Deals
UK - New Enterprise Associates leads £2m round in advertising company
New Enterprise Associates has led a £2m funding round in mobile advertising company Rapid Mobile Media. Edinburgh-based Rapid Mobile Media was founded in February 2004 and has launched a white-label platform for mobile advertising.
DENMARK - Axcel acquires 60% of Pandora
Axcel has acquired 60% of Pandora, a Danish jewellery manufacturer, from its two founders, Per and Winnie Enevoldsen, their son and a number of senior staff, for an undisclosed value. The current owners will re-invest along with Axcel and hold the remaining...
SWITZERLAND - Riverside acquires EM Test Group
The Riverside Company has acquired EM Test Group for an undisclosed amount. The investment was made from REF III.
NORWAY - Eqvitec backs KSD Software Norway
Eqvitec Technology Fund III has invested in KSD Software Norway AS, an Oslo-based software company.
UK - Balderton invests in online reservations system
London-based online restaurant reservation systems Livebookings has raised £6.5 million in a funding round led by Balderton Capital.
GREECE - Vivartia strengthens its position in the Greek food market
MIG's food and beverage investment arm, Vivartia, is preparing a bid for the Everest group and Olympic catering, both Athens-listed food service companies. The deal will be done through newly created holding company Alkmini Catering. Vivartia owns 51%...
UK - NVM invests £1.5m in Paladin
NVM private equity has provided a further £1.5m to fund Paladin Group's acquisition of Phoenix Precision Electric.
SWEDEN - Altor to purchase Papyrus
Altor has agreed to back the buyout of Swedish paper business Payprus from existing parent Stora Enso. Göteborg-based Papyrus retains its management team and will pursue an acquisitive growth strategy following the deal. Handelsbanken is providing debt...
UK - Cognetas and Englefield acquire Morrison Utility Services
Cognetas and Englefield Capital have jointly acquired Morrison Utility Sevices, part of Anglican Water Group, for £135m in a management buyout.
SPAIN – Corsabe invests in biotech player
Spanish private equity firm Corsabe has participated in a capital expansion round in biotechnology company Oryzon, acquiring a 3.5% stake. Ordesa Laboratories also invested for a 3% stake.
SPAIN- Vista and Carlyle prepare Orizonia IPO
Vista Capital and Carlyle, which own 36% and 55% respectively of online travel agency Orizonia, are preparing the company for a flotation.
UK - Bridges invests in vocational training business
Bridges Ventures has invested in New Career Skills, the firm's first dedicated educational investment.
CEE - Marfin Investment acquires 75% of Sunce for EUR 155m
Marfin Investment Group (MIG) has acquired 75% of Croatian tourism and leisure company Sunce for EUR 155m. Sunce and MIG will develop Stubicke Toplice, a health tourism project and public-private-partnership alongside the County of Krapina and Zagorje,...
UK – ISIS leads £11m BIMBO of Nexus
ISIS Equity Partners has led an £11m buy-in/management buy-out of vehicle rental specialist Nexus Vehicle Management.
GERMANY - Capiton sells Borsig
Capiton AG has sold its stake in Borsig Group to listed Malaysian firm KNM Group for EUR 350m.
FRANCE – AXA et al. finance EUR 10.5m second round in TxCell
Biotechnology company TxCell has received EUR 10.5m in a second round of funding from exisiting shareholders Auriga Partners, AXA Private Equity, Bioam Gestion, CDC Innovation and Seventure
NETHERLANDS - EdRIP leads EUR 23m deal
Edmond De Rotschild Investment Partners has led a EUR 23m series-C financing round for therapeutic antibody company PanGenetics. The round also included contributions from existing investors Index Ventures, Forbion Capital Partners and Credit Agricole...
UK - LDC backs Omega Red
LDC has backed the buyout of lighting protection and electrical earthing systems business Omega Red.
UK - Charterhouse acquires Tunstall for £514m from Bridgepoint
Charterhouse Capital Partners has purchased telecare systems business Tunstall Group from incumbent backer Bridgepoint in a £514m deal.
ITALY – Batra brothers and Barclays acquire sports brand Fila
Indian brothers Rajiv and Rajesh Batra, alongside Barclays Ventures, have acquired sports clothing manufacturer Fila in a deal valued at approximately EUR 100m.
SWEDEN – Moberg Derma attracts SEK 40m in share issue
Swedish pharmaceutical company Moberg Derma has attracted SEK 40m (EUR 4.3m) from the Baltic Sea Foundation and other private investors in a new share issue. The company has now raised SEK 73m (EUR 8m) since its founding in 2006.
ITALY – Private equity interested in fashion house Cavalli
According to reports a number of private equity firms have shown an interest in bidding for prêt-à-porter house Roberto Cavalli.
FRANCE - CM-CIC Capital Privé backs buyout of EPS
CM-CIC Capital Privé has acquired industrial cleaning company EPS. CM-CIC funded the deal through its FIP Select Paris Rhône 5 and FIP Select France 6 funds.
GERMANY - Grainville Baird leads buy-out of Siemens division
A consortium including Granville Baird and T-Mobile Venture Fund have acquired the wireless modules business of Siemens AG for an undisclosed sum. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2008.