Buyouts
RUSSIA - Great Europe Deep Value invests in Nord Timber
Great Europe Deep Value Fund together with a co-investor acquired, in a MBO/MBI, Nord Timber, a company consisting of two sawmills and the right to harvest forest land of 1m hectares. This investment was structured through a newco in Cyprus.
NETHERLANDS - Emerald leads EUR 15m investment in EWT
A consortium led by Emerald Technology Ventures has acquired an equity position in privately-held Emergya Wind Technologies, a Dutch wind turbine manufacturer. In December 2007, Ludgate Environmental had invested EUR 1.43m in the company. According to...
GERMANY - Paine & Partners to acquire Stabilus from Montagu Private Equity
Montagu Private Equity plans to divest Stabilus, a manufacturer of gas springs, to funds managed by Paine & Partners, LLC. The transaction is expected to close in April 2008. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
FRANCE - Hellman & Friedman acquire 30% of GTT for EUR 330m
Hellman & Friedman has acquired Saipem’s 30% stake in Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) for EUR 330m. Gaz de France and Total retain their respective 40% and 30% stakes.
AUSTRIA – Apollo rumoured to be interested in Constantia
US private equity player Apollo is rumoured to be interested in acquiring Constantia Privatbank Aktiengesellschaft, based in Vienna. Other bidders are said to include Credit Suisse, OTP, and Vienna Insurance Group. Signing for the deal is expected in...
CEE - BC Partners et al take a 51% stake in Migros
A consortium led by BC Partners has acquired 50.83% of Migros Turk, a supermarket chain listed on the Istanbul stock market. Koç Holding provided the debt for the transaction.
FRANCE – 21 Centrale Partners takes control of La City
21 Centrale Partners has acquired a majority stake in La City following a buyout of the company. The founders will continue to manage the company.
GERMANY - Mezzanine Management invests EUR 18.6m in W.I.S
Mezzanine Management has invested EUR 18.6m in German security services provider W.I.S Group. The investment was led by Cologne-based private equity firm Argantis.
UK - Blackstone reported to be courting FKI again
Blackstone is believed to be taking a second look at London-listed engineering group FKI less than nine months after abandoning plans to launch an offer for the business. The news follows reports that heavily-indebted FKI last week received an approach...
CEE - GIMV and KBC invest together in Russia
GIMV and KBC have entered a partnership agreement for private equity investments in Russia. They will set up a new company, Eagle Capital Partners, in which both partners will have an equal shareholding. They expect to invest around EUR 30m each over...
SPAIN - Private equity interested in executive air carrier Gestair
Private equity houses are reportedly interested in investing in executive air carrier Gestair.
UK - LGV completes third realisation in a week with £300m dental disposal
LGV has sold Integrated Dental Holdings (IDH) to Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity for a reported £300m. Financing for the transaction has been provided by Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Merrill Lynch and RBS. LGV's exit from IDH represents its third in...
GERMANY/UK - Riverside portfolio company acquires UK communications firm
The Riverside Company, along with several other investors, has backed Sage Holdings in the acquisition of UK-based financial communications firm – M:Communications, and of a leading global proxy solicitation firm – D.F. King & Co., Inc. Established...
UK - Montagu and GIP get go ahead from Biffa's board
Montagu Private Equity and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) have had their 350p per share offer for waste group Biffa recommended by the company's board. The deal values Biffa, a former division of Severn Trent, at £1.2bn. Bank of Scotland and HSBC...
ITALY - Cape acquires software company Xtel for EUR 5m
Cape Natixis acquired software company Xtel in a management buyout deal valued at approximately EUR 4.9m.
FRANCE - Industri Kapital acquires Groupe Etanco
Industri Kapital has acquired Groupe Etanco from the Lebraut family after a share purchase agreement. Industri Kapital acquired Etanco in partnership with company CEO Ronan Lebraut, members of the founding family and the management.
UK - Blackstone linked to M&B
Blackstone's name has been linked to a possible offer for pub operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B). It is reported that Blackstone will team up with either CVC or KKR to table a joint bid for the owner of the Harvester and the All Bar One pub chains.
FRANCE – Sofimac and SGPE Lead OBO of APIA
Sofimac and SGPE both lead an OBO of APIA with an investment of EUR 1.05m each. Also investing were Centre Capital Development with EUR 350,000, Neoveris who invested EUR 300,000 and Centre Loire Expansion to the tune of EUR 100,000. Apia recorded a turnover...
UK - HSBC Private Equity backs the buyout of Transmission & Distribution Group
HSBC Private Equity has supported the buyout of Transmission & Distribution Group (TDG). TDG specialises in providing condition monitoring systems for electrical utilities and heavy industry. TDG is the parent company of Diagnostic Monitoring Systems...
SPAIN - Magnum acquires EUR 200m logistics firm
Magnum Industrial has signed the agreement for the acquisition of an 80% stake in infrastructures logistics firm Pretersa-Prenavisa.
UK - LDC backs MBO of JCC Lighting
LDC has financed the management buyout of JCC Lighting, a global lighting fixtures group, for an undisclosed sum. LDC has invested a figure of less than £10m for a majority equity stake in the business. Royal Bank of Scotland provided a debt package...
FRANCE – Nempartners acquires 5.1% of Proméo
Nempartners acquired 5.1% of Groupe Proméo via its Nem Invest fund. The Ganiveq family retains a majority 41% while Batipart has a 30% stake. Proméo recorded a turnover of EUR 84.3m in 2006 and achieved 20% growth in 2007 recording a turnover of EUR...
NORWAY – 3i acquires Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients for $395m
3i has backed the buyout of Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients, an Oslo-based supplier and developer of pharmaceutical ingredients and division of NYSE-listed Alpharma Inc, for $395m.
GERMANY - AUCTUS Management acquires 80% of Hobatex GmbH
Funds managed by AUCTUS Management & Co. KG have acquired 80% of the shares of specialised wood applications company Hobatex GmbH for an undisclosed sum. Hobatex is an international trader and service provider for specialised wood applications. Major...