Our top picks of the news for 21st July 2015

21-07-2015 - William - 0 comments

PCI WELCOMES TADATAKA YAMADA, FORMER HEAD OF GLAXOSMITHKLINE AND TAKEDA R&D, TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Yamada brings extensive experience and insight to PCI Board of Directors

Philadelphia, PA – July 20, 2015 – Packaging Coordinators Inc (PCI) is pleased to welcome the addition of Dr.Tadataka Yamada to its Board of Directors. Dr.Yamada recently rejoined Frazier Healthcare, a principal owner of PCI, as a Venture Partner on the Life Sciences team. Prior to his role with Frazier Healthcare, Dr.Yamada served as Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Takeda Pharmaceuticals in Tokyo as well as serving on the Takeda Board of Directors. Dr.Yamada has also served as President of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Global Health Program, in addition to having served as Chairman of Research and Development at GlaxoSmithKline, where he also served on the Board of Directors.

“We could not be more pleased to have someone of Dr.Tadataka Yamada’s intelligence and experience join our Board of Directors” states Bill Mitchell, PCI President and CEO. “He brings a level of insight and practical experience that is truly invaluable as we continue to expand the breadth of our service offering to our clients. Our ongoing strategy is to align our portfolio of services to truly meet our client needs as part of a strategic outsourcing partnership. Dr.Yamada understands the pharmaceutical and biotech industry better than anyone. His presence and guidance is a tremendous asset for PCI.”

In late 2014 PCI acquired two adjacent businesses, Penn Pharma and Biotec Services International, significantly expanding its breadth of services and drug development offering. PCI now offers a comprehensive service portfolio which begins at Phase I clinical trial and extends for the entirety of the drug lifecycle, with services including drug manufacturing, clinical trials packaging and logistics, analytical laboratory services, as well as commercial manufacturing and packaging services. With a supply network located across North America and Europe, PCI supports lifesaving medicines destined to over 100 countries globally.

About PCI

The global healthcare industry trusts PCI for the drug development solutions that increase their products’ speed to market and opportunities for commercial success. Only PCI brings the proven experience that comes with more than 50 successful product launches a year and over four decades in the healthcare business. Leading technology and continued investment enables us to address global development needs throughout the product life cycle — from Phase I clinical trials through commercialization and ongoing supply. Our clients view us as an extension of their business and a collaborative partner, with the shared goal of improving patients’ lives. For more information please visitwww.pciservices.com or follow us on Twitter at @PCI_Social.

About Frazier Healthcare

Founded in 1991, Frazier Healthcare is a leading provider of growth capital to healthcare companies. The firm has more than $2B under management and has made investments in over 170 healthcare companies, with investment types ranging from company creation and venture capital to growth buyouts and leveraged recapitalizations.

Frazier’s experienced team takes an active approach to helping build portfolio companies, leveraging the team’s deep domain expertise and expansive network of healthcare executives, advisors, and industry thought leaders. The firm’s Growth Buyout team invests in profitable companies focusing on healthcare services, pharmaceutical services, medical products, and related sectors. The firm’s Life Sciences team invests in therapeutics and related areas that are addressing unmet medical needs through innovation.

For more information about Frazier Healthcare, visit the company's website at www.frazierhealthcare.com.

Contact

Justin Schroeder, Executive Director - Marketing, Business Development and Design [email protected], (815) 484-8973

MAGISTER ADVISORS: “FINTECH REVOLUTION WILL FORCE THE SECOND GREAT RESTRUCTURING OF THE BANKING INDUSTRY IN A DECADE”

- Banks “could become the spade sellers to the FinTech gold rush”

- Telco restricting into ‘NetCo’ and ‘ServCo’ provides a template for realignment of banking industry

The rise of next generation Fin Tech companies will trigger a wholesale restructuring of the banking sector, according to tech M&A advisory firm Magister Advisors.

Key to survival will be the Banks’ adoption of the restructuring model applied by telecoms companies, dividing into ‘NetCos’, responsible for the underlying operation, and ‘ServCos’, concerned with service provision to customers.

