Benelux
Houlihan Lokey to buy GCA
GCA Altium and GCA’s US business will operate under the Houlihan Lokey brand
PAI explores Refresco exit
Paris-based private equity firm is exploring options around a dual-track process
Three Hills sells ACT stake to Bridgepoint in USD 1bn deal
GP invested EUR 60m for a minority stake in the environmental commodities trading platform in 2018
Bregal Milestone to launch second fund
European growth technology investor held a final close for its debut vehicle in 2018 on EUR 400m
Belgian unicorn Odoo raises USD 215m from Summit
Sofinnova Partners sells shares, with the latest valuation being a 149x jump on its 2010 investment
Allego to go public via merger with Apollo-sponsored Spac
Transaction values Allego at a pro forma equity value of USD 3.14bn, including a USD 150m PIPE
Mega-rounds fuel record H1 for venture and growth
Largest rounds inked in the first six months of 2021 read like a veritable Who's Who of European fintech heavyweights
Tikehau holds EUR 617m final close for European Special Opportunities II
Fund surpassed its EUR 500m target and is more than 50% deployed, with a 68% re-up rate
The Deals Pipeline
A highlight of deal processes underway and involving PE, either on the buy- or sell-side, across Europe
Apax advised by UBS on Wehkamp exit
Dutch online warehouse Wehkamp is expected to come to market in H2 2021
Eurazeo Growth III holds final close on EUR 1.6bn
Vehicle surpassed its EUR 1bn target and will provide initial equity tickets of EUR 25m-100m
PE buy-side appetite further boosts exit options for sponsors
Secondary buyouts accounted for nearly a third of all PE exits in the first half of 2021, compared with typical levels of 20-25%
EQT explores strategic options for Banking Circle
Options include a private sale and a merger with a blank-cheque company, as well as a listing via IPO
Ardian buys stake in Nova Reperta
Investment in the management consultancy is Ardian Growth's first investment in Belgium
Unigestion launches second emerging-manager fund
Vehicle has a target of EUR 300m and will back first- and second-generation buyout and growth funds
GHO holds EUR 2bn final close for third fund
Fund close follows a fully virtual fundraise that saw the GP surpass its EUR 1.25bn target
GPs increasingly ruling out investments due to ESG – survey
Majority of GPs polled by Investec have declined to invest in a company on ESG or ethical grounds
Silverfleet calls off fundraise for third fund
GP intends to focus on follow-on investments and realisations in its existing portfolio
H&F holds USD 24.4bn final close for 10th fund
Large-cap buyout specialist closed its predecessor fund in October 2018 on USD 16bn
Sun European invests in Sports & Leisure Group
GPP buys a majority stake in the artificial turf business, headquartered in Belgium
One in four LPs willing to trade lower performance for better ESG - survey
ESG-focused LPs "motivated to divest positions in funds where they perceive ESG efforts to be lacking"
Kempen Capital launches second private equity fund
Fund has a EUR 200m target and will make both small-cap direct co-investments and PE fund investments
Advent sells Allnex to PTTGC International
Trade sale values the Benelux-based coating resins business at EUR 4bn (12x EBITDA)
DN Capital holds final close for fifth fund on €300m
Vehicle surpassed its €200m target and is €100m larger than the firm's fourth fund
