Deals
GERMANY - Bridgepoint acquires Dragenopharm
Bridgepoint has acquired a majority stake in generic drugs contract manufacturer Dragenopharm Apotheker Püschl GmbH for an undisclosed amount.
UK - Blackstone approaches Jupiter Asset Management
It has been reported that Blackstone has approached the management of Jupiter Asset Management about a possible buyout. The fund management group which has assets under management of ТЃ17bn is valued at approximately ТЃ1bn.
UK - Stirling Square Capital Partners acquires Public Safety Equipment
Stirling Square Capital Partners and Diamond Castle Holdings have acquired international highway safety solutions business Public Safety Equipment (PSE) in a deal reported to be worth $400m.
UK - YFM backs management buy-in of Cater Plus Services
YFM has backed the ТЃ4.3m management buy-in of catering services provider Waterfall Services Ltd, which trades as Cater Plus Services. Yorkshire Bank provided a debt package to facilitate the deal.
UK - Advent Venture Partners invests $5m in Fizzback Group
Advent Venture Partners has invested $5m in The FizzbackтЂ Group, an instant customer feedback provider. This round of funding will accelerate Fizzbackтs marketing and product development and enable the company to grow its team to cope with strong demand...
UK - Abderdeen Asset Managers Private Equity backs MBO of EDSR
Aberdeen Asset Managers Private Equity has backed the management buyout of EDSR, a provider of specialist services to the land decontamination sector. EDSR has a turnover of ТЃ12m and employs 30 staff.
DENMARK - EQT acquires Dako in DKK 7.25bn deal
The EQT V fund has agreed to acquire cancer diagnostics company Dako Denmark A/S for an enterprise value of DKK 7,250m. Headquartered in Glostrup, Dako’s current main shareholders include descendants of the company’s founder Niels Harboe, Novo Nordisk...
SPAIN - Nazca to sell its tapas restaurant chain
Spanish press reports suggest that private equity firm Nazca is to sell Lizarran Tapas Selectas, its tapas restaurant business, to sector player Comess Group.
UK - Bowmark's School Travel Group makes fourth acquisition
Bowmark Capital has completed its fourth acquisition in the school travel sector. The School Travel Group (STG), the platform business that Bowmark established in 2004, has acquired Kuoni Travelтs School and Student Tours business.
ITALY - Z-Cube invests in pharma business
As a lead investor, Z-Cube has invested EUR 3.2m in pharma business PharmEste alongside Quantica SGR, Zernike Meta Venture and State Street Global Investment SGR (SSGI).
UK - Dunedin completes two full exits
Dunedin has fully realised its investment in two portfolio companies generating returns of 4.3x from asset-based lender Davenham and 3.6x from business travel group Portman.
UK - Vision Capital acquires six businesses from Bridgepoint
Vision Capital has acquired a portfolio of six businesses from Bridgepoint for an undisclosed sum. The investments include Portman, a UK-business travel agency; Pirtek, a franchisor for hydraulic hose repairs, and Mastock Arable, a UK agricultural, chemical...
UK - TPG circles Apax and Permira-held New Look
New Look, the fashion retailer backed by Apax and Permira, has received offers of interest from other buyout firms including TPG. A formal sales process is yet to begin but it is understood that a secondary buyout is more likely than an IPO.
UK - Investcorp to recoup £150m on 10-year Welcome Break investment
Investcorp is to receive a payout of ТЃ150m from its portfolio company Welcome Break. The realisation follows a ТЃ300m recapitalisation that values the motorway service company at approximately ТЃ500m.
UK - Chrysalis VCT backs Rhino Rugby
Chrysalis VCT has taken a 6.25% stake in Rhino Rugby, the official supplier of training equipment to the English and Welsh Rugby Unions.
UK - 3i turns its attentions to Foxtons
3i is reported to be interested in acquiring estate agency chain Foxtons. Privately-owned Foxtons has appointed Credit Suisse to run a dual-track process to decide the asset's future.
FINLAND - CapMan acquires Walki Wisa from UPM
CapMan has agreed to buy Walki Wisa Group, a producer of wrappings and composite materials, from UPM-Kymmene.
GERMANY - GEP acquires VARTA Microbattery
Global Equity Partners has acquired VARTA Microbattery GmbH from VARTA AG for EUR 30m. Two new managing directors will support the company’s management to further expand and promote its current strength.
UK - ISIS commits £30m to Paragon
ISIS Equity Partners has completed its investment in Paragon (UK) Ltd, a provider of supported living and domiciliary care services. The company currently employs over 230 people and is based in Adlington, Lancashire. Paragon provides tailored packages...
UK - CBPE sells Gradus to BOSIF in £41m secondary buyout
Close Brothers Private Equity has sold contract interior company Gradus Ltd for ТЃ41m. CBPE generated a 3.1x return on its investment and an IRR of 28% on its five year ownership of the company. The business has been acquired by its management team with...
UK - Countrywide speculation continues
It is unclear today whether Apollo will follow up its ТЃ1.01bn indicative offer for estate agency chain Countrywide with a formal bid.
UK - Bank of Scotland invests in Rocela Growth
Bank of Scotland Corporate has invested more than ТЃ1m in Edinburgh-based software consultancy business Rocela through its growth equity division. The new capital will be used to support overseas expansion plans.
BELGIUM - Fortis acquires majority stake in automotive supplier Penne
Fortis Private Equity has acquired a majority stake in Penne NV, an Aalst-headquartered automotive supplier.
SWEDEN - 3i buys educational toys supplier from Procuritas
3i has acquired educational learning material and toys supplier Lekolar AB from Procuritas. Headquartered in Osby, Lekolar includes BRIO Lek&Lär AB, Printel Oy, RABO A/S and BRIO Lek&Laer A/S. The company has 230 staff and generated sales of over SEK...