Victor Basta, managing partner at Magister Advisors, said: “Banks can survive, maybe even prosper, by proactively focusing on becoming world-class ‘NetCos’, standing behind and supporting thousands of ‘ServCo’ FinTech startups out-innovating each other for customers’ wallet-share across a wide range of financial transactions. Banks that become ‘NetCos’ could become the spade sellers arming a thousand gold-digging ‘ServCos’, which is a great and safe way to generate high, repeatable margins.”

The Global financial crisis of 2008 changed banks dramatically. Retail banking and investment banking separated, or were forcibly separated, to bolster against the risk of repetition. Since then, banks have begun to face an even more profound threat; a wave of well funded international tech innovators focused on customer experience. Much of the new innovation, with its emphasis on mobile, is making traditional banking practices look archaic. According to analysis by Magister Advisors, more than $10 billion of venture capital has poured into FinTech startups in recent years representing unprecedented investment weaponry directed squarely at traditional banks.

Victor Basta added: “The parallels with the changes that have taken place in the telecoms industry are striking. The third great utility, telecoms, yielded to similar pressures, with many telcos splitting their operations between infrastructure and customer service – the so-called NetCo and ServCo divide.”

“Our view is that banking could go the same way. A bank focusing on becoming a NetCo behaves fundamentally differently. No longer is customer ownership and control the primary driver. It is simply not possible for banks to innovate as quickly, and with as much marketing ‘flair,’ as tech-based growth companies. And banks simply cannot afford to devote the capital required to out-spend innovators and win with financial brute-force.”

In Magister Advisors’ view, retreating to a NetCo would mean banks become transaction hubs and processors, providing a mature and trusted infrastructure that enables all the new FinTech innovators to scale fast. In turn, the innovators would take over much of the ServCo market, engaging with customers, dealing with churn headaches, and trying to leapfrog each others’ innovations. At the same time, NetCo banks could potentially increase margins through aggressive use of BitCoin / blockchain technology.

Victor Basta added: “We can imagine a time in the not too distant future where the blockchain approach effectively and dramatically cuts clearing and settlement costs, enabling banks to capture far more of the margin which they now have to give away to legacy clearers. By retreating to a wholesale NetCo model enhanced where possible by near zero-cost block-chain architectures, banks can become more profitable, and less risky, long-term bets.”

The strategic alternative is that by being forced to retreat to being NetCos, sector dynamics play to banks’ core strengths, and save them from expensive, bruising, and ultimately unsuccessful attempts to innovate as fast as the startups now coming onto the scene.

SunTec and Loylogic turn customer data into loyalty points for banks

First-in-kind global partnership helps banks to make full use of customer intelligence and deliver rewards on any interface

LONDON, UK - 22nd JULY 2015 - SunTec, the leading provider of revenue management and business assurance solutions to Financial Services firms, today announced its partnership with Loylogic, the world’s leading innovator and creator of points experiences, insights, commerce and engagement.

According to a leading market research agency, in a volatile market, more than 50% of consumers will be changing their primary banking service provider within the next six months. This global partnership provides banks with the capability to simplify end-to-end loyalty program management. This involves crafting contextual loyalty programs, rewarding customer or merchants based on specific usage patterns and their relationship with a banking service provider and finally providing them a superior redemption experience. Banks can now offer a near real-time platform for customers to use accumulated rewards which allows service providers to build personalised unique reward programs and enhance customer retention.

With its experience of serving over 300 million end-users worldwide, SunTec’s product suite Xelerate will provide the complex functions to drive campaign creation, simulation, the setup and maintenance of customer loyalty programmes. Loylogic has worked with the biggest brands in the airline, hospitality telecom and financial services industries and this partnership will complete the end-to-end offering by managing the entire reward and collect experiences for program members.

