Professionals: Hentons, Sentio Insight, Walker Morris

ACCOUNTANCY firm Hentons is developing its digital platforms.

The company is launching a new website, customer portal and app which will allow customers to manage their finances wherever they are.

Nadeem Ahmed, managing partner of Hentons said: “Business owners are increasingly working in a connected world and expect to be able to work as efficiently on the train as in their office.

“As part of our growth plans we have invested in a new website that gives customers access to a comprehensive online portal, and an app which is available in android and iOS.

“Business owners are increasingly turning to us because we can handle their business and personal requirements under one roof, we are investing to make sure they can access this expertise on the move.”

Hentons employs a team of 60 and operates across the region from its offices in Leeds.

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SENTIO INSIGHT has helped advise on the Piper Private Equity and Winona Capital Management’s £20m investment in a British jewellery brand.

Monica Vinader Ltd is a luxury jewellery brand, founded by Monica Vinader in 2007, and run by her and her sister Gabriela.

Piper invested £14m and Winona provided the rest,to help the brand expand in the US.

The business has three London stores in Chelsea, Mayfair and Canary Wharf.

It is growing rapidly across the globe, employing 168 staff and turning over £23m.

Monica Vinader said: ‘We undertook a rigorous review of potential partners we could work with on our next stage of growth.

“They stood out from all the others due to their deep understanding of how to grow consumer brands and their ability to add significant value through their networks, knowledge and in-house expertise”.

Chris Curry, managing partner of Piper, said: ‘We have been tracking the growth of Monica Vinader for a number of years and have always been impressed by Monica and Gabriela’s vision for their brand and their determination to build a uniquely differentiated and highly valuable business. We very much look forward to a partnership with the team that will see Monica Vinader become a global brand legend’.

Financial due diligence was provided by Ian Robinson and Tom Hayes from Sentio Insight LLP.

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THE proposed placing by Instem, raising £5m, has been facilitated by broker N+1 Singer and Walker Morris.

Instem provides IT solutions to the early development healthcare market.

The funds will be raised through the placing of 2,500,000 New Ordinary Shares at 200p per share.

Richard Naish and Ben Proctor from the Walker Morris Corporate Team advised.

Phil Reason, chief executive officer, said: “This fundraising comes at the ideal time as both Instem and our life sciences clients enjoyed great success in 2015. With record levels of potential new drugs moving through the earlier stages of the research and development pipeline, the industry is keen to deploy proven and innovative technologies that can increase their efficiency and effectiveness while maximising patient safety.”

“Deploying the capital raised on acquisitions that complement our existing market leading software products and services will ensure that we will continue to help our clients bring life enhancing products to market faster.”

“We are delighted that the placing was oversubscribed, with demand from both existing shareholders and new institutional investors.”