate-related opportunities across the United States, including both debt and equity investments, on behalf of select institutional and private investors. The firm takes an Absolute Return approach to its investment activities, with an emphasis on opportunities that offer superior risk-adjusted returns.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - AUSTRALIA
Company: Ashurst Name: Marie McDonald, Partner Email: : marie.mcdonald@ashurst.com Web: : www.ashurst.com Address: GPO Box 9938 Melbourne VIC 3001 Telephone: +61 3 9679 3000 Ashurst is a leading global law firm. We advise domestic and international corporations, financial institutions and government clients. We have 25 offices in 14 countries, as well as associated offices in Jakarta and Jeddah, and a referral relationship with an Indian law firm. With over 400 partners and 1,700 lawyers, we offer clients access to deep local market knowledge and resources, with the benefit of a global network and international insight. Ashurst has a premier corporate practice group advising blue chip companies, leading investment banks and private equity firms. We regularly assist clients to meet rigorous corporate regulation and shareholder demands for better corporate performance. We support clients in developing and implementing practical and innovative solutions for company law and corporate governance – delivering not only compliance, but a platform for improving corporate performance.
GLOBAL REAL ESTATE MULTI-MANAGER GROUP OF THE YEAR
Company: Aviva Investors Real Estate Multi Manager Name: Phil Ellis Email: : phil.ellis@avivainvestors.com Web: : www.avivainvestors.com Address: Aviva Investors, No 1 Poultry, London, EC2R 8EJ, United Kingdom Telephone: +44-207-809-6870 Aviva Investors Real Estate Multi Manager (REMM) have been investors in unlisted real estate funds since 1997. We currently provide pooled and segregated investment solutions to a wide range of clients including government and corporate pension schemes. We are responsible for over $8 billion of assets, invested in funds giving exposure to all the major global real estate markets. Aviva Investors REMM has 22 investment staff located in offices in New York, London, Paris, Utrecht and Singapore, providing local insight to both the markets and managers we invest in. Our scale, experience and global presence mean we are ideally positioned to deliver the service out clients require. Aviva Investors REMM are part of Aviva Investors, a major manager of direct real estate, being the largest manager of UK commercial real estate and the third largest manager of European commercial real estate, with assets under management of over $35 billion.
PRIVATE EQUITY COMMERCIAL DUE DILIGENCE FIRM OF THE YEAR - UK
Company: Carlton Strategy Advisors Limited Name: David McClelland, Director Email: : info@carlton-advisors.co.uk Web: : http://www.carlton-advisors.co.uk Address: Carlton Mews Arterberry Road London SW20 8AG Telephone: +44 (0) 208 947 5108 Carlton Strategy Advisors is a London-based commercial due diligence and business strategy consulting firm. Focused on the lower-mid market space, we aim to identify areas where we can add value to client transactions across the range of private equity investment, bank lending and trade acquisition. The sole objective of our work is to deliver a comprehensive understanding of the health and character of a particular business entity undergoing due diligence investigation that permits our client to navigate the transaction process successfully. Director led, CSA provides clear opinion about the sector dynamics, strategic direction and competitive positioning of the target business in question which serve to drive revenue and margin growth within the business and thus determine transaction attractiveness. Recent sectors have included: nuclear fuel, nanotechnology and medical devices and diagnostics in addition to oilfield services, aircraft electronics engineering and business software services.
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
EAST MIDLANDS FUND OF THE YEAR - EAST MIDLANDS EARLY GROWTH FUND
JAPANESE VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM OF THE YEAR
Company: E-Synergy Ltd Name: Robert J Cawdron LLB MBA Fund Manager, East Midlands Early Growth Fund Ltd Email: : r.cawdron@e-synergy.com Web: : www.e-synergy.com Address: 15 Clarendon Street, Nottingham, NG1 5HR Telephone: +44 (0)115 7010077
Company: GLOBIS CAPITAL PARTNERS & Co. Name: Managing Partner, Yoshito Hori Email: : info-gcp@globis.co.jp Web: http://www.globiscapital.co.jp/en/ Address: 5-1 Nibancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0084 Japan Telephone: +81-3-5275-3939
E-Synergy is one of the most experienced and successful investment teams specialising in early stage businesses in the UK. During the past ten years we have invested in sixty companies, managed nine investment funds (of which five still have funds available) and raised an aggregate of over £45 million for early-stage companies from funds and private investors.
Since the launch of its first fund in 1996 and through three funds, GLOBIS CAPITAL PARTNERS & Co. has managed funds of approximately JPY40 billion, and has recently launched its fourth fund of JPY15 billion, financed by mainly non-Japanese global investors. Its Japan-focused investment strategies have resulted in significantly higher net returns compared to its global peers in the top quartile (referenced with Cambridge Associates figures).
But we don’t just provide investment finance. Our investment managers are experienced professionals who have held senior positions in industry and commerce and add considerable value to the companies in which we invest from their knowledge of business, markets and technologies. E-Synergy is run by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs; people who have done it before, learned from mistakes and understand what is needed to convert an interesting idea into commercial success.
