Deals
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 £41m. 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 £1.01bn 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 £1m 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...
UK - General Atlantic Partners to float Xchanging
General Atlantic Partners is considering an IPO of outsourcing and processing portfolio company Xchanging. The asset could fetch up to £500m on the London Stock Exchange, with General Atlantic expected to continue to hold a stake in it.
FRANCE - Rexel begins IPO process
Private equity-backed electrical equipment manufacturer Rexel yesterday applied for listing with the Authorité de Marchés Financiers, just over two years after it was de-listed by Eurazeo.
UK - Further speculation surrounds EMI
EMI is again the subject of private equity speculation. It is understood that One Equity Partners is looking at the company.
UK - GMG'sTrader Media Group to be sold to private equity?
Guardian Media Group is reported to be in discussions with Apax, Blackstone and Candover about a possible sale of its Trader Media Group. Trader is responsible for listings magazine Auto Trader and approximately 70 titles in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands...
UK - Bridges Community Ventures makes third successful exit
Bridges Community Ventures has sold its stake in vehicle spare parts distributor HS Atec Ltd back to management. The exit has generated returns of over 2x and an IRR of 28.7% and represents a third successful exit for the community development-focused...
GERMANY - EQT acquires German fashion group from Apax and Cinven
EQT V has agreed to buy 100% of German fashion group CBR Holding GmbH (CBR) from Apax and Cinven.
UK - Gaitsford Investments backs MBO of Arena from Candover's Evenser
Gaitsford Investments has backed the management buyout of Arena Events Services Group Ltd. The company has been divested by Evenser Group Ltd, a company backed by Candover.
GERMANY - APCOA changes hands for EUR 885m
Investcorp has sold pan-European manager of parking services APCOA to Eurazeo for an enterprise value of EUR 885m. In the summer of 2004, Investcorp acquired 98.26% of APCOA Parking AG from Salamander AG, a subsidiary of EnBW Energie Baden Württemberg...
SPAIN - MCH, Corpfin and Carlyle compete for tour operator
According to press reports, private equity firms MCH, Corpfin and Carlyle are among the bidders for tour operator Catai Tours.
SWEDEN - EQT rumoured to buy Scandic Hotels
EQT is believed to announce in the near future that it will acquire Scandic Hotels from Hilton, according to Swedish press reports.
UK - 3i-backed NCP to be subject of £800m tertiary buyout
3i is reported to be in discussions with Macquarie over a possible sale of NCP, the UK car park operator. The deal could fetch up to £800m generating impressive returns for 3i, which acquired NCP from Cinven for £555m in mid-2005. Macquarie had bid...
UK - Apollo launches £1bn formal bid for Countrywide
Apollo Management has launched a £1bn takeover of the UK's largest estate agency chain Countrywide. The offer excedes the £971m bid by 3i earlier this year which was rejected by shareholders after being recommended by the company's board.
DENMARK - Nordic Capital sells Dangaard to Brightpoint
Nordic Capital has agreed to sell wireless handset distributor Dangaard Telecom A/S to Nasdaq-listed Brightpoint Inc.
FRANCE - Neuf Cegetal buys venture-backed Erenis
French telecom business Neuf Cegetal announced today it had agreed to acquire Erenis, a telephony and internet services provider backed by Iris Capital, AGF Private Equity, Credit Agricole Private Equity, Net Partner and CDC.
UK - Atlantic Bridge Ventures leads £265m acquisition of telecom products business
Atlantic Bridge Ventures has led a consortium of private equity buyers in the acquisition of LogicaCMG's Telecoms Products business for a cash consideration of £265m. Telecom Products, to be renamed Acision, is a provider of converged mobile messaging...
SPAIN - Another transport player for Doughty Hanson's fleet
After closing its first deal in Spain by acquiring transport group Avanza, Doughty Hanson is said to be considering a bid for another transport company.
ITALY - Bridgepoint to bid for World Superbikes' organiser
Press reports suggest that Italian FG Group, the company holding the rights to motorcycle championship World Superbikes, is up for sale for around EUR 70m.