Deals
UK - Private equity gears up for Ford's UK assets
One Equity Partners, Ripplewood Holdings and Cerberus Capital Management are amongst the private equity groups gearing up to make bids for Ford's UK assets. Ford is selling off Jaguar and Land Rover to slash its debts. Trade interest in the deal is limited...
UK - Endless acquires Homebuy in £22m buyout
Endless has acquired electrical and household goods supplier Homebuy in a £22m management buyout. Homebuy had a market capitalisation on AIM of £100m before entering administration in September 2006. Endless's investment alongside debt provided by Landsbanki...
FRANCE - Advent International backs LBO of Sophis
Advent has acquired a majority stake in Sophis, a provider of cross-asset, front-to-back portfolio and risk management solutions.
UK - IQ Capital leads series-D funding round in OnRelay
IQ Capital has lead a Series-D funding round in OnRelay Inc. OnRelay is a London-based pioneer in fixed mobile integration with a patented market leading solution for mobilising corporate phone systems. IQ Capital invested alongside Richard Cunningham,...
UK - Alchemy acquires holiday park operator from Phoenix for £83m
Alchemy has acquired South West holiday park operator Weststar Holdings Ltd from Phoenix Equity Partners in an £83m transaction. Alchemy completed the deal through its portfolio company ParkDean. ParkDean was delisted by Alchemy in a £230m deal in May...
NORWAY - TH!NK attracts $60m investment
TH!NK Global, a Norwegian producer of environmently friendly cars, has completed a private placement of $60m from several investors including, DFJ Element and RockPort Capital Partners. Other private high-net worth Norwegian investors including Petter...
UK - The Capital Fund leads £700,000 investment in online tool
The Capital Fund has led a £700,000 investment in CInergy International, an online tool which acts as a customer acquisition and retention specialist. The Capital Fund committed £250,000 alongside £472,000 from business angels.
SWEDEN - Industrifonden participates in SEK 20m round in Osteria Sverige
Industrifonden has invested SEK 6m in a SEK 20m round in Osteria Sverige, a company that is in the process of starting to produce and sell oysters.
UK - Path clear for Terra Firma's EMI bid
Terra Firma's bid for EMI will not be facing competition from Warner Music. The rival music group has decided to drop its seven year pursuit of EMI.
FRANCE - Crédit Agricole Private Equity invests EUR 6.6m in Legoupil buyout
Crédit Agricole Private Equity has led the buyout of modular construction specialist Legoupil Industries.
GERMANY - bm-t invests in Lalisio GmbH
bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen gmbh has acquired a 25% stake in German online network Lalisio GmbH. The invested amount has not been disclosed. bm-t has supported the growth of the company since 2006.
CEE - 3TS invests in Romanian Romprest Services
3TS has acquired a 30% stake in Romprest Services SA, the Romanian cleaning and facilities management group. The investment was made from the 3TS Central European Fund II in which 3i is the sole investor.
UK - Endless backs buyout of DavyMarkham
Endless has backed the management buyout of heavy engineering business DavyMarkham Ltd. The investment will underpin the company's turnaround and enable DavyMarkham to re-establish itself as a world-leading brand in the heavy engineering market.
SPAIN - Magnum eyes construction business
Newly-established private equity house Magnum Industrial Partners is said to be nearing the final stages of the acquisition of civil construction business Eptisa. News reports suggest that the firm, currently fundraising for its EUR 800m fund, has the...
UK - Hellman and Friedman to float Gartmore for £1.5bn
It is reported that Hellman and Friedman is to float fund management company Gartmore. The US private equity group acquired Gartmore in a £550m buyout in June 2006 from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. According to sources, it is now seeking an IPO...
UK - Close Ventures leads £4.36m funding into Oxsensis
Close Ventures has led a £4.36m round of funding for Oxsensis, an industrial technology firm. Foursome Investments and existing investors also committed to the funding round. Oxsensis develops fibre-optic instrumentation for precision controls in harsh...
UK - LDC backs MBO of Kimberly Access
LDC has funded the management buyout of Kimberly Access Ltd, a business which rents powered access equipment. The deal represents an exit for the founder of the company. Royal Bank of Scotland provided debt to support the deal.
UK - ETF leads £13m investment in Metalysis
Environmental Technologies Fund (ETF) has led a £13m funding round for Metalysis, a technology business for the specialty metals industry. 3i, QinetiQ, Seven Spires, Chord Capital and Cambridge Capital Group also participated in the round. The investment...
UK - Bridgepoint floats Norcros valuing it at £116m
Bridgepoint has floated portfolio company Norcros on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. The 78p per share listing price represents a market capitalisation of £116m. Bridgepoint has seen returns of 2x its original investment and retains a 6%...
UK - NVM acquires Astbury Marsden in £17.5m deal
NVM Private Equity Ltd (NVM) has acquired Astbury Marsden, a specialist provider of recruitment services to the banking sector in the City of London, in a £17.5m deal. NVM invested £5.6m to facilitate the management buyout alongside debt provided by...
SPAIN - Ibersuizas receives attractive offer for Alcasa
Private equity firm Ibersuizas is said to have received an attractive offer for its stake in Aluminio Catalán SA (Alcasa) from industrial player Abengoa. Rumour has it that the auction process, led by corporate finance boutique Atlas Capital, also involves...
FRANCE - Aurel Nextstage invests in Colorado
CRM and call centre specialist Colorado Conseil & Formation has received EUR 2.5m from French venture and growth capital firm Aurel Nextstage.
UK - Montagu acquires ghd brand from LDC
Montagu Private Equity has backed the £160m management buyout of the Jemella Group, the owner of the ghd hair straightening brand. The deal represents an exit for previous backers LDC who acquired the business in July 2006 for an undisclosed sum. Montagu...
SWEDEN - Proventus invests SEK 70m to save J.Lindeberg
Proventus has agreed to invest SEK 70m in fashion company J.Lindeberg. The deal gives Proventus a 35% stake in the business which has recently experienced difficulties between founder Johan Lindeberg and the current owners. Following the new investment,...