GLOBIS CAPITAL PARTNERS & Co. has established the venture capital ecosystem in Japan through investment activities of over 16 years. It maximizes and realizes the potential of ventures it invests in by providing a comprehensive management support, from the initial investment to the exit. GLOBIS CAPITAL PARTNERS & Co. is Japan’s largest independent venture capital that has the proven ability to create new industries and achieve high investment returns.
REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - FRANCE
Company: K&L Gates Name: Edouard Vitry Email: : edouard.vitry@klgates.com Web: http://www.klgates.com/ Address: Avocats à la Cour de Paris 116 avenue des Champs-Elysées 75008 Paris, France Telephone: +33.(0)1.58.44.15.00 K&L Gates LLP comprises more than 2,000 lawyers who practice in 48 offices located on five continents. K&L Gates represents leading global corporations, growth and middle-market companies, capital markets participants and entrepreneurs in every major industry group as well as public sector entities, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations and individuals. Our practice is a robust full market practice — cutting edge, complex and dynamic, at once regional, national and international in scope. Over each of the last four years our revenues exceeded $1 Billion and, as stated in the July 2010 issue of the UK publication Legal Business, the firm “has further cemented its position as the Global 100’s fastest growing firm.” Law360 included the firm within its “Global 20” as one of the “20 law firms with the greatest global reach and expertise.” In 2012, The American Lawyer ranked K&L Gates 23rd among the “Global 100” in revenues.
ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - USA
Company: Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP Name: Bradford R. Lenox Email: : blenox@mmmlaw.com Web: www.mmmlaw.com Address: 1600 Atlanta Financial Center 3343 Peachtree Road, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30326 Telephone: 404.233.7000 Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP is an AmLaw 200 law firm with national and international reach. We dedicate ourselves to the constant pursuit of our clients’ success. To provide our clients with optimal value, we combine market-leading legal services with a total understanding of their needs to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and opportunity. The firm has offices in Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah, Taipei, Beijing and Washington, D.C., as well as an alliance with GCN in São Paulo, Brazil. MMM enjoys national prominence for its funds and capital markets practices. Our team is dedicated to the representation of all forms of alternative investment entities that raise and deploy capital. Our experience includes formation of real estate funds, private equity funds, timber asset funds, venture capital funds, hedge funds, funds of funds, leveraged buyout funds, mezzanine funds, emerging market funds, life settlement funds, non-U.S. mutual funds, and other alternative investments.
28
US DISTRESSED REAL ESTATE FIRM OF THE YEAR - CALIFORNIA
SPANISH INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR
Company: Omninet Capital, LLC Name: Benjamin Nazarian Email: : ben@omninet.com Web: http://omninet.com/ Address: 9420 Wilshire Blvd., Fourth Floor Beverly Hills, CA 90212 Telephone: 310.300.4100
Company: Qualitas Equity Partners Name: Eric Halverson Email: : eric.halverson@qualitasequity.com Web: http://www.qualitasequity.com/ Address: C/ Serrano, n.º 26, 6º derecha 28001 Madrid España Telephone: +34.91.423.8270
Omninet Capital, LLC is a privately owned commercial real estate investment and operating firm with a portfolio across six states in the United States. The firm has developed, owned and managed both residential and commercial real estate assets including retail, office, multifamily, industrial and mixed-use properties. Omninet seeks value-added opportunities in income producing real estate with the objective of leveraging the principals’ extensive operating experience to stabilize the properties. By investing the principal’s capital, Omninet can quickly and efficiently close a transaction providing sellers with the certainty of close that is critical in today’s volatile financial markets.
Qualitas Equity Partners (QEP) is a Spanish based investment management company founded in 2003 with the purpose of identifying and managing global alternative investments.
The Omninet team is composed of experienced real estate operators, including in-house construction, leasing and property management teams. In order to increase the brand and class of the properties, the firm invests significant capital in every property. Omninet’s strategy and execution is focused on the long-term increase in value of its real estate portfolio.
QEP is an investor oriented fund management company. Its goal is to achieve above-market returns across various asset classes. QEP’s asset management team includes professionals with backgrounds in industry, private equity, investment banking and management consulting. QEP currently focuses on the smaller end of the private equity market and renewable energy. QEP adds value to its investments through active management of portfolio companies. We are involved in all key strategic decisions and their implementation at the company level. QEP’s goal is to become a leader in alternative investments.
