Venture
France's FSN PME fund capacity axed by quarter
France's state-backed venture fund FSN PME will manage €300m overall, down from the €400m mentioned at the vehicle's launch in 2011.
Axa launches €10m seed fund
French insurer Axa has launched a seed fund, Axa Seed Factory, with a €10m commitment to invest in French start-ups.
AFM-Téléthon and FNA launch biotherapy-focused fund
Charity AFM-Téléthon and French state-backed fund-of-funds Fonds National d'Amorçage (FNA) have committed €50m to a new seed fund dedicated to biotherapy and rare diseases research.
Top Technology Ventures launches £30m vehicle
Top Technology Ventures, the venture capital arm of intellectual property firm IP Group, has launched a ТЃ30m venture fund.
Monetising life sciences deals
Life sciences
Vertis to launch €60m fund
Italian venture capital firm Vertis is to launch a new fund in June 2013.
Merck increases MS Ventures commitment
Merck Group has topped up its strategic venture capital fund MS Ventures with an additional €60m commitment and created an investment affiliate to specifically manage the vehicle.
Swedish venture faces critical funding gap
When it comes to venture capital, opportunities abound in Sweden. Yet, despite the success stories, a critical funding gap threatens the future of the industry. Amy King reports
Balderton on the road for fifth fund
Venture firm Balderton Capital has started marketing its new vehicle, according to documents filed with the US's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Creandum closes Fund III on €135m
Nordic-focused technology VC Creandum has hit тЌ135m for its third fund.
Isai holds second closing on €40m and makes new hire
French VC Isai has held a second closing of its latest growth capital fund Isai Expansion on more than €40m.
Innogest holds first close and strengthens team
Italian VC Innogest has held a first close for its second fund at around €50m and added two new members to its team.
Lanxess joins HTGF II investors
German chemicals company Lanxess has invested a low seven-figure sum in venture investor High-Tech Gründerfonds' second fund, raising the vehicle's total commitments to €301.5m.
Accel raises $475m for Europe and Israel venture fund
Accel Partners has held a first and final close for its Accel London IV venture vehicle on $475m, after only eight weeks on the road.
Pantheon extends pension fund deal to Europe
Pantheon has received an allocation of capital for private equity investment, managed on behalf of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF).
Alven Capital raises €120m for fourth venture fund
French venture firm Alven Capital is set to close its latest fund on its €120m hard-cap after nine months on the road.
New Italian VC launches with Fondo Italiano backing
Fondo Italiano di Investimento has committed capital to United Ventures, a newly-formed venture capital firm based in Italy.
VNT Management's Power Fund III holds final close
VNT Management Oy has held a final close for its Power Fund III on тЌ77m.
French retail fundraising down for fourth year in row
France's FCPI and FIP retail vehicles – used extensively by the country's venture and growth capital players – raised €646m last year, down 12% from 2011 figures.
Point Nine closes second fund
Berlin-based Point Nine Capital has closed its second early-stage venture fund, Point Nine Capital II, on €40m.
XAnge's XPansion 2 reaches €32m first close
XAnge Private Equity has held a first close for its latest growth capital vehicle, XPansion 2, on €32m.
Octopus looking to raise £70m over four VCTs
Octopus Investments has announced plans to raise ТЃ70m over four VCTs, targeting UK SMEs.
Ingenious raising two new VCTs
Ingenious Media, a UK-based venture capital and private equity firm that specialises in the media and entertainment sector, has announced plans to raise two new funds to invest in live events.
Nokia launches $250m fund
Corporate venture firm Nokia Growth Partners (NGP) has launched its third fund with a $250m commitment from parent company Nokia.