Buyouts
UK - Premier Foods looks likely contender for Campbell's Soup business
As the results of the auction for the UK and Irish businesses of Campbell's Soup are awaited, Premier Foods has revealed bouyant trading in its convenience food range.
UK - Private equity bids for GUS divisions
GUS has decided to stick with its plan of demerging its marketing and information services arm from its retail division despite private equity bids for the whole group, according to the Times today. The bid for the whole group would value it at £11.7bn.
UK - HgCapital sells Castlebeck for £255m
HgCapital today announced the sale of Castlebeck to Castle Holdings Ltd, a Jersey-registered company associated with Barchester Healthcare group, the leading quality private healthcare provider for £255m.
UK - Candover to take DX Services private
The business to business mail services provider DX Services is to be delisted following an offer made by a vehicle owned by Candover Partners.
SWEDEN - Altor acquires PIAB
Altor Fund II has signed an agreement to acquire the Swedish vacuum technology company, PIAB Invest AB from the Tell family. Altor are aiming to significantly expand the company within the next few years as they will now have the required capital and...
UK - ABN AMRO Capital acquires Volution from Montagu Private Equity
ABN AMRO Capital has agreed to acquire Volution Holdings Ltd from Montagu Private Equity with the transaction expected to complete in August 2006.
GERMANY - 3i and Creathor acquire Accovion
3i and Creathor have wholly acquired Accovion AG from Sanofi-Aventis. Accovion was spun out from Aventis' departments for clinical research, biological statistics and drug monitoring. 3i financed the 2001 spin-out with a significant minority participation.
SPAIN - Candover set to buy Applus +
According to reports in the Spanish press, Candover Partners has signed an agreement to buy Applus + from its shareholders Aguas de Barcelona, Unión Fenosa and Caja Madrid, for EUR 915m.
UK - Private equity set to acquire Hard Rock Cafe
According to reports in the Financial Times today, the Rank Group is conducting a review of its Hard Rock Cafe business with the help of Merrill Lynch.
GERMANY - Auctus acquires Aluminium smelting specialist
Auctus Management has acquired aluminium smelting specialist ZPF therm GmbH. Financial details have not been disclosed, but the buy and build specialist will consider strategic add-on acquisitions. BW Bank provided debt financing for the transaction.
FRANCE - Médica France sold by Bridgepoint to BC Partners
BC Partners has agreed to acquire Médica France, one of the country's largest nursing home groups, for EUR 750m. BC Partners alongside AXA Private Equity have backed the management of Médica allowing Bridgepoint and AlpInvest to exit having held the...
SWEDEN - Fiskars Corporation to purchase Silva Group
Fiskars Corporation has signed an agreement to acquire the Sweden-based Silva Group which will include its US-based subsidiary The Brunton Company. The two leading providers of outdoor activity-related products will operate under the Fiskar brands, including...
UK - Morrison a possible target for Texas Pacific, CVC and Permira
The Observer reported yesterday that private equity groups are weighing up an offer for supermarket group WM Morrison.
UK - Dunedin backs £21m MBO of etc.venues
Dunedin Capital Partners announces that it has backed the £21m management buyout of ETC Venues Ltd, one of London’s leading independent providers of meeting, training and event space. Dunedin is initially providing £6m of funding with a further £4m...
NL- Apax Partners courts Endemol
Apax Partners is thought to be considering a possible EUR 1bn for Dutch quoted company Endemol. The private equity firm, which failed to purchase ITV earlier this year, could set up a consortium to buy Telefonica’s stake in Endemol.
UK - Gresham backs MBO of Swift Technical Group
Gresham has backed the management buyout of Swift Technical Group, the market leader in global recruitment and relocation focused on the oil and gas sector.
SPAIN - Madrigal Participaciones buys El Arbol from CVC
Madrigal Participaciones has recently agreed to buy 80% the supermarket chain El Arbol, from the private equity firm CVC in a transaction worth approximately EUR 54m. The company’s general manager, Juan Pascual, will retain the remaining 20% shareholding.
UK - Permira fended off as AGH Venice ups bid for De Vere
AGH Venice, the bidding vehicle formed by Marylebone Warwick Balfour Hotel directors and HBOS's Uberior Ventures has increased its offer for UK hotelier and health club operator De Vere Group.
UK - Barclays Ventures backs MBO of portable accommodation hirers
Barclays Ventures has backed a £11m management buyout of Rollalong Hire from the Newman family. In the year to 31 December 2006 Rollalong Hire is expected to achieve an EBITDA of £2.5m. The deal was entirely funded by Barclays Ventures and having secured...
SWEDEN - ABN AMRO plans buy-and-build strategy as Loparex acquires Douglas-Hanson
ABN AMRO Capital has announced that its portfolio company Loparex will acquire Douglas-Hanson, a leading supplier of film and paper-based release liners.
FRANCE - FPG-LFPI buys Brittany biscuit maker
Lazard's private equity fund managers FPG-LFPI have acquired 100% of Traou Mad.
NORWAY - NORWAY-FSV V acquires 14 unlisted holdings from Aggregate Media I KB & II NORDIC KB
FSV V has acquired a portfolio of 14 unlisted holdings from Aggregate Media I KB & NORDIC KB, in line with its strategy to become leading portfolio acquirer in the Nordic region.
UK - ISIS backs secondary MBO of Enigma Holidays Group
ISIS Equity Partners has backed the secondary management buy-out of Enigma Holidays Group Ltd, which trades as Esprit Ski and Total Ski. Together they are the UK’s leading specialist ski operator, providing both family skiing as well as a range of quality...
UK - Permira to make late entry bid for De Vere Group?
According to the Times today Permira is to make a late entry into the bidding for De Vere Group, the operator of the Village Hotels & Leisure Clubs brand and the Greens health club. The board of the group has already recommended an offer from Richard...