Nanda Kumar, SunTec CEO, said: “There is no better way of telling your customers you care about them than to offer services which are relevant to them and rewarding them for the relationship. Facing fresh challenges from non-banking digital disrupters, traditional Financial Services providers must maximise their competitive advantages, by leveraging the intelligence which lies in their customer relationship data, to drive quicker and right decision-making. SunTec’s partnership with Loylogic aims to help banks design, launch and manage loyalty programs which deliver personalised rewards through mobile and online channels.”

Dominic Hofer, CEO and Founder of Loylogic, said: “We are excited about this partnership, the first of its kind in the Financial Services industry, as banks are starting to realise the importance of an integrated loyalty solution. There is an overabundance of good customer intelligence locked away in technology silos which can make a difference between winning a customer and losing one. Loylogic’s experience will help banks to unlock this potential: We design magnetic points experiences which will help banks to drive the Member Lifetime Value and put also a huge smile on the face of program members.”

With this new tie-up, banks can accurately launch relevant and profitable campaigns based on parameters like customer segment behavior, card usage, deposit balances and customer profitability.

First early stage EIS Impact Fund open and raising £1m to £2m to invest only in “Businesses For Good”

The first early stage EIS Impact Fund is open and raising £1m to £2m to invest only in “Businesses For Good”!

The Fund has a minimum investment ask of £25k and maximum of £250k and has a target portfolio size of up to 16 companies. Of these, at least ¾ will be co-investments made on the back of Angel investors and/or other social funds, while 2-3 investments will be lead investments with the CEO of Seedgood Capital taking a board seat.

Structured as an HMRC unapproved EIS Fund, it is a managed investment fund that is looking to combine financial return with positive social impact ie businesses which are the equivalent of the rising tide which lifts all the boats.

Seedgood Capital Ltd plans to produce a bi-annual report reviewing the nature of the investee companies of the Fund, the increase in social impact attained and forecast, combined with the Administrator & Custodian’s bi-annual report on the value of the EIS Investments.

The Fund is suitable for high net worth investors, sophisticated investors, and restricted investors that want to invest seed capital into early stage ventures that combine profit with positive social impact.

CEO, Ed Pattinson explained, “The phrase ‘Social Enterprise’ has often been taken to only encompass legal organisational forms that are either not profit making by definition or have asset locks – leading to a difficulty in fundraising (particularly at the seed level) for some potentially high return social ventures that are limited companies.

Seedgood Capital Fund I will invest in ‘Businesses For Good’ but only those that are limited companies. It is similar to allocating assets to venture capital investments, but with the added dimension of positive social impact. This means that disadvantaged groups, communities and sometimes society as a whole benefits from the activity of the venture.”

Seedgood Capital Ltd defines a ‘Business For Good’ as an organisation that benefits humanity – more specifically a company with a viable business model which either reduces inequality and/or benefits a specific disadvantaged community.

The Cabinet Office now sponsors financial and accelerator type support for many such ventures and Seedgood is using the existing infrastructure of UK Impact Accelerators as an initial qualification of whether companies are eligible for investment by the Fund – as such if they are currently on, or have been through a social impact accelerator programme, then they are a potential candidate for investment by the Fund.

For companies which arise through other means and which are not currently on a programme backed by a Cabinet Office/Big Lottery sponsored social impact accelerator such as the Big Venture Challenge, Bethnal Green Ventures or Social Incubator East, Seedgood Capital Ltd will be organising for a panel of experts from the impact sector to vote on whether they consider the venture to be a “Business For Good”.

Contact info: Ed Pattinson, [email protected] or 07850 447754.

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR INAUGURAL GROWTH INVESTOR AWARDS

35 finalists recognised across 11 award categories for fund managers, investment platforms, financial advisers and wealth managers leading in alternative investments
Winners to be revealed at black tie awards dinner at Marriott Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London on Thursday 22 October
Visit www.growthinvestorawards.com for all finalists

The most innovative and impactful fund managers, investment platforms, financial advisers and wealth managers specialising in alternative investments have today been revealed as finalists for the inaugural Growth Investor Awards - which recognise all those involved in putting investment to work in UK SMEs and enabling ‘scale up’ businesses to realise their full potential to create jobs and wealth.

