Deals
FRANCE - AGF Private Equity leads EUR 6m funding in online brands retailer
AGF Private Equity (EUR 5m) and business angels (EUR 1m) have backed 24h00, an online retailer of branded clothing.
UK - Catapult Growth Fund leads investment in Oxford Genome Sciences
Catapult Growth Fund, a newly launched £30m ECF run by Catapult Venture Managers has led an investment in Oxford Genome Sciences Ltd (OGeS). Existing investors South East Growth Fund and Oxford Capital Partners also participated in the funding round...
DENMARK - Langholm Capital invests in Cane-Line and Sika-Horsnaes
Langholm Capital has invested in Cane-Line and Skia-Horsnaes, two Danish furniture specialists focusing on woven indoor and outdoor furniture. The investor retains a minority stake in both companies following the deal.
GREECE - Apax and TPG sell TIM Hellas to Naguib Sawiris
Apax Partners and Texas Pacific Group (TPG) today announced the sale of TIM Hellas Telecommunications S.A. the third largest mobile phone carrier in Greece, to Weather Investments, the vehicle owned by telecom tycoon Naguid Sawiris.
FRANCE - Financière Agache wins Go Voyages auction for EUR 281m
Bernard Arnault's holding company, Financière Agache has won the auction for the acquisition of travel agent Go Voyages. The deal values the business at EUR 281m, representing a capital gain of EUR 200m for its vendor, Accor.
UK - Midven invests £250,000 in software company Gemba Solutions
Midven has invested £250,000 in Gemba Solutions Ltd, a provider of real time performance management software. The investment from its £20m Advantage Growth Fund gives Midven a minority holding in the company.
UK - TDR Capital to delist portable accommodation company
TDR Capital's offer for portable accommodation company Wraith Plc has been declared unconditional. The offer of 105p per share gives Lincolnshire-based Wraith a market capitalisation of £30.29m.
NORWAY - Northzone, Verdane and Ferd Venture invest EUR 10m in Colibria
Norwegian Colibria, a provider of new generation mobile instant messaging (MIM) services, has raised EUR 10m from current lead investors Northzone Ventures, Verdane Capital and Ferd Venture.
UK - Amadeus leads $10m funding round for Belfast-based Aepona
Existing investors Amadeus Capital Partners, Polaris Ventures and Trinity Venture Capital have participated in a $10m series-C funding round for Belfast-based Aepona. The new funding follows previous rounds in 2003 and 2005, bringing total investment...
GERMANY - Rademacher Group changes hands in secondary transaction
In a secondary buyout, NORD Holding Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft has acquired the Rademacher Group from ARCADIA. Management also invested and will hold a minority stake. The transaction value has not been disclosed.
UK - Bank of Scotland housebuilding portfolio company in talks with trade buyer
Bank of Scotland housebuilding portfolio company Linden Holdings is in exclusive talks with listed housebuilding and construction company Galliford Try to be acquired. A possible deal would represent an exit for Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance which...
GERMANY - DZ Equity Partners buys Bader Group
DZ Equity Partner GmbH and company management have acquired the Senden-based Bader Group. The transaction was supported by a senior debt package provided by IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG.
POLAND - FL Group sells Kentpol
FL Group, the private equity arm of Icelandic bank, has fully exited its investment in Polish soft drinks and mineral water company Kentpol to Refresco Holding for an undisclosed sum. Following the transaction, Kentpol will continue to produce under its...
UK - The Carlyle Group acquires The Mill from 3i
The Carlye Group has acquired advertising visual effects group The Mill in a secondary management buyout from 3i for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition was made through Carlyle's technology fund, Carlyle Europe Technology Partners. Founded in 1990, The...
UK - TowerBrook leads tertiary £185m MBO of Jimmy Choo
TowerBrook Capital Partners has acquired luxury shoe company Jimmy Choo from Lion Capital in a £185m management buyout deal. Galas Capital, founder and president of Jimmy Choo, Tamara Mellon, along with CEO Robert Bensoussan and the rest of the company's...
GERMANY - Venture capitalists exit Xignal Technologies
Benchmark Capital Europe, Atila Ventures, BayTech Venture Capital and STAR Ventures have exited their stakes in German data converter developer Xignal Technologies via a sale to US-based National Semiconductor Corporation. The venture capitalists had...
UK - Enterprise Equity has acquires Northern Irish bus company
Enterprise Equity, a private equity house with offices in both Northern Ireland and Eire, has acquired Chambers Coach Hire in a deal of undisclosed value. Chambers hires out coaches, mini-buses and limousines.
UK - Countrywide a target again as Apollo circles
Market sources suggest that Apollo is preparing to launch a bid for Countrywide. The UK estate agency chain was recently the subject of a 3i take-private bid which lost its footing after shareholders, including a number of hedge funds, believed 3i's offer...
UK - Sainsbury's would be Europe's biggest deal
Speculation about private equity's first foray into the FTSE 100 via a possible take-over of supermarket giant Sainsbury's has intensified over the weekend. CVC, Blackstone and KKR revealed they were considering a bid for the company after the founding...
FRANCE - TCR Capital backs secondary buyout of Locatel
Via its fund TCR Capital Partners III, the private equity firm has backed the secondary buyout of hotel and hospital multimedia services provider Locatel.
FRANCE - Auriga leads EUR 8.4m second round for Theraptosis
Auriga Partners, Seventure, Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners, CDC Entreprises and industrial company Blue Medical have committed over EUR 8m in the series-B financing of pharma company Theraptosis.
SPAIN - Benchmark Capital Europe backs Internet business
Alongside telecom player Swisscom, private equity firm Benchmark Capital Europe is backing Whisher, a Spanish company launching the first social network powered by a Wi-Fi network.
SPAIN - Vista Capital leads competition for pharma business
Reports in the Spanish press suggest that Vista Capital is the most likely buyer of pharmaceutical business Laboratorios Indas. The deal is valued at around EUR 360m.
UK - Bridgepoint- and LDC-backed Adams to avoid administration
Bridgepoint- and LDC-backed UK retailer Adams may have attracted a suitor that would save the retailer from administration, although the buyout houses are unlikely to generate any positive returns as a result.