Deals
SPAIN - Next acquires 50% stake in Dileoffice
According to reports, Next, the private equity arm of the Alicante region, has acquired a 50% stake in office furniture manufacturer and distributor Dileoffice, via a EUR 3.4m capital increase. The balance is retained by the company's founders.
ITALY - PAI drops out of Safilo process
It is understood that PAI Partners has withdrawn its offer to acquire a stake in eyewear manufacturer Safilo.
GERMANY - HeidelbergCapital acquires majority in Accovion
HeidelbergCapital-backed business service provider Accovion GmbH has completed a restructuring that has seen the private equity investor increase its stake to a majority interest.
FRANCE - Barclays PE et al. back FPEE buyout
Barclays Private Equity and Pragma Capital have completed a secondary management buyout of building materials company FPEE Group. Previous backers AtriA Capital Partenaires and Euromezzanine have also re-invested in the new structure.
GERMANY - SC invests in Ladon
SC-Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaft, through Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen, has invested an undisclosed sum into lighting company Ladon GmbH.
FRANCE - AXA PE increases stake in Planisware
AXA Private Equity has increased its equity stake in Planisware, a software company, to just over 30%. The transaction saw LB3A exit its shareholding in the company.
UK - Catapult et al. invest £1m into Probe Scientific
Catapult Venture Managers has led a £1m funding round into medical device company Probe Scientific, alongside NESTA, existing shareholders and directors.
FRANCE - N.I Partners-backed CBM employees go on strike
Employees at NI Partners-backed CBM (Car and Bus Maintenance) have gone on strike demanding the reinstatement of Alain Fauconnet, the company manager recently dismissed by the private equity investor.
UK - LDC-backed British Salt sells gas facility to EDF
LDC-backed salt producer British Salt is reportedly to announce the sale of its gas storage facility to EDF Energy, for a price thought to be in the region of £90m.
SLOVENIA - Mid Europa completes UPC acquisition
Mid Europa Partners has completed the acquisition of 100% of Slovenian cable and broadband operator UPC Slovenia from Liberty Global Inc, first reported in unquote" in May.
FRANCE - Turenne and IDF purchase minority stake in Socio
Turenne Capital and IDF Capital have purchased a 30% stake in e-marketing company Socio as part of an OBO deal. The deal was financed with a debt package provided by Crédit du Nord and la Caisse d'Épargne.
FRANCE - Initiative & Finance backs Sogelink buyout
Initiative & Finance has backed the minority owner-buyout of internet company Sogelink, alongside the two founders Ignace Vantorre and Matthieu Ponson. LCL and Banque Populaire Loire et Lyonnais provided a debt package to support the transaction.
UK - NSEI invests £60,000 into Durham Mag-Lev
NorthStar Equity Investors, via its North East Proof of Concept Fund, has invested £60,000 into technology company Durham Mag-Lev.
FRANCE - Eco-Mobilite Partners invest EUR 1.6m in Lumeneo
Eco-Mobilite Partners, the venture subsidiary of the SNCF, alongside Objectif Gazelle 2 and a number business angels from the XMP-BA group, has led an investment into electric car developer Lumeneo worth EUR 1.6m.
UK - Valco to acquire Risk Capital-backed Borders UK
Borders, the ailing bookstore backed by Risk Capital Partners, is in talks with Valco Capital Partners, the private equity arm of restructuring specialist Hilco, over the sale of its UK business.
FRANCE - AGF PE and Innovacom sell Steek in EUR 27.5m deal
AGF Private Equity and Innovacom have wholly exited their respective stakes in Steek, a software provider, in a trade sale to F-Secure Corporation worth EUR 27.5m.
UK - Succes Europe et al. invest £3m into Helveta
French technology investor Succes Europe has led a £3m second funding round for timber track and trace technology provider Helveta Ltd, alongside existing investors Albion Ventures and Oxford Capital Partners.
UK/DENMARK - Index leads £10.5m Just-Eat funding
Index Ventures, alongside Venrex Investment Management and existing shareholders, has led a series-A funding round for online meal order business, Just-Eat, raising £10.5m.
UK - MMC Ventures invests £1.1m into E-Stack
MMC Ventures has invested £1.1m into cleantech company E-stack.
ITALY - Foresight signs project financing for 6MW Puglia solar project
Foresight Group has signed a €25m project financing with West LB and Barclays as mandated lead arranger for the financing of a 6MW solar PV project to be constructed in the Puglia region of Italy.
UK - Electra-backed Vasanta to secure new PE backing
Electra Partners-backed Vasanta Group, one of Britain's largest provider of office supplies, has reportedly said it is close to securing new private equity backing, which could save the company from administration.
GERMANY - Silverfleet in talks to acquire Kalle Nalo
It is understood that mid-market investor Silverfleet Capital is in exclusive negotiations with Montagu Private Equity to acquire charcuterie casing business Kalle Nalo, with the price tag thought to be around EUR 250m.