Deals
UK - LSP and SR One lead £16m investment in Syntaxin
Life Science Partners (LSP) and SR One, GlaxoSmithKline's independent corporate healthcare fund, have led an investment of £16m in biopharmaceutical company Syntaxin Ltd in a series-B funding round.
UK - Palamon and Electra-backed SAV Credit makes £385m acquisition
Palamon Capital Partners and Electra Private Equity-backed SAV Credit Ltd has acquired HSBC's marbles and Beneficial branded credit card portfolios for £385m. SAV was founded in 2001 as a provider of credit cards to consumers overlooked by mainstream...
FRANCE - Linux data storage specialist receives additional EUR 4.2m
In its second round of funding, Toulouse-born Seanodes has received financial backing from its existing investors Elaia Partners and IRDI, as well as 123Venture and Galia Gestion.
UK - ISIS makes first portfolio acquisition for Paragon
ISIS Equity Partners has completed the acquisition of Raglin Care Ltd on behalf of portfolio company Paragon (UK) Ltd, a provider of supported living services to adults with learning and physical disabilities.
UK - BOSIF sees 2.9x return from Beck & Pollitzer
Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance has realised its investment in Beck & Pollitzer Ltd, achieving an overall equity return of 2.9x times funds invested, equating to a realised equity IRR of 48%.
FRANCE - Cinven looks to cash in French cable
Cinven is said to have mandated Morgan Stanley and Rothschild to sell half of its stake in French cable monopoly Numericable, in a deal which could raise EUR 2bn for the buyout house.
UK - Spark and Acacia lead $16m funding round for Skinkers
SPARK Ventures Plc (formerly NewMedia SPARK) and Acacia Capital Partners have led a $16m second round of funding for Skinkers, an information broadcast technology company.
FRANCE - US private equity firm wins exclusivity for Safran's communications unit
The French defence and electronics group has granted The Gores Group a period of exclusisivity for the acquisition of Sagem Communications, following the receipt of a firm EUR 383m offer.
UK - Key Capital Partners completes first deal
Key Capital Partners has completed its first investment from its maiden fund. KCP invested £4.3m to acquire a significant minority stake in Birmingham-based recruitment company Templine Recruitment Ltd. Yorkshire Bank provided senior debt and working...
ITALY - Giochi Preziosi contemplates exit strategies
Although 3i was said to be preparing the IPO of toy manufacturer Giochi Preziosi for the end of H1 2008, market reports suggest that the buyout house may be looking to divest sooner than planned.
NETHERLANDS - Englefield Capital acquires Mirror Control International
Englefield Capital has acquired Mirror Control International (MCI), the mirror control division of Eaton Automotive. Landsbanki provided Englefield Capital with a financing package worth $122m.
UK - NBGI completes £20m food service buyout
NBGI Private Equity has completed the £20m management buyout of Peter's Food Service Ltd, a manufacturer and food service distributor of chilled savoury pastry products, from its private vendors. The deal represents the group's first from its second...
SWITZERLAND - 3i floats u-blox on Swiss Stock Exchange
3i has floated portfolio company u-blox at an issue price of CHF 51 on the Swiss Stock Exchange. The total value of the offering was approximately CHF135.6m. Based on the issue price u-blox has a market capitalisation of approximately CHF 318.4m.
FRANCE - Iris Capital makes 3.3x from sale of FastBooking to 3i and EdRIP
Iris Capital has made more than 3x its money following its exit from hotel bookings website FastBooking, in a deal valuing the business at EUR 45m.
FRANCE - OFI Private Equity Capital creates Transatlantic industrial sealing business
After backing the secondary buyout of Houston-headquartered Flexitallic from US private equity firm Cravey Green and Whalen, OFI Pivate Equity Capital (OFI PEC), intends to merge the entity with its French protfolio company Siem Supramite.
UK - DFJ portfolio company secures $40m funding round
DFJ Espirit portfolio company diagnostics company Oxford Immunotec has completed the first stage of $40m series-E funding round.
ITALY - Cavalli considers private equity alliance
Roberto Cavalli is said to be considering the possibility of a partnership with a private equity firm.
UK - Bridges boosts Credential with £6m investment
Bridges Ventures has committed £6m to support the growth of tyre reprocessing company Credential Environmental Ltd. Bridges has taken a minority stake in the company. The transaction includes an initial £4m investment, with a further £2m allocated...
UK - LK Bennett next private equity target
Luxury fashion chain LK Bennett is the next retailer likely to be acquired by private equity. The 74-store strong business is wholly owned by its founder and is expected to have a price tag of approximately £150m. Rothschild has been retained to facilitate...
UK - TA Associates backs SBO of M and M from ECI
TA Associates has backed the secondary management buyout of sports mail order company M and M Direct Ltd from ECI Partners. ECI backed the buyout of M and M in 2004 since when sales have grown at 18% per annum to £80m and profits at 28% per annum. Terms...
UK - Nova completes £75m acquisition of international laboratory group
Nova Capital Management has completed the £75m acquisition of international laboratory group Barloworld Scientific Laboratory Group (BSLG) from Barloworld Ltd, a South African-listed industrial company.
ITALY - Finlombarda invests EUR 1m in biotech business
Finlombarda Gestioni has invested EUR 1m in TOP srl, a spinout of the University of Milan.
CEE - KBC Private Equity acquires Polish scooter distributor ZIPP
KBC Private Equity has acquired ZIPP, a Polish scooter distributor, from Kross, a bicycle producer. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition represented KBC's first transaction in Poland.
FRANCE - Initiative & Finance acquires 35% of Challenger
Initiative & Finance has backed the management buyout of Challenger, a company specialising in mentally stimulating toys for young children.