Portfolio management
FINLAND - Nexit-backed Limbo to merge with Brightkite
Nexit Venture-backed mobile social networking site Limbo has merged with fellow social networking platform Brightkite. The two communities will operate under the brand name Brightkite.
UK- Dunedin-backed WFEL secures £18m contract with US Dept of Defence
WFEL Limited, the defence engineering group backed by private equity house Dunedin, has secured an ТЃ18m contract with the US Department of Defense to supply it with military bridging systems.
ITALY - PE-backed Weather Investments to restructure debt
It is understood that telecom holding Weather Investments is looking to restructure a tranche of its debt.
UK/US - GTCR- backed Boomerang buys Entertainment Rights
Boomerang Media, a media solutions company backed by chicago-based private equity firm GTCR, has acquired the US and UK operations of Entertainment Rights, the company that owns the licensing rights to children characters such as Postman Pat and George...
GERMANY - Leonardo-backed Rösler miniDaT insolvent
Leonardo Venture portfolio company Rösler miniDaT GmbH, a provider of security systems, has filed a petition with Syke District Court to begin bankruptcy proceedings amidst the imminent insolvency of the company.
NETHERLANDS - KKR-backed NXP in $600m debt swap
Creditors of KKR-backed Dutch semiconductor business NXP have agreed to swap approximately $600m of loan notes for new secured bonds, in a move which sees the company's debt reduced by around $465m.
ITALY - Permira-backed SEAT PG to raise EUR 200m
Listed publishing firm SEAT Pagine Gialle, which is backed by a private equity consortium comprising BC Partners, Permira, CVC Capital Partners and Investitori Associati, has launched a rights issue to raise EUR 200m.
FRANCE - PAI-backed Yoplait buys Dairy Crest's share of venture
PAI partners portfolio company Yoplait has acquired Dairy Crest's 49% stake in their joint venture Yoplait Dairy Crest for £63.5m.
ITALY - DGPA-backed Mida acquires MCG Grafica in EUR 2.8m deal
DGPA-backed Mida, a producer of adhesive labels used in the pharmaceutical and related sectors, has acquired MCG Grafica, a manufacturer of labelling sleeves, in a deal valued at just under EUR 3m.
AUSTRIA/NORWAY - GCP-backed Identec acquires TunnelCom
Gamma Capital Partners-backed Identec Solutions AG, an Austria-based supplier of industrial tracking and tracing solutions, has acquired Norway-based TunnelCom, a provider of automatic tagging solutions for the tunnel, mining, oil and gas industries....
AUSTRIA - ValueNet-backed Rohe insolvent
According to reports, ValueNet Capital Partners' portfolio company gas station Rohe Group has filed for insolvency.
SWEDEN - Index- and Sequoia-backed Stardoll merges with Piczo
Online entertainment site Stardoll, which is backed by amoung others Index Ventures and Sequoia Capital, has merged with Piczo, a website dedicated to custom web publishing for teenagers.
SWEDEN - HitecVision-backed Leirvik MT acquires competitor
HitecVision portfolio company Leirvik Module Technology, a supplier of prefabricated living quarters to offshore oil platforms, has acquired certain key assets of Emtunga Offshore, which went into insolvency in December last year.
SWEDEN - Nordic Capital-backed Plastal files for bankruptcy
Nordic Capital-owned Plastal Holding AB, a supplier of parts to the European automotive industry, has declared insolvency and filed for bankruptcy.
NORWAY - Herkules-backed NIG goes into administration
Herkules-owned home retailer Nordic Interior Group (NIG) has gone into administration. NIG consisted of three separate business units: TilBords, which was taken over by Herkules Private Equity Fund II last week prior to NIG's liquidation; Festival Engros,...
UK - VC-backed businesses face funding shortfall
A new survey, conducted by Populus on behalf of the BVCA, has found that the majority of UK-based venture capitalists expect deal activity to decline in 2009, with more than half of those surveyed anticipating a significant slide against 2008.
UK - 3i-backed Civica makes two acquisitions
3i-owned software solutions provider Civica, through its subsidiary Civica Pty Ltd, has acquired Queensland-based Practical Computer Services Pty Ltd and the local government business of electionz.com, based in New Zealand.
NETHERLANDS - Mountain Partners-backed Bluehill acquires Yoonison
Business angel network Mountain Partners-backed Bluehill ID has acquired Yoonison BV.
UK - Eurotel makes acquisition
Inflexion Private Equity-backed Eurotel, a provider of telephony services to SMEs, has acquired the SME customer base from its broadband supplier Griffin.
GERMANY - Private equity-backed Märklin files for insolvency
Kingsbridge and Goldman Sachs-backed toys company Märklin has filed for insolvency.
NETHERLANDS - 3i-backed VNU risks creditor take over
It is understood that 3i Group Plc is facing a possible creditor takeover at VNU Business Media Europe, the b2b publisher it acquired at the height of the buyout boom.
FRANCE - Platina purchases Compobaie assets
Platina Partners has acquired the assets of Compobaie, a producer of pre-fabricated window units for residential housing, from the French courts, forming Compobaie Solutions SAS.
UK - BPE-backed Hydrasun acquires ATR
Barclays Private Equity has backed portfolio company Hudrasun, an oil and gas firm, in the acquisition of the hydraulics business of ATR, an oil and gas tool rental company.
NORWAY - Ratos-backed Arcus acquires four spirits brands
Arcus, a Norwegian wine and spirits supplier backed by Ratos, has acquired Grönstedts Cognac, Star Gin, Red Port and Dry Anis from Pernod Ricard.