Buyouts
UK/NL - Unilever to sell frozen food unit to Permira
Anglo-Dutch consumer products group Unilever has announced that it has signed an agreement to sell the majority of its frozen foods business to Permira for EUR 1.725bn. The transaction, which is subject to customary regulatory approvals, is expected to...
SPAIN - 3i acquires shareholding in Sten
3i has agreed to buy a 30% stake in Sistemas Técnicos de Encofrados (STEN) from its founders and majority shareholders. The company develops formwork systems and solutions for construction projects and civil engineering work. The consideration has not...
NETHERLANDS - Apollo acquires TNT logistics division
Express delivery company TNT has signed an agreement to sell its logistics division to Apollo Management. The total value of the transaction is EUR 1.48m on a cash and debt free basis, of which EUR 15m will be received in the form of a 5% equity stake...
UK - Birds Eye auction not as well attended as hoped
Sources report that only a small number of private equity firms have submitted bids to the Goldman Sach's run auction for Unilever's Birds Eye brand.
UK - Barclays Ventures backs £26m MBO of KIG Holdings Ltd
Barclays Ventures has backed a £26m management buy out of KIG Holdings Ltd, a leading supplier of secondary steelwork branded products, primarily providing safe access solutions, structural fittings and steelwork fixings.
ITALY - 21 Investimenti buys stake in B-Pack Due
Treviso-based private equity firm 21 Investimenti has acquired a share in the capital of B-Pack Due, a company producing packaging material for the food, textile and medical sectors, for an undisclosed sum.
FRANCE - Lafarge sale draws interest
Ahead of the deadline for bid submissions on 6 September, a dozen private equity firms are reportedly set to take part in the auction for two thirds of Lafarge's roofing business. One or two trade buyers are also said to be preparing a bid.
UK - Private equity rumours surrounding SMG unfounded
The Financial Times reports that the Scottish media company, SMG, is likely to turn down last week's takeover approach from Northern Irish rival, UTV. The rumours surrounding SMG and private equity do not apparently have any serious foundations.
UK - Dubai International Capital acquires Travelodge from Permira
Permira has realised its investment in Travelodge, selling the operator of 291 hotels to Middle Eastern private equity firm, Dubai International Capital (DIC) for £675m. DIC beat private equity rivals Cinven and BC Partners and trade buyer Whitbread...
UK - Dunedin backs £30m secondary MBO of Capula Ltd
Dunedin Capital Partners has announced that it has led the secondary management buyout of Capula Ltd, the UK’s leading independent provider of real time IT solutions to the energy and utility markets, from Bridgepoint. Dunedin backed the management...
UK - Paladin Associates to back Caffe Nero
The Financial Times reports that Paladin Associates is to back the founder of Caffe Nero, Gerry Ford, to take the 260-store coffee shop chain private. Caffe Nero's share price rose 11% on the news that the company had received an informal takeover approach....
FINLAND - Ratos to buy Perlos Healthcare in EUR 67m deal
Ratos has signed an agreement to buy 78% of Perlos Healthcare. The cash and debt free purchase price of Perlos’ healthcare business by the new company is worth approximately EUR 67m.
DENMARK - Axcel buys 60% of Netcompany
Axcel has acquired 60% of the shares in IT consultancy Netcompany. The remaining 40% of the shares are still held by the company’s three founders and a number of senior executives. The three founders will remain in charge of the day-to-day management...
UK - MFI retail deal in final stages
According to the Financial Times, the board of MFI has agreed to pay a 'dowry' to Merchant Equity Partners in order to facilitate the private equity institution taking the loss-making retail chain off its hands.
UK - Private equity targets NTL
The Financial Times reports that talks between a private equity consortium and NTL's senior management are taking place today. The consortium is led by Providence Equity and also includes Blackstone, Cinven and KKR.
GERMANY - BayernLB backs temporary labour sector
Funds advised by BayernLB Private Equity have backed the management buyout of ISU Personaldienstleistungen GmbH. Together the financial investor and the company's CEO and management have acquired a 100% stake in the business.
UK - Terra Firma places bid for Thames Water
A Terra Firma-led consortium has placed its bid for Thames Water, the £7bn water company being sold by German power group RWE, according to the Financial Times.
UK - Apax nears final stages of its exit from The Stationery Office
The largest publisher in the UK by volume, which does much of the govenrment's printing, is the subject of an auction between three private equity bidders and two trade buyers, according to the Financial Times. The auction is now in its second round.
SPAIN - Ahorro Corporación acquires Axesor
The private equity fund Ahorro Corporación has agreed to buy Axesor, a company specialising in online corporate communication systems, from Capital Riesgo Internet. The final price is dependant on due diligence being carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
BELGIUM - 3i acquires Abx Logistics
3i has recently completed the purchase of Abx Logistics Worldwide from Ferrovie Belghe (controlled by SNCB Holding). The consideration has not been disclosed, but reports in the Belgian press suggest 3i paid EUR 80m for the logistics company.
ITALY - Permira looking to sell Grandi Navi Veloci
According to financial sources in Milan, private equity giant Permira is in talks with fund manager Investitori Associati to sell its portfolio company Grandi Navi Veloci for EUR 750m. The purchase is currently going through the due diligence on the ferry...
ITALY - Sisal SpA to be sold in EUR 1.3bn secondary buyout
The newspaper Il Sole 24Ore has reported that Sisal SpA, a portfolio company of private equity firm Clessidra, is due to be sold to another group in a secondary buyout that can reach the sum of EUR 1.3bn.
UK - Barclays Ventures backs MBO of Sitec T&C Ltd
Barclays Ventures has backed the incumbent management team of Sitec T&C Ltd investing £5m as part of a transaction that values the company at approximately £23m. Sitec is the UK's leading independent provider of rail signalling testing and commissioning...
BELGIUM - Carlyle acquires FRS Global from S1 Corporation
The Carlyle Group and technology investor Kennet Partners today announce that they have acquired FRS Global from S1 Corporation (NASDAQ: SONE). FRS Global is headquartered in Belgium and employs 190 people. It has the largest installed customer base in...