Irish entrepreneur backs €100m investment fund

Healthcare entrepreneur Mark Moran is backing a €100 million fund which will invest in European small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Launched by global investment company Stanhope Capital, the fund aims to differ from other offerings in the private equity landscape by adding "operational expertise to portfolio companies by relying on successful entrepreneurs who will act as anchor investors", including Mr Moran.

The fund will primarily focus on sectors including food, education, consumer and disruptive services and will ultimately be managed by Stanhope Capital’s private equity team in collaboration with the anchor investors.

As well as Mr Moran, who now holds a number of non-executive positions in the healthcare and hospitality industries following the sale of the Mater Private Hospital to a private equity company, the anchor investors include Bruno Moineville, a founding partner of telecom company Altice; Pierre Cuilleret, a cofounder of French mobile phone retailer the Phone House; Leon Seynave, a cofounder of private equity company Mitiska; and Daniel Pinto, the chief executive of Stanhope Capital.

SMEs generating almost half of all revenues in Ireland

---

Tax experts urge rethink of UK plan to cut corporation tax

---

Ireland pins hopes on winning European Banking Authority bid

---

Euro drops on German impasse, China stocks rebound

---

“Our team of private equity experts, together with the dream team of anchor investors will allow us to find companies with the strongest potential to deliver long-term returns on behalf of our investors. We are delighted to bring this strategy to a wider audience,” Mr Pinto said.