Julian Longhurst
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Articles by Julian Longhurst
Valbart sale brings first exit for 21 Investimenti II
21 Investimenti, the Franco-Italian mid-market later stage investor, has sold Italian oil and gas engineering firm Valbart to listed US business Flowserve.
Dr Kevin Johnson formally joins Index Ventures
Following a six-year association with the venture investor as an advisor, life sciences specialist and entrepreneur Dr Kevin Johnson has joined Index Ventures as a Partner.
Cinven finally scents deal with Spice
Cinven's revised offer of 70p per share for Leeds-based utility support services group Spice is likely to be recommended by the company's management.
Three managers spin out from KBC Private Equity
Three former executives of Belgian investor KBC Private Equity have spun out to form new small-cap, later-stage outfit Think2Act Partners, according to local press reports.
Banks seek to make hay while the sun shines
Looking around Europeтs buyout markets, it is clear that some banks are well and truly back in the game. But the recent rise in deal completions, including those at the top end of the scale, masks an altogether more complex marketplace. Julian Longhurst...
German buyouts: the giant stirs?
Despite encouraging macroeconomic signs and increasing buyout activity elsewhere, the level of deal completions in the German buyout market remains well below par. What chances are there of an up-tick in this giant market? Julian Longhurst investigates....
Inveready Seed Capital backs Qustodian
Qustodian, the Madrid-based media marketing business, has raised over тЌ1m of start-up funding.
Artá Capital and L Capital invest €85m in Pepe Jeans
Barcelona-based Pepe Jeans, the clothing business which owns UK brand Hackett, has raised a new round of expansion capital.
AC Desarollo backs Grupo NRSur
AC Desarollo, via its fund AC Capital Premier II FCR, yesterday announced its third deal of the year, providing an undisclosed package of expansion capital to back the fast food franchise business Grupo NRSur.
Atlas Capital completes second investment
Madrid-based Atlas Capital has completed the second investment from its inaugural fund, committing тЌ6m of growth capital to back the Spanish audiovisual services firm Uveauve.
AC Desarollo takes majority stake in Vaughan Systems
AC Desarollo, the private equity investment arm of Ahorro CorporaciУГn, has acquired a controlling stake in Vaughan Systems, a Spanish provider of commercial English language training services.
PE groups circle Spanish infrastructure asset
The Spanish utility firm Endesa, controlled by Italian giant Enel SpA, is reportedly examining the sale of 80% of its gas transport and distribution business in an effort to reduce the group's borrowings.
Ibersuizas closes in on Multiasistencia
Press reports suggest that the Madrid-based later stage investor Ibersuizas has signed heads of agreement over the buyout of Multiasistencia, Spain's leading provider of business process outsourcing services to the financial and corporate sector.
Fundraising: GPs face uphill climb
The wheels of the industry are gradually grinding into motion, with some notable fundraisings in 2010 so far. With activity expected to pick up, what awaits the European GPs looking to refill their coffers later in 2010 or into 2011? Julian Longhurst...
Talks over Candover Investment Plc takeover terminated
A statement issued today by Candover Investments Plc confirmed that discussions with a potential bidder for the company have been terminated.
Aurica XXI backs Eurofragrance SL
Aurica XXI, Banco Sabadell's private equity investment entity, has committed an undisclosed amount of capital to fund the expansion of perfumery business Eurofragrance.
Climastar raises €1.37m from regional private equity investor
Climastar, the Asturian manufacturer of heating systems, has opened its capital to Sociedad Regional de PromociУГn (SRP), the private equity entity funded by the regional government of Asturias in nothwestern Spain.
Balderton and Nauta Capital fund series B round for Scytl
Scytl, the Barcelona-based world leader in internet voting technology, has received a $9.2m investment in a deal led by Balderton Capital.
BPEP backs Spanish security firm with €10m growth funding
Baring Private Equity Partners EspaУБa has supported the rapidly-growing security business Castellana de Seguridad SA (CASESA) with a substantial package of expansion capital funding.
ILPA Principles: broad-brush solution to a complex issue?
In a buyerтs market it is hardly surprising that there has been a real focus on re-aligning various terms & conditions of private equity funds to favour LP investors. But are attempts to drive and perhaps formalise this process wide of the mark? Julian...
HTGF et al. in €2m evocatal series-B
Three years after receiving a round of seed finance, DУМsseldorf-based industrial biotech group evocatal GmbH has raised a тЌ2m round of early-stage funding.
Iñigo Erlaíz to head new Gómez-Acebo & Pombo private equity practice
Madrid-based law firm GУГmez-Acebo & Pombo has signalled its intention to ramp up the firmтs penetration into the Iberian private equity space by appointing IУБigo ErlaУz as head of a new standalone private equity practice.
CVC pursues giant Spanish infrastructure buyout
CVC is understood to be closing in on a deal with the majority shareholders of Spanish infrastructure business Albertis over a potential buyout that would value the firm at more than тЌ25bn.
Apax set to lose stake in Panrico
The large banking syndicate holding debt in the Spanish bakery business Panrico looks likely to follow through with a debt for equity swap after attempts to re-finance the leverage package failed.