INTERNATIONAL FUND AWARDS 2013
DANISH EARLY STAGE INVESTOR OF THE YEAR
Company: SEED Capital Denmark Name: Line Grønlykke Email: : lbg@seedcapital.dk Web: www.seedcapital.dk Address: Diplomvej 381 DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby Telephone: (+45) 41 11 21 91 SEED Capital is the largest venture fund in Denmark within the pre-seed and seed segment, and specializes in identifying and developing new and innovative technology companies. SEED Capital manages both private venture capital and public funds through innovation environment, DTU Symbion Innovation. SEED Capital manages approx. 1.5 billion DKK and has about 70 companies in its portfolio. Read more about SEED Capital at www.seedcapital.dk
REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - MALAYSIA
UK COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TEAM OF THE YEAR
Company: Shearn Delamore & Co. Name: Ms Sar Sau Yee Email: : sysar@shearndelamore.com Web: www.shearndelamore.com Address: 7th Floor, Wisma Hamzah-Kwong Hing, No.1, Leboh Ampang, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Telephone: 603 20272777 (Direct), 603 20272727 (General) Established in 1905, the firm is one of the oldest full-service law firms in Malaysia, and has evolved over the last 10 decades into one of the largest, providing a comprehensive range of services to clients ranging from private individuals to the largest multinationals. With over 100 lawyers and 280 support staff, the firm has the resources to run and manage the most complex projects, transactions and matters. This would include co-ordinating and managing cross-border transactions together with the foreign and international law firms with whom we continuously work. Shearn Delamore & Co maintains extensive global network links with foreign law firms and multilateral agencies, including the World Law Group, the World Services Group and the Employment Law Alliance. Our qualifications and experience encompass several areas of practice, each with sub-practice areas, all of which have served the needs of clients across a broad range of industries:
Company: Savills (UK) Limited Name: Mr Alan Plumb Email: aplumb@savills.com Web: : www.savills.co.uk Address: Wytham Court, 11 West Way, Botley, Oxford, OX2 0QL Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 269020 Savills plc is a global real estate services provider listed on the London Stock Exchange. Savills has an international network of more than 500 offices and associates across 45 countries throughout the Americas, the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, offering a broad range of specialist advisory, management and transactional services to clients all over the world.
• Competition Law and Antitrust • Corporate and Commercial • Dispute Resolution • Employment and Administrative Law • Energy, Natural Resources and Green Technology • Environmental • Financial Services • Immigration • Infrastructure and Projects • Intellectual Property • Personal Data Protection and Privacy Laws • Real Estate • Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement • Tax and Revenue • Telecommunications, Media and Technology
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - UK
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - SINGAPORE
Company: Slaughter and May Web: www.slaughterandmay.com Address: One Bunhill Row, London, UK, EC1Y 8YY Telephone: +44 20 7600 1200 Contact for Investment Funds: Paul Dickson (partner) Email: paul.dickson@slaughterandmay.com Contact for Private Equity: Jeff Twentyman (partner) Email: jeff.twentyman@slaughterandmay.com
Company: Stamford Law Corporation Name: LEE Suet-Fern Email: : suetfern.lee@stamfordlaw.com.sg Web: : http://www.stamfordlaw.com.sg/ Address: 10 Collyer Quay Level 27 Ocean Financial Centre Singapore 049315 Telephone: +65 6389 3000
Slaughter and May is a leading international law firm with a worldwide corporate, commercial and financing practice. We are regarded as one of the most prestigious law firms in the world. We advise on high-profile and groundbreaking international transactions and have an excellent and varied client list that includes leading corporations, financial institutions and governments.
Stamford Law is a premier regional law firm, with highly regarded corporate, financing, corporate real estate, disputes, international arbitration and restructuring & insolvency practices. The firm provides its clients with a professional service of the highest calibre, combining technical excellence with commercial acumen and a practical approach to legal issues.
We advise on the establishment, promotion and administration of investment funds of all types. We have extensive experience advising private equity, real estate and infrastructure funds on every legal aspect of fund work from fund formation to the acquisition, management and disposal of investments. Our versatile lawyers provide innovative solutions to structuring funds within a complex regulatory environment. Leveraging off our undisputed top UK M&A practice and leading borrower focused finance practice we regularly advise on all aspects of high value acquisitions and disposals of investments by investment funds.
Stamford Law’s team of leading Singapore and international lawyers handle a broad range of legal work including complex multi-jurisdictional transactions. Given the cross-border nature of most of the matters that Stamford Law are involved in - working with major firms, financial institutions and corporations from across the globe - the firm has built the reputation of being a firm that appreciates and manages cross-cultural and diverse jurisdictional legalities and challenges effectively. This fundamental quality enables Stamford Law to grow with its clients in an increasingly borderless world.
30
M&A VIETNAM LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
Company: VCI Legal Name: Tuan Phung, Managing Partner Email: : tuanphung@vci-legal.com Web: : www.vci-legal.com Address: Ho Chi Minh City Office, Suite 501, 5/F Sailing Tower, 111A Pasteur Street, District 1 Telephone: +84 (0)8 38 272 029 Hanoi Office, Suite 501 North Asia Tower, 9 Dao Duy Anh Street Telephone: +84 (0)4 3 577 2153/4 VCI LEGAL is a full-service law firm founded by Mr. Tuan Phung in 2002. Since its founding, the firm has provided a wide range of services and has gained strong reputation for successfully handling commercial, financial and contentious matters. The firm advises on a wide range of practice areas including corporate, securities, banking and finance, M&A, FDI and cross-border transactions, antitrust, dispute resolution, IP and real estate. VCI Legal’s lawyers all have strong international backgrounds and extensive experience. The high quality of VCI Legal services has been acknowledged by several international legal publications and the Firm ability to provide well-reasoned and comprehensive legal advice to SME’s, Fortune 500 companies and f inancial institutions has le d to the Firm’s expansion to become one of the leading firms in Vietnam, with offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.