Buyouts
Banks seize control of 3i-backed Ultralase
Senior lenders have reportedly taken control of 3i-backed Ultralase, the UK laser eye surgery chain, as part of a pre-pack administration, making it the second of the private equity firm's portfolio companies to fall within a week.
Carlyle-backed Bigmouthmedia to merge with LBi
Carlyle-owned marketing specialist Bigmouthmedia is set to merge with Stockholm-listed digital marketing and technology agency, LBi International.
H.I.G acquires Synseal
H.I.G. Europe, the European affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, has acquired UK-based building materials specialist Synseal by investing £30.5m in equity.
Kelso Place acquires LGV from administration
Kelso Place Asset Management has acquired, as a going concern, the business and assets of driving instructor training company LGV Limited from administration in a deal of undisclosed value.
PAI interested in dairy producer Ebro Puleva
PAI Partners has reportedly expressed interest in acquiring Spanish dairy producer Ebro Puleva.
3i-led consortium favourite bidder for E.ON Italian gas grid
According to reports, a 3i-led consortium, which includes Italian gas supplier Erogasmet, has been selected by E.ON for the acquisition of its Italian gas grid; the deal has been estimated at over €300m.
Inflexion completes £28.4m take-private of FDM Group
Inflexion Private Equity has completed the de-listing of IT services company FDM Group. The deal valued the AIM-listed business at £28.4m, down from £33.3m, as reported in unquote" in December last year, when the deal was agreed.
KBC and ARKimedes invest in Concrete Systems
KBC Private Equity and ARKimedes through their joint subsidiary KBC Arkiv, have invested an undisclosed sum in shuttering solutions manufacturer Concrete System.
EQT's Actavis still in the race for for ratiopharm
According to reports, EQT-backed Actavis is still left in the race for generic drugs group ratiopharm being sold by VEM Vermoegensverwaltung GmbH.
EdRIP and UI gestion stage OBO of Segex
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRIP), UI Gestion and Socadif have staged an OBO of the Segex Group, a civil engineering company, alongside the management.
Advent et al lead $1.1bn Skillsoft LBO
A private equity consortium including Berkshire Partners, Advent International and Bain Capital has agreed to acquire Irish e-learning software maker SkillSoft Plc, in an all-cash deal valued at $1.1bn.
Bencis acquires Saval and Knowsley from Imtech
Bencis Capital Partners has acquired extinguishing systems specialists Saval and Knowsley from parent company Imtech.
Maven backs £5.5m take private of LitComp
Maven Capital Partners has backed the public-to-private acquisition of AIM-listed LitComp Plc, the insurance business, in a £5.48m deal.
Electra Partners backs £270m buyout of esure
Electra Partners, together with limited partner Penta Capital, have backed the buyout of esure in a deal valued at around £270m, acquiring Lloyds Banking Group's 70% stake.
CapMan invests in Hermelinen
CapMan has invested the Swedish private health care centre Hermelinen.
Aggressive banks push Kabel Deutschland debt to 70%
According to sources close to the deal speaking to unquote", the banks involved in the pending Kabel Deutschland deal have aggressively pushed the equity to just 30% of the deal valued at as much as EUR 5bn. Equity ratios of just 30% are almost unheard...
Volati acquires Team Ortopedteknik
Swedish buyout house Volati has acquired orthopaedic technology company Team Ortopedteknik
Duke Street acquires Payzone in €104m restructuring deal
Duke Street has acquired a 69% stake in AIM-listed payment network Payzone Group as part of a €104m restructuring deal that will see the value of existing shareholder Balderton Capital's stake wiped out.
Apax pockets PIK profit
As many predicted, the secondary debt market has in fact proven lucrative for private equity firms as Apax Partners prepares to reap the rewards of buying into the debt of portfolio company New Look. Deborah Sterescu investigates
Bridgepoint acquires LGV's LGC for £257m
Bridgepoint has acquired forensics and scientific testing company LGC from LGV Capital for £257m.
Better Capital acquires Carlyle's Gardner in £20m deal
Better Capital, the investment vehicle launched by Jon Moulton last year, has invested in its first deal, reportedly acquiring aerospace components supplier Gardner Group in a £20m deal from The Carlyle Group.