DACH
GERMANY - Leonardo Venture increases participation in Culavis GmbH
Leonardo Venture GmbH & Co KGaA has increased its stake in portfolio company Culavis GmbH by 10%, taking its interest in the business to 48%. In addition to the purchase price for the shares, Leonardo Venture is also making a silent participation, bound...
GERMANY - EQT Opportunity acquires Strauss Innovation
EQT Opportunity has signed an agreement with the shareholders of private label retail chain Strauss Innovation to acquire a majority stake in the company through a capital increase. The current majority owners, the Geringhoff family, will continue to...
EUROPE – PAI close EUR 5.4bn fund
PAI partners has held the final close of PAI Europe V on EUR 5.4bn. The fund is the largest ever raised in Continental Europe.
GERMANY - Paine & Partners complete acquisition of Stabilus GmbH
Paine & Partners have completed the acquisition of gas springs manufacturer Stabilus GmbH from Montagu Private Equity. The value of the deal was not disclosed but reports indicate that it is worth more than €500m.
GLOBAL - BC Partners to bid for Kroll
It was reported today that BC Partners has recruited David Buchler, former chairman at restructuring business Kroll, now at security group Marsh & McLennan, to lead the buyout of Kroll.
EUROPE - Headway closes fund
Headway Capital Partners has closed its second private equity secondaries fund, Headway Investment Partners II, LP at тЌ150m.
EUROPE - European Capital to halt equity investing
Reports today suggest that European Capital, the private equity arm of alternative asset manager American Capital, is to cease its European buyout activities at the behest of its parent due to the worsening economic climate.
EUROPE – Houlihan Lokey names new VP debt advisory team
Houlihan Lokey, the international investment bank, has announced the appointment of Richard Clark as vice president in the Debt Advisory team.
Ready for restructure?
An economic slowdown and tightened liquidity are putting strain on portfolio companies. Private equity houses will need to initiate effective restructuring or see turnaround players and activist investors swoop for distressed assets, writes Nathan Williams...
Silver Lining
When debt was cheap and abundant, ever larger deals were possible as there seemed no limit to what the industry could do. Now, however, many private equity houses are forced to adapt to a new paradigm - but there are also those to whom the new environment...
Making lemonade
The market continues to be challenging - deals are harder to find, and take longer to complete, while securing debt remains a major challenge. This issue's feature examines the situation more closely (pages 15-16). Other difficulties arise from the competition:...
GERMANY - ARQUES acquires Carl Froh
ARQUES Industries AG has wholly acquired Carl Froh GmbH, a manufacturer of precising metal pipes, for an undisclosed amount. The company was sold by Finnish Rautaruukki Corporation, based in Helsinki.