Deals
DENMARK - Nordic Capital acquires Dangaard Telecom
A subsidiary of Nordic Capital fund VI has signed an agreement to acquire Dangaard Telecom from BHS Holding, debitel, Fleggaard Holding and Dangaard Telecom Partners. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.
UK - Rothschild leads bid for MFI Retail
The Times today reports that Rothschild has joined forces with Merchant Equity Partners to launch a bid for the retail division of MFI. The ailing retail arm of MFI Furniture recorded losses of ТЃ85m in 2005 and it is thought that the vendor will have...
FRANCE - Medica to float on Euronext
Medica, the third largest French retirement homes company has announced it has submitted documentation to AMF (Autorité des Marchés Financiers) in view of its flotation on Euronext Paris.
FRANCE - EUR 10m backing for sports publisher
Iris Capital and London-based Complete Leisure Group are joining previous investors Galiléo Partners and Crédit Agricole Private Equity (CAPE) in a EUR 10m financing of French publisher Sports Medias & Stratégie.
SPAIN - Vista Capital acquires Play by Play for EUR 4.8m
Vista Capital, in a move to expand its toy manufacturer portfolio company Famosa, has purchased 100% of Play by Play from Catalana d’Iniciatives and its other investors for EUR 4.8m.
SPAIN - Savia Coinversión SCR invests in EUR 5m in MSS
The Zaragoza-based private equity firm has announced an investment of EUR 5m in Mobile Security Software (MSS). MSS is working on the development of a high security system for mobile devices that includes coding and uncoding, authentication control and...
UK - Permira and Barclays Capital team up in bid for retirement home builder
McCarthy & Stone, the builder of retirement housing, is the subject of competing bids from two consortiums who both see promising returns from this sector thanks to the ageing population, despite the fact that McCarthy has struggled recently.
UK - Misys the latest take-private target
The Sunday Times and the Financial Times have both reported that the healthcare and financial-services software firm Misys is being circled by private equity firms following its announcement on Friday that it is the subject of a possible management buyout....
UK - Hedge funds competing against private equity for Photo-Me
Photo-Me has received interest from Bain Capital and Warburg Pincus over the last week.
UK - Blackstone and CapVest court Unilever's frozen foods
Unilever is selling off its frozen foods division in an auction which is expected to value the Birds Eye and Findus producer at approximately ТЃ1bn, according to the Times. The auction is being run by Goldman Sachs with Blackstone and CapVest favourites...
UK - Close of Caudwell deal approaches
Caudwell, the phone group which includes the Phones 4 U chain, is now in exclusive negotiations with BAIN Capital and Doughty Hanson according to the Times. John Caudwell is selling the Carphone Warehouse's main rival for a figure thought to be close...
UK - TutorVista secures £1.1m funding from Sequoia Capital
TutorVista, a leading online personal tutoring service, today announced it has secured ТЃ1.1m in series A round funding. The round was led by Sequoia Capital India, who have also funded Google and includes prior angel investors.
FINLAND - Eqvitec sells Saraware
Wipro Technologies has signed an agreement to acquire Eqvitec-backed Saraware Oy in an all cash deal. With a consideration of EUR 25m, the transaction includes upfront cash payment and debt takeover in addition to earn-outs on achieving targeted financial...
SWEDEN - Amadeus and Creandum invest in Edgeware
Edgeware has secured SEK 17m from new investor Amadeus Capital Partners and SEK 11m from existing investor Creandum.
FRANCE - Sagard acquires pharmaceuticals distributor
Sagard has taken a majority stake in Depolabo, the leading French distributor of pharmaceuticals, alongside its management. Previous investor Steinbeck Holding retains a minority stake in the company.
UK - Costcutter backed by Kaupthing
Kaupthing Principal Investments has completed an investment in Costcutter, the convenience food retailer, in a transaction that values the group at approximately ТЃ100m. Kaupthing has taken a 20% stake in Costcutter as a result of the deal.
UK - Blackstone delays IPO of Cineworld
Blackstone is to postpone the floatation of Cineworld due to stock market volatility. It purchased the 820 screen cinema giant from UGC in 2004. The decision to list Cineworld, which was expected to be worth ТЃ400m on the market, was made on 10 May since...
FRANCE - AXA Private Equity and Jaccar invest in ship builder
AXA Private Equity and Jaccar have each taken a 40% stake in Piriou, while the company's management retain the balance.
FRANCE - Stone Point Capital backs AXA RE's spinout
AXA has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to cede AXA RE, its mid-sized reinsurer, to a syndicate of investors led by US private equity firm, Stone Point Capital.
FRANCE - Vulcanic changes hands
AXA Private Equity has sold its interest in Vulcanic Group, a European electrothermics and instrument transformer manufacturer, to 21 Centrale Partners and the company's management for EUR 82.5m
SPAIN - Monitor Capital buys 95% of the restaurant chain Pinocchio
The private equity firm Monitor Capital has acquired 95% of the shares of the Spanish food chain Pinocchio, which operates ten restaurants and pizzerias in Montecarlo, Madrid and Valencia.
UK - Matrix backs Pasta King
Matrix Private Equity Partners has financed the MBO of Pasta King alongside management and HSBC (Exeter) which provided senior debt and a invoice discounting facility.
NETHERLANDS - Halder acquires Hebu in secondary buyout
According to press reports, Halder has acquired a 77,5% stake in hydraulic systems and components business Hebu from Gilde Investment Management and ABN AMRO Capital.
NORWAY - Ferd buys retail chain Nille
Ferd Private Equity Fund II has acquired 70% of the shares in Nille AS and Per Aarskog AS. Mons and Mathias Aarskog will continue to own 30% of the new holding company.