Autobody News’ Post

In my experience being the lead advisor on many deals. I believe that #Joint Ventures #JVs Special Purpose Vehicles #SPVs and Public Private Partnerships #P3s need to be rooted in 4 basic principles: • The common or shared goal, • The economics of the partnership, • How it will be managed and governed (especially shared success fees) and  • Agreeing an end state (transfer and exit) The rest of the stuff is noise.  JVs in #REITs and #CRE should be no different.  Message me if you need some advice.  https://lnkd.in/eFTJk5Cs

Modella Capital's Hobbycraft Pursuit: A Microcosm of PE Exit Challenges Mark Kleinman reports the potential acquisition of Hobbycraft by Modella Capital is more than just a single deal; it’s a stark reflection of the complexities and challenges private equity firms face when exiting their investments. Bridgepoint acquired Hobbycraft for more than £100m in 2010, is likely seeking a lucrative exit . The LPs from Bridgepoint Europe IV a 2008 vintage fund will be expecting returns. However, the choice of Modella Capital as a potential buyer is intriguing. The firm's association with Rcapital known for its involvement in turnaround situations, suggests a potential underlying issue at Hobbycraft. The retail sector, particularly in the wake of the pandemic and rising economic pressures, has been a challenging environment. While Hobbycraft has managed to weather the storm, it’s possible that Bridgepoint believes its growth potential under current ownership has plateaued. A sale to Modella could signal a need for operational improvements or cost reductions. Modella’s portfolio, including the troubled No Ordinary Designer Label, which managed the Ted Baker stores that fell into administration in March, raises questions about its ability to successfully turn around a larger, more complex business like Hobbycraft. The firm’s focus on licensing and fashion suggests a potential mismatch in expertise. Moreover, the deal highlights the broader challenges facing private equity in Europe. The region's economic climate has been more volatile than the US, making exits more difficult. The search for buyers with the financial firepower and industry expertise to support ambitious growth plans has become increasingly arduous. If the deal proceeds, it will be closely watched by the wider private equity community. Will Modella be able to unlock Hobbycraft’s potential and deliver a satisfactory return? Or will this transaction become another cautionary tale about the risks of investing in retail and the complexities of exiting such investments? The outcome of this deal will undoubtedly shape the perception of European private equity and its ability to navigate the evolving retail landscape. Ultimately, the Hobbycraft deal is a microcosm of the broader challenges facing the private equity industry in Europe. As economic conditions continue to fluctuate and consumer behavior evolves, the ability to identify and execute successful exits will be a critical test of investors’ acumen.

[NEWS] FreewayCamper secures €4M in investment German motorhome rental platform FreewayCamper has announced that it has raised €4 million in an investment round in two tranches. 🚐 The investment will fuel product development, partner network expansion, and new service launches, supporting FreewayCamper's goal to enhance RV rental experiences. Earlier this year, FreewayCamper merged with Czech motorhome platform Campiri, with Campiri’s CEO Lukáš Janoušek joining as group co-CEO. Could this investment make FreewayCamper the leading RV rental platform in Central Europe? 🤔 Read the full article HERE >> https://lnkd.in/ga5EGJqW Reading Time: < 1 minute #freewaycamper #RVs #investment #motorhome

Fisker, the EV startup founded by Henrik Fisker, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amidst significant challenges surrounding its Ocean SUV. Issues including recalls and legal disputes have plagued the California-based company, which estimated assets between $500 million to $1 billion against liabilities of $100 million to $500 million. With plans to sell assets and explore debtor-in-possession financing, Fisker aims to navigate financial restructuring amid broader industry pressures and operational setbacks. #FiskerInc #Chapter11 #ElectricVehicle #EVStartup #HenrikFisker #OceanSUV #BankruptcyProtection #IndustryChallenges #DebtorInPossession #FinancialRestructuring #startup77

Do you agree that this remains a big problem in higher ed? What I love about customizable funds is the alignment between investors and fund managers. Could the same principle apply in higher ed? Often, professors are incentivized to focus on research that could lead to significant discoveries and a better shot at tenure. An intriguing stat about Nobel Prize winners is that their innovation and productivity drop significantly after their tour, book signings, and capitalizing on their fame. Many never return to their peak innovation levels. From my conversations with top mastermind leaders, it's clear that their relentless focus on adding value and reducing churn rate (fancy marketing term for client turnover) is crucial. Wouldn't you agree that a tenured professor, knowing their job is secure, has little incentive to continuously improve their performance? I'm considering doing an entire series on this. Scott Galloway discusses this phenomenon extensively, and he's a professor right in the thick of it!

Venture Capital News - Venture Capital News Headlines

🌟 Big (Day 1) Announcement! 🌟 One thing I love most about the VC journey is that it’s always Day 1— you are constantly learning, growing, and meeting new challenges at every corner. After an enriching experience co-heading RAISE Ventures, I am proud to join forces with a family of industry pioneers, with over 200 years of innovation and entrepreneurship. With the same energy and curiosity as Day 1, I am now starting my next chapter: launching the Venture activity for the Peugeot Family. I will be leading investments and supporting tech founders at the earliest stages to transform industries—or create entirely new ones. Stay tuned for more details on our investment strategy and recent deals. Etablissements Peugeot Frères #VentureCapital #FamilyOffice #TechFounders #PreSeed #SeedFunding #SeriesA #NewBeginnings #Day1culture

📣 BIG NEWS! 📣  Carwow Group has just secured a new $52m (£41m) investment - led by Bessemer Venture Partners, plus existing investors: Accel, Balderton Capital, Episode 1 Ventures and Vitruvian Partners. This exciting new investment will help supercharge our growth plans, including further scaling and expanding our Sell My Car service in the UK and accelerate our European operations. It follows an incredible business performance for the first half of 2024, which saw our revenues grow by 56% as more and more consumers evolve how they look to change their cars… and the numbers just keep coming! 🚗 Over 10m customers have used Carwow to help them buy and sell cars since the business’s inception 💰 Nearly £3bn worth of cars were purchased through the platform last year  🚀  £1.8bn of cars have been listed for sale through our Sell My Car (SMC) service since it launched Read more about this milestone investment moment here from John Veichmanis, Carwow Group CEO and Alex Ferrara, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners: https://lnkd.in/eG8FPBBX

Yesterday, Darren Engels and Spencer Gunning, CBV engaged with students at the CPMT at the Haskayne School of Business, discussing Tailwind’s position in the VC ecosystem and current trends both locally and globally. During this fireside chat, Darren and Spencer shared their backgrounds and the story of Tailwind, offering insights into their experiences in the dynamic and intricate world of finance. Thank you Thomas Holloway, CFA, Tara Jindal, and CPMT for having us! #VC #yyctech #venturecapital #yycstartups #canadianventurecapital #TailwindVentures