Benelux
EUROPE - Barclays boosts European mergers advisory business
Barclays plans to hire as many as 65 bankers for its European mergers advisory business in an attempt to become one of the top three global securities firms.
BELGIUM - Gimv leads EUR 10m VCST investment
Gimv has lead a EUR 10m investment into auto part manufacturer VCST, alongside venture investor LRM.
GERMANY/NETHERLANDS - Advent-backed Oxea acquires ester plant from ExxonMobil
Advent International portfolio company Oxea has agreed to acquire an Amsterdam-based ester production plant from ExxonMobil.
UK/SWITZERLAND/SWEDEN – KKR’s Alliance Boots circles Swedish pharmacies
KKR portfolio company Alliance Boots is reported to be interested in acquiring a portfolio of pharmacies being sold by Apoteket, which is owned by the Swedish state.
EUROPE - Perella hires partner in advisory group
US-headquarted Perella Weinberg Partners has hired Stefan Jentzsch as a partner in its advisory group. He will be based in the firms London office.
EUROPE - Max Planck Innovation and LSP launch DDC Ventures
Max Planck Innovation GmbH, the technology transfer arm of Germany's Max Planck Society, has teamed up with Life Sciences Partners ( LSP) to launch DDC Ventures, a EUR 100m venture fund.
BELGIUM - Capital-E backs EUR 1.11m CMOSIS funding
Capital-E portfolio company CMOSIS has raised just over EUR 1m in a series-B financing round subscribed to by existing shareholders and management.
GLOBAL - SVG Capital makes two executive hires
Listed fund-of-funds SVG Capital has appointed Lynn Fordham as CEO of the company and Tony Dalwood as CEO of SVG Advisers.
EUROPE - Close Brothers Corporate Finance acquired by Daiwa for £75m
Daiwa Securities SMBC Europe, the European subsidiary of Japanese investment bank Daiwa Securities SMBC Co, has agreed to acquire Close Brothers Corporate Finance from Close Brothers Group plc for £75m.
GLOBAL - Barclays looks to sell $ 10m asset management unit
Barclays is reportedly in talks with US asset manager Black Rock and Bank of New York Mellon to sell its asset management unit, Barclays Global Investors (BGI), with the price tag thought to be around $10bn.
Venturing into the unknown
With distributions down since the internet bust, exit doors shut and fundraising at a standstill, the venture capital industry in the US - and elsewhere - is at a crossroads. Smaller firms, lower returns and adapting to a global market are the next likely...
Mezzanine to soldier on
Lenders are currently struggling under the weight of an underperforming legacy portfolio, but there may be brighter prospects on the horizon. Emanuel Eftimiu reports from Paris
GLOBAL - CALPERS to allocate extra $9bn to private equity
The California Public Employees Retirement System (CALPERS) is considering a new asset mix, which could see the LP allocate an additional $9bn to private equity.
EUROPE - RHJ joins suitors for European GM assets
According to reports, Belgian buyout firm RHJ International is interested in acquiring General Motor's European assets, and is said to consider an offer for Adam Opel GmbH, amongst others.
NETHERLANDS – PPM Oost backs ProductIP
PPM Oost (East Netherlands Participation Company) has invested an undisclosed sum in business support services firm ProductIP. The investment was made possible with EU ERDF funds and a contribution from the province of Gelderland.
EUROPE - Skype founders to raise new venture fund
According to reports, Atominco Ventures, the investment vehicle of Skype co-founders Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, is raising a new USD 266m fund.
NETHERLANDS - Oranje-Nassau sells oil & gas assets for EUR 630m
Oranje-Nassau Groep, a part of Wendel SA, has sold its oil & gas division to a consortium led by energy company Dyas UK, a subsidiary of family-owned SHV Holdings, in a deal valued at EUR 630m.
Europe - Merrill Lynch divests stake in Kreos Capital III
Investment bank Merrill Lynch has reportedly divested its original €150m commitment in venture debt fund Kreos Capital III, the 2006 vintage fund of Kreos Capital.
Europe - 3i confirms £732m rights issue
In a press conference this morning, 3i's CEO Michael Queen confirmed plans to raise £732m in a rights issue that would optimise the value of its current portfolio, reduce debt and strengthen the company's 'perceived weak position' in the market.
BELGIUM – Gimv and Capricorn in EUR 3m round for NovoPolymers
Gimv and Capricorn have co-led a EUR 3m series-A round of funding for Belgian cleantech company NovoPolymers.
NETHERLANDS - Robeco makes supervisory board appointments
Robeco Groep NV has appointed Willem Buiter to its Supervisory Board.