Buyouts
ITALY - Candover is the most probable buyer for Ferretti
After months of speculation about the future of Ferretti, it seems that the luxury yatch group is set to be acquired by Candover. Market sources suggest that the UK buyout house is in final talks with Permira, majority shareholder with a 70% stake. Although...
FRANCE - IPO leads AltéAd buyout
IPO, Synergie Finance and Ouest Croissanec have invested EUR 6m of equity, half of which in convertible bonds, in industrial machinery transportation and maintenance business AltéAd.
ITALY - MPS Venture et al acquire 30% stake in Gruppo SDN
MPS Venture SGR, coinvesting with Centrobanca Sviluppo Impresa and Sanpaolo IMI Investimenti per lo Sviluppo SGR has signed an agreement to acquire a 30% shareholding in Gruppo SDN. The deal value has not been disclosed. Naples-based Gruppo SDN provides...
SPAIN - TA Associates ready to pay EUR 100m for eDreams
According to press reports, US private equity house TA Associates is set to pay EUR 100m for 100% of the shares in Internet-based travel agency eDreams. A majority stake of 55% is currently owned by a group of 70 investors, including the bank Santander...
SPAIN - Catalana d'Iniciatives takes 25% in biodesel business for EUR 10.5m
Private equity house Catalana d'Iniciatives has taken a participation of 25% in Bioenergética Extremeña for EUR 10.5m. The remaining stake was split between the Hinojosa-Vacas, Bigeriego and Espinosa de los Monteros families, which have diluted their...
ITALY - Sanpaolo IMI Fondi Chiusi acquires shareholding in Blumen
Fund Centro Impresa, managed by Sanpaolo IMI Fondi Chiusi, has invested EUR 3m in return for a 32% stake in Blumen, a retailer of home and garden appliances. Blumen is based in Piacenza and had returns of EUR 15m last year. The business plan includes...
SPAIN - Baring acquires stake in Boniquet-Sparchim
Baring Private Equity Partners (BPEP), has acquired a minority stake in Laboratorios Boniquet-Sparchim. The consideration of the deal, in which Invercartera (Caixa Catalunya's private equity arm) has also invested, has not been disclosed. Boniquet-Sparchim...
SPAIN - Corpfin Capital buys majority stake in Alfe for EUR 30m
Corpfin Capital has recently acquired a participation of 56% in the capital of rental equipment company Alfe Grupo Empresarial for EUR 30m. The main activity of Alfe is the rental of machinery and equipment for both civil engineering and construction...
ITALY - BS Private Equity backs acquisition of Megatel and Gigatel
Mobile telephony retailer MIT Group, backed by BS Private Equity, has agreed to buy sector players Megatel and Gigatel for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition of the two companies is part of the development strategy of MIT, especially focused on growth...
POLAND – Advent International acquires the ULTIMO Group
Private equity investor Advent International has acquired the polish debt purchase and debt collection business ULTIMO Group from the company’s founders and funds managed by AIG Capital Partners Inc. The value of the transaction is undisclosed.
UK - European Capital set to acquire Whitworths
Dried fruit and nut company Whitworths is reported to be acquired by European Capital over the next week. The deal, expected to be worth around £85m, will see Gresham exit the company it has held since 2001.
UK - PAI and Blackstone acquire United Biscuits from Cinven and MidOcean
Cinven and MidOcean Partners have realised their investment in United Biscuits (UB). The UK's largest biscuit supplier, UB also has operations in France, the Netherlands and Belgium and has now been acquired by Blackstone and PAI Partners in a £1.6bn...
FRANCE - Banexi Capital Partenaires back secondary buyout of Bretèche
Banexi Capital Partenaires and Unigrains have backed the secondary buyout of Bretèche, a company which develops, manufactures and installs equipment for the food industry. The GPs took a majority stake in the business.
FRANCE - Buyout of PVC and aluminium window maker
Avenir Entreprises and Alliance Entreprendre have taken a 75% stake in Plastiferm, a manufacturer of PVC and aluminium windows, doors and shutters.
GERMANY - AXA Private Equity aquires 60% of KTP
AXA Private Equity has acquired KTP (Kunststoff Palettentechnik GmbH), a producer of plastic transport packaging solutions. The value of the transaction has not been disclosed.
NORWAY - Altor buys Helly Hansen
Altor Fund II is to acquire Norwegian Helly Hansen, a supplier of technical apparel and footwear, from Investcorp for an undisclosed sum.
FRANCE - KKR invests in French flooring products business
KKR has announced it has taken a 50% stake in SIF, the holding company which owns a majority of Tarkett, a flooring products business present in over 100 countries.
UK - Hedge fund Boussard & Gavaudan takes stake in Gondola
Boussard & Gavaudan, a hedge fund with a track record of activism, is believed to have built up a 20% stake in Gondola Holdings, the restaurant operator which is the subject of a £560m take-private bid from Cinven.
FRANCE - AXA Private Equity takes majority stake in Gerflor
AXA has announced it has signed an agreement to take a majority stake in vinyl flooring business Gerflor. This tertiary buyout sees the exit of PAI partners and CDC Entreprises, and a renewed comittment from Natexis industrie and ICG, who re-invest in...
SPAIN - Qualitas backs acquisition of Garnica Plywood
Private equity house Qualitas Equity Partners has acquired the entire shareholding in plywood distributor Garnica Plywood alongside its management team in a deal of undisclosed value. The growth route for the La Rioja-based company encompasses the acquisition...
SPAIN - Avanza attracts private equity interest
Several private equity firms and industrial players are interested in acquiring transport group Avanza. It is rumoured that Dougthy Hanson, Advent International and Apax Partners are among the possible private equity bidders. One of the prospective purchasers...
UK - Lyceum Capital-backed Clinovia makes fourth acquisition this year
Clinovia, an independent home healthcare provider backed by Lyceum Capital, has acquired CCS Blackpool. The purchase of CCS Blackpool, a care agency specialising in providing quality community support services to individuals in their own homes, is Clinovia’s...
UK - FTSE 250 Informa in talks with Candover and Cinven
Informa Plc, the FTSE 250 company which provides specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities, is in talks with Candover and Cinven about going private. The deal would see Informa...
ITALY - SG Capital buys majority stake in Co.Import
SG Capital Europe has agreed to purchase 80% of Co.Import, a retailer of accessories and small home furnishings, from its founding family for EUR 15m. The management is reportedly reinvesting EUR 3m for the remaining stake. Co.Import owns a network of...