DACH
SWITZERLAND - I-Source funds BeamExpress SA with $1.3m
I-Source has provided $1.3m to BeamExpress SA, a developer of vertical cavity surface-emitting laser technology. The proceeds will be used to expand the team and move from prototype to series production.
AUSTRIA - GEP and UIAG preparing to sell stakes in Efkon
According to press reports, GEP and UIAG are considering exiting toll technology provider Efkon. GEP invested in Efkon in 2000 and holds more than 30% of the company. UIAG holds a 3.1% stake, which was acquired in 2005 for EUR 1.2m. Private Equity Performance...
GERMANY - Cerberus evaluates opportunities in Germany
According to press reports, Cerberus is scouring Germany for potential acquisitions. It has been reported that the US house is interested in acquiring telecoms business SEN from Siemens and ailing bank IKB.
GERMANY - 3i sponsors Frankfurt professorship for private equity
3i has agreed to sponsor a professorship at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, to further research and education in the field of private equity. 3i will fund the chair with EUR 200,000 per annum for a period of six years, with a review after...
GLOBAL – Industry leaders outline challenges at BVCA summit
At today's BVCA’s 25th Anniversary VIP Summit, run in association with unquote”, market leaders hammered out what they believe to be the major challenges facing the industry in the year to come.
WORLD - Warburg Pincus closes $15bn fund
Warburg Pincus has closed its latest fund, Warburg Pincus Private Equity X on $15bn. The fund has a broad investment remit focusing on early-stage investments through to buyouts and special situations.
WORLD - CVC closes $4.1bn Asia Pacific Fund
CVC Capital Partners has closed its third fund dedicated to investments in the Asia Pacific region, CVC Capital Partners Asia Pacific III, on $4.1bn. It is the biggest ever private equity fund raised in the region.
GERMANY - Blackstone divests its 25% stake in Gerresheimer
Blackstone has sold its 25% stake in Gerresheimer AG, a manufacturer of specialty products made of glass and plastic for the pharma & life science industry.
GERMANY - JC Flowers leads Hypo investment
A private equity consortium led by JC Flowers is poised to take a 24.9% stake in property finance group Hypo Real Estate (HRE).
GERMANY/AUSTRIA - Waterland Private Equity acquires Windrose
Waterland Private Equity has acquired a majority stake in Windrose Fernreisen Touristik GmbH, a travel agency for high-end adventure and luxury travel. The current Windrose management team remains unchanged.
GERMANY - Apax acquires D+S Europe
Apax has made an offer for SDax-listed e-commerce service provider D+S Europe. Apax is reported to have offered EUR 13 per share, with the offer supported by the company's management.
GERMANY – Arques sells Jahnel-Kestermann for more than EUR 20m
Arques Industries AG has sold gear manufacturer Jahnel-Kestermann to South Korean strategic investor PSM Inc for a sum between EUR 20m and EUR 21m.
GERMANY – DEWB and zouk ventures co-lead EUR 11m investment
Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG (DEWB) has co-led a EUR 11m financing round for Nanotron Technologies Ltd alongside British venture firm zouk ventures. DEWB has acquired an 18.1 percent stake in the business. In addition to...
GERMANY - Axa acquires Löwen Play from Waterland
Axa Private Equity has agreed to acquire Löwen Play GmbH from Waterland Private Equity in a transaction rumoured to be worth at least EUR 300m. Löwen Play GmbH is based in Bingen and operates more than 190 amusement arcades as well as a number of machines...
DACH – Heliad Equity Partners to announce Heliad II fund
Heliad Equity Partners will soon announce the launch of Heliad II, which is currently in premarketing. The fund has a target of EUR 130m and will invest in later stage companies in the DACH region. London-based Greenpark Capital will act as a cornerstone...
SWITZERLAND/FRANCE – Argos Soditic tucks into Valora
Argos Soditic has bought three food production companies from Swiss logistics and retail holding company Valora Holding AG. Switzerland-based Roland Murten AG and Kägi Söhne AG and French company Cansimag France SA have been acquired for an undisclosed...
List-en to my fund
Listed funds suffered badly on the back of the liquidity crisis and negative press in 2007, with wide discounts the norm. Could investors be missing a trick or is there good reason to shy away?
Infra a shock
The liquidity bubble came to define the term infrastructure and gave a false picture of market depth. Private equity firms’ keen on snatching a piece of the infrastructure pie should be warned: there may not be enough to go around.
Public markets and private equity
Conditions in the public markets present an opportunity on the acquisition front but restrict exit options
GERMANY - Mayer Brown bolsters private equity team
Mayer Brown has bolstered its private equity team. Dr Benedikt Weiser has joined as partner in the Frankfurt office of the law firm.
GLOBAL – Partners closes EUR 447m mezz fund
Swiss-based asset manager Partners Group has reached a EUR 447m final close for its global mezzanine fund, soaring past the EUR 300m target. The fund has already made 11 investments in 2008, corresponding to 50% its capital.
GERMANY - OEP increases stake in Pfleiderer
One Equity Partner has increased its stake in listed wood building materials company Pfleiderer AG. In January, OEP acquired around 15% of the company, and has now increased its shareholding to 20.4%.
GERMANY - Apax ends talks with Escada
Apax Partners has ended talks with Escada AG about a potential acquisition. Talks had been ongoing for some months and Apax had been granted limited access to the company's financial records.