Buyouts

ITALY - Capitalia Sofipa acquires half of Lediberg's capital

Capitalia Sofipa Sgr has recently acquired a stake in the marketing product manufacturer Lediberg via its funds Sofipa Equity Fund and Sofipa Equity Fund II, in a deal reportedly worth EUR 25m. The private equity firm has taken a 49.9% stake and the remaining...

UK - Endless acquires Peter Black

Peter Black, designer and supplier of footwear, cosmetics and gifts to Marks and Spencer, Tesco and Next has been acquired by Endless. Peter Black was taken-private in 2000 by its management team.

ITALY - L Capital buys Piazza Sempione

L Capital, the private equity arm of the group LVMH, has acquired a majority stake in Piazza Sempione, a high-end fashion company, from its founding family. The consideration has not been disclosed.

FRANCE - KKR in exclusive talks for PagesJaunes

According to press reports, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts has entered exclusive negotiations with France Telecom for the acquisition of its 54% stake in telephone directory business PagesJaunes, for EUR 3.3bn

UK - Barclays Ventures backs MBO of Lakeview Computers Group

Barclays Ventures has backed the management buyout of Lakeview Computers Group Ltd, a leading player in the development and maintenance of enterprise resource planning software systems. The business, which generates an annual EBITDA of over ТЃ2m, was...

SWEDEN - Procuritas buys North Trade

Procuritas Capital Investor III has acquired a majority shareholding in meat products importer North Trade AB. Going forward, North Trade plans to launch new products and expand geographically.

SPAIN - All eyes on Pullmantur

A number of private equity firms are courting Pullmantur, one of the primary tourist divisions of the group Marsans. The travel operator, specialised in tours, cruises and charter flights is looking for a financial partner willing to buy between 30 and...

UK - Takeover dilemma for McCarthy & Stone

The largest builder of retirement homes in the UK, McCarthy & Stone, recommended a joint offer by Permira and Barclays Capital earlier this week. However, now a rival consortium made up of HBOS, the Reuben brothers and West Coast Capital has indicated...

UK - Hedge fund tries to scupper Fortress/Telent deal

The Financial Times today reports that Fortress Investment Group's proposed take-private of Telent was uncertain due to the tactics of US hedge fund Polygon. The board of the Marconi telecommunications equipment business has already approved the offer...

SPAIN - Bridgepoint buys Dorna from CVC

Bridgepoint has won the competitive auction to replace CVC Capital Partners as a shareholder in Dorna, a motorcycle sports business that promotes and manages MotoGP (the Motorcycle Road Racing World Championship). Other private equity firms involved in...

UK - ABN AMRO Capital acquires Amtico in £98.25m deal

ABN AMRO Capital has agreed to acquire Amtico International, the high end flooring designer and manufacturer, from Electra Private Equity. The transaction, which is expected to complete in around four weeks subject to customary approvals, values the business...

ITALY - Wise acquires majority stake in SpII SpA

The private equity firm Wise SGR, via the funds Wisequity II & Macchine Italia, has acquired a majority stake in SpII SpA, an industrial automation player for the logistic sector, from its founders for an undisclosed sum.

UK - Taylor Nelson Sofres receiving private equity interest

The international market research firm Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) is said to have attracted private equity interest. The company has encountered the dissatisfaction of its institutional investors after it revealed revenues in the US had fallen and were...

UK - Blackstone and KKR target Argos and Homebase

GUS, the parent company of Argos and Homebase retailers (ARG)and Experian, the business information provider, which is intent on a demerger of the two divisions in October, is reported to have received private equity offers for both arms of the company....