Global Opportunities Trust (GOT) fund manager Dr Sandy Nairn has stepped down from the board of the £98m real return fund as the investment company ends its self-managed status and appoints Juniper Partners as alternative investment fund manager (AIFM). Nairn will retain day-to-day responsibility for the management of the funds and shares portfolio through sub-adviser Goodhart Partners. There are no changes to the investment objectives from Nairn ending his executive role, although the company will have greater flexibility to use derivatives for efficient portfolio management. The board also believes that the new arrangement will enhance its oversight of governance and risk management.

Oakley Capital, manager of Oakley Capital Investments (OCI), has bought a majority stake in Global Loan Agency Services (GLAS), a UK debt administrator and bond trustee. OCI is contributing up to £55m to the transaction through its investment in Oakley Capital Fund VI. Canadian pension fund La Caisse (formerly CDPQ) has acquired a minority position, while the firm’s original backer Levine Leichtman Capital Partners will retain a small stake. Co-founded by chief executive Mia Brennan in 2011, the London-based firm employs 450 staff in 16 offices to support a portfolio of over $750bn. Oakley said GLAS had enjoyed 40% organic revenue growth in recent years. Oakley Capital managing partner Peter Dubens said: “We are pleased to be partnering with such an accomplished entrepreneur and look forward to supporting the next phase of GLAS’ growth.”

Gresham House Energy Storage (GRID) has secured two more projects as part of its three-year turnaround programme. The £448m battery fund, whose shares rebounded 72% last year after a challenging 2024, has signed two sale and purchase agreements (SPAs) for Cockenzie (240MW) in East Lothian and Monet’s Garden (57MW) in North Yorkshire. This follows the acquisition of the 100MW Elland 2 battery project in West Yorkshire in November and means it has three of the five projects identified for the recovery plan begun just over a year ago. The company said the new projects had been designed for two-hour duration that could be extended in due course. The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has confirmed that all of the projects in GRID’s three-year plan will receive phase 1 connection offers between 2026 and 2030. The offers will be made in the first quarter.