Representing all regions of the UK, including Northern Ireland, finalists highlight the diversity of the industry – with funds ranging from £1m to £85m. Among those shortlisted for more than one award are Octopus Investments, Mercia Technologies, MMC Ventures, Puma Investments, Beringea, TIME Investments, SyndicateRoom, Kuber Ventures and Lawson Conner.

The Awards are organised by Intelligent Partnership (IP), the UK’s leading provider of research and education in alternative investments, and supported by partners including the UKCFA, BVCA and EISA. The sponsors of the inaugural Growth Investor Awards are Bovill, DWF LLP, LGBR Capital, Mainspring, Matrix Solutions, RAM Capital Partners, Reyker, and RW Blears.

The shortlist was guided by an Advisory Board of industry leaders and influencers including Tony Langham, Chairman of Unbiased.co.uk & Chief Executive of Lansons; Sarah Wadham, Director General of the Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA); Martin McCourt, former CEO of Dyson & director of Montagu Private Equity; Tim Hames, Director General of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA); and Sherry Coutu CBE, angel investor, entrepreneur and Non-Executive Director of the London Stock Exchange who authored The Scale-Up Report on UK Economic Growth in 2014.

Commenting on the importance of the Growth Investor Awards at a meeting of the Advisory Board, Tony Langham said: “The investment management industry does a great job for society, and helps millions of clients around the country with savings and pensions; but from a public policy point of view it’s under a lot pressure to show what it does for the real economy in terms of infrastructure, growth in jobs and wealth creation. These Awards provide a national platform to demonstrate the industry’s impact on SME growth.”

Commenting on the importance of tax efficient investments to the UK economy, Sarah Wadham said: “Some of our bigger companies are not developing new jobs, and in fact downsizing and shedding employees. Practically all growth in employment is coming from SMEs and they are largely funded by the Enterprise Investment Scheme. These companies don’t have any assets and banks can’t lend to them in their early stages so EIS and SEIS has really fuelled growth and innovation.”

Daniel Kiernan, Research Director of Intelligent Partnership, who headed up the shortlist, commented: “The judging criteria for the Growth Investor Awards was designed in consultation with the industry to ensure it is truly reflective of what is driving improvement and innovation. It’s great to see such a high standard of entries in the inaugural year of these awards and fascinating to see how finalists are adding value while enabling growth. The shortlist has demonstrated that there is real innovation and impact in this industry.”

Thirty five industry leading businesses and individuals have been recognized for awards including Financial Adviser of the Year and Wealth Manager of the Year for those best applying research and education in alternative investments to add value for clients diversifying their portfolios; Best Investment Platform, for equity crowdfunding and investment aggregation sites with the best user experience and product innovation; and Best EIS / SEIS / BPR / VCT Investment Manager awards for fund managers demonstrating innovation in product development, adviser engagement, and impact on SME growth.

Finalist entries will now go to a second round of judging to determine the winner in each award category. This independent panel of judges is drawn from within and outside the industry – to bring a range of perspectives and level the playing field. The winner of the Industry Champion Award will be voted for by the Advisory Board later in the year.

Guy Tolhurst, Managing Director of Intelligent Partnership, commented: “This is an exciting and growing industry and with that growth in competition there is a need for fund managers and platforms to differentiate in the eyes of the advisory community and the investors. The Growth Investor Awards help them to achieve that by telling the story of how they are putting money to work in UK SMEs.”

Winners will be revealed at the Growth Investor Awards black tie dinner held on the evening of Thursday 22 October at the Marriott Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, London. Visit http://growthinvestorawards.com/shortlist/ for a full list of all finalists and information on how to attend the event.

The full shortlist for the 2015 Growth Investor Awards is as follows:

Most Impactful Investment

· Deepbridge Capital

· Puma Investments

· Mercia Technologies

· Sapia Partners

· Seneca

Exit of the Year

· Elderstreet - Wessex Advanced Switching Products (WASP)

· Parkwalk Advisors - Tracsis

· YFM Equity Partners - Waterfall Services

Industry Game Changer