Deals
UK - Zeus completes £50m first investment
Zeus Private Equity has completed the first investment from its maiden fund, investing more than £50m in a new platform company to carry out a buy-and-build strategy within the UK regional hotel sector.
UK - The Capital Fund backs Biocontrol with £500,000
The Capital Fund has invested £250,000 as part of a £500,000 funding round in Biocontrol. Biocontrol's research focuses on developing the clinical use of bacteriophages, that is naturally occuring viruses, which attack and destroy harmful bacteria.
FRANCE - OFI Private Equity buys gadgets and gifts distributor for EUR 24m
OFI Private Equity invested EUR 12m in both equity and mezzanine to support the management buy-in of Soho, a network of retail points selling humouristic gifts and gadgets.
UK - Oxford Capital Partners leads £1.58m investment in Green Biologics
Oxford Capital Partners has led a £1.58m funding round in Green Biologics, a specialist developer of 'next generation' biofuels.
UK - YFM invests in Dynmark
In a second round of funding, the South West Ventures Fund, managed by the YFM Group, has made an undisclosed investment in Dynmark International Ltd, a mobile phone messaging applications developer.
CEE - Oresa Ventures acquires majority stake in Trinity Corporate Services
Oresa Ventures , a Swedish investment company, has acquired a majority stake in Trinity Corporate Services in a leveraged buyout. The investors acquired the shares from a group of private investors which had provided start-up funding to the company.
SPAIN - Corpfin sells its stake in Futura
UK-based fund Hutton Collins and the management team of charter airline Futura have purchased Corpfin Capital's majority stake in the business. It is understood that the company's founder Air Lingus is also selling its shareholding.
ITALY - Private equity courts Wind and 3Italia
Telecom operators Wind and 3Italia are up for sale. The two companies, soon to be merged into a newco, Eiffel Tower Company, have a reported price tag exceedingEUR 2bn.
GERMANY – Alukon changes hands in secondary transaction
Halder has acquired roller shutter and roller door system manufacturer Alukon from AXA Private Equity for an undisclosed sum.
UK - Sovereign completes portfolio acquisition
Sovereign Capital portfolio company Kinetics Group has completed the acquisition of Walmotts Ltd, a gas, oil and electrical installation and maintenance services provider, for an undisclosed sum.
FRANCE - Fungus-based fertilisers business receives extra EUR 2m
Agrauxine, a company which develops agricultural fertilisers based on micro-organisms, has received an additional EUR 2m from its existing investors.
SPAIN - Codere to float on 25 October
Gambling business Codere has received approval for its IPO from regulator CNMV. It is understood that the business will float a 25% stake. The price, to be set on 23 October, is expected to be set at around EUR 21-26 per share, valuing Codere at approximately...
ITALY - Piquadro to float up to 30.4% in IPO
Leather goods manufacturer Piquadro is to sell a stake of up to 30.4% in an IPO on the Milan Stock Exchange. It is understood the transaction will value the business at a maximum price of EUR 115m.
GERMANY – 20/10 Perfect Vision AG receives EUR 13.5m financing
London-based NBGI Ventures has led a EUR 13.5m financing round for laser vision care specialist 20/10 Perfect Vision.
AUSTRIA/GERMANY - Buy_Out Central Europe II creates metals group
Three months after holding its first close, the Buy_Out Central Europe II Beteiligungs-Invest AG has acquired a majority stake in German foundry Buderus Giesserei Wetzlar GmbH and Austrian foundry Tiroler Röhren-und Metallwerke AG.
UK - Close Ventures makes £2.1m investment in Resort Hoppa
Close Ventures has completed an investment of £2.1m into travel company Resorthoppa Group Ltd (formerly Gardenswitch Ltd), a provider of airport transfers for holiday makers. Close Ventures takes a minority stake in the business.
GERMANY – Neuhaus Partners invests in FISHLABS
In a first round of funding, Neuhaus Partners has invested an undisclosed sum in 3D mobile games developer FISHLABS.
UK - Gresham backs £110m+ SBO of Betts
Gresham Private Equity has backed the secondary buyout of toothpaste tube manufacturer Betts Global Ltd from Permira, Royal Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Scotland in a deal with a total funding package in excess of £110m. CIT Capital Finance has arranged...
UK - AAC acquires majority stake in publisher Ocean Media
AAC Capital Partners has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Ocean Media Limited, the magazine publisher and exhibition organiser, from its current management team and institutional backers led by the Dublin-based private equity firm, Ion Equity. Completion...
FRANCE - EdRIP backs MBO of ADF from Gaz de France
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners has backed the management buyout of industrial maintenance business ADF from parent company Gaz de France.
SPAIN - Holmes Place still looking for a buyer
The Iberian business of Holmes Place is yet to find a buyer. Holmes Place-backers Mercapital, N+1/Dinamia and Portuguese fund Explorer had originally looked to sell the business during the summer.
UK - Barclays Private Equity completes £75.5m Hydrasun buyout
Barclays Private Equity has completed the £75.5m management buyout of hose and fitting company Hydrasun Group Ltd. Barclays provided bank debt to support the deal, which represents BPE's second since the onset of the credit squeeze in the summer. It...
GERMANY - DZ Equity Partner invests in CleanCar AG
Frankfurt-based DZ Equity Partner has acquired a minority holding in carwash operator CleanCar AG from founder Dr Peter J Henssen for an undisclosed sum.
ITALY - Clave Mayor acquires specialised shoemaker
Spanish small-cap house Clave Mayor has wholly acquired Italian specialised shoemaker Base Protection. The deal was conducted alongside Base's founder Antonio Diterlizzi and its distributor Fegemu.