Schroders today launched Internet Finance Partners, a venture that will finance, manage and operate a global network of e-finance companies. IFPs focus is to partner with, and build, innovative financial services e-businesses by providing capital, advice and help in execution, according to Schroders.
Its management team will be lead by Schroders representatives Sharon Haugh and Nancy Curtin. Ms. Haugh is chairman of Schroders Investment Management North America and will be chairman and governing board member at IFP. Ms. Curtin was managing director and head of investments for Schroders global mutual fund businesses and will be CEO of the new company.
The first deal announced by IFP was an investment in Lava Trading, a provider of real-time liquidity browsers, which search for best prices and small-order routing across traditional market makers, exchanges and electronic communication networks.