Buyouts
UK - Phoenix bags Radley
Radley, the UK’s biggest-selling handbag brand, has sold a majority shareholding to Phoenix Equity Partners in a £45m deal.
ITALY - BS buys Arena from Investitori
BS Private Equity has taken over 100% of the Arena Group from Investitori Associati, worldwide leading company in the sports/waterwear category.
UK - Investcorp Technology Ventures acquires Conduit for EUR 90m
Conduit Ltd, one of Europe’s leading directory assistance businesses, has signed a definitive agreement with an entity controlled by Investcorp Technology Ventures to acquire the company for EUR 90m. InfoNXX, Inc., the largest independent directory...
FRANCE - Electra sells electronic security group to Honeywell
Electra Partners Europe has today announced the sale of Gardiner Europe’s largest independent distributor of electronic security equipment, to Honeywell. Gardiner is headquartered in France and has operations in ten European countries: the UK and Ireland...
FRANCE - PPM buys jewellers from Apax
PPM Capital, a mid-market private equity specialist, has reached an agreement in principle to acquire Histoire d'Or, a leading French jewellery distributor, from a group of investors led by Apax Partners for a consideration of EUR 230m. The transaction...
GERMANY - BSN Medical buyout approved by EU
The sale of BSN medical GmbH & Co. KG, based in Hamburg by Beiersdorf AG and Smith & Nephew Plc to Montagu Private Equity has been completed after the approval of the EU commission. In December 2005, Montagu signed a contract subject to merger clearance...
SPAIN - Talde and Highgrowth take majority stake in Teytel Group
The venture capital groups Talde and Highgrowth Partners have together acquired a majority stake in Teytel group, a producer of infrastructure solutions in the telecommunications sector. The total value of the investment has not been disclosed.
FRANCE - Heinz sells seafood business to Lehman Brothers
Heinz has signed a definitive agreement to sell its European Seafood business to Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking for EUR 425m. The transaction is subject to customary EU competition review and approval. Pending regulatory approval, Heinz expects to complete...
UK - No mystery behind Chorion buyout
According to press reports, 3i has offered 425p per share to acquire Chorion, the owner of the rights of authors including Agatha Christie and Enid Blyton, in a deal valued at £110.7m, excluding around £20m of debt. The price is a 23.2% premium to the...
GERMANY - All change at top fashion house
Change Capital Partners, the private equity firm specialising in branded goods and retail, and the Prada Group have announced that Change Capital Partners is to acquire the Jil Sander Group.
THE NETHERLANDS - PE eyes on Stork
PE firms are reportedly looking at delisting Netherlands-based conglomerate Stork. Press reports suggest KKR, Blackstone, Carlyle and CVC Capital Partners are looking at potentially buying the firm, which has a market cap of EUR 1.6bn.
UK - LDC tops up its tan
LDC is about to announce the acquisition of St Tropez, the tanning specialist, according to press reports. The firm reportedly beat rival bidders including Phoenix Equity Partners and is expected to sign the deal in the next ten days.
FRANCE - PE houses dig for French gold
CDC Entreprises has just acquired France’s largest chain of jewellers Marc Orian for an estimated EUR 140m, according to press reports. The Paris-based newco, Financière M.O, was taken private by Crédit Lyonnais Asset Management, now Crédit Agricole...
LITHUANIA - MartinsonTrigon acquires 100% of shares in MicroLink Lietuva
AS Martinson Trigon, a Tallinn-based investment fund, has acquired 100% of MicroLink Lietuva and IT training company Baltijos Kompiuteriu Akademija (BKA) from Lietuvos Telekomas.
FRANCE - European Capital buys motorcycle specialist
European Capital has today announced the completion of its one stop buyout of Action Sport Holding, a leading distributor of motorcycle and bicycle gear and accessories in France. The group’s investment takes the form of senior term loans, mezzanine...
POLAND - Mid Europa acquires Wheelabrator Group
Mid Europa Partners, the largest private equity firm focused on Central and Eastern Europe, announces today its acquisition of Wheelabrator Group, the world’s leading surface preparation and finishing equipment specialist. Mid Europa has completed the...
UK - Goulds Tissues says bless you!
GE Commercial Finance’s Business Finance unit has announced it has helped rescue Goulds Tissues from administration by providing a financing package, saving 120 jobs.
GERMANY - NORD Holding buys wire mesh specialist
In a management buyout involving the management of the company and the Bavarian Beteiligungsgesellschaft, NORD Holding Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft has acquired Rhodius GmbH domiciled in Weissenburg (Bavaria), Laage (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania)...
SWEDEN - Accent Equity acquires interpreting and translation group
Accent Equity has acquired 100 % of the shares in a Swedish language group owned by Lantz International.
SPAIN - Catalana d'Iniciatives acquires Cadena Q
Catalana d’Iniciatives has led the EUR 20m MBI of the clothing retail chain Cadena Q. Other investors include the private equity fund EBN Vaccaria FCR, the founding family of Cadena Q and two external executives. Catalana and EBN invested EUR 10m and...
SWEDEN - Altor invests in Nimbus Boats
Altor Equity Partners has acquired a 60% shareholding in Nimbus Boats through the Altor 2003 fund. The value of the deal has not been disclosed and the former owners will keep the remaining 40%.
GERMANY - Halder exits Konrad Hornschuh AG
Halder has sold its stake in Konrad Hornschuch AG, which it acquired in 2001, to DZ Equity Partner GmbH, Frankfurt, and L-EA Private Equity GmbH, Karlsruhe, via a secondary buyout. The management of Hornschuch will increase its shareholding as a result...
UK - Owner Venture Managers backs IT MBI
Owner Venture Managers has originated and backed the MBI of Elcon Information Technology Ltd. The value of the deal is undisclosed.
NORWAY - Arcapita buys Roxar for around EUR 168m
Arcapita Limited and its affiliates have together with existing management completed the acquisition of a 100% interest in Roxar AS.