DACH
SWITZERLAND – Zurmont and Madison to merge and launch fund
Zurich-based private equity firms, Zurmont and Madison are to be merged and will be launching a new CHF 200m private equity fund under the name Zurmont Madison Management. The investment focus will be on succession solutions and MBOs in Switzerland, Germany...
SWITZERLAND – Swiss Capvis backs MBO of ORIOR Food Group
Swiss Capvis, the Swiss private equity firm has acquired a majority stake in ORIOR Food Group alongside the company's management team for an undisclosed sum.
SWITZERLAND – Partners Group announces strong financial results
Zug-based Partners Group, which recently achieved an IPO on the SWX Swiss Exchange, has released strong financial results for the first half of 2006.
GERMANY - BC Partners pulls out of Bertelsmann-BMG auction
BC Partners has withdrawn its offer for Bertelsmann's BMG Music Publishing just before the deadline for the auction on 31 August. Bertelsmann is selling the group in order to pay off debt with the proceeds.
GERMANY - fg microtec to expand in Japan
A syndicate of existing investors has provided a further EUR 2m to fg microtec in order to fund its expansion in Japan.
SWITZERLAND - Rimer to pursue medtech
According to press reports, one of the four Rimer brothers, Richard, has left Index Ventures to launch his own business focused on med tech and medical devices.
GERMANY - BayernLB backs temporary labour sector
Funds advised by BayernLB Private Equity have backed the management buyout of ISU Personaldienstleistungen GmbH. Together the financial investor and the company's CEO and management have acquired a 100% stake in the business.
GERMANY - Rodenstock on the block
According to market sources, Permira is currently in the process of pricing eyeglass lens and frame specialist Rodenstock for a possible exit. Permira acquired a 49% stake in the company in 2003, raising its stake to 85% the following year.
GERMANY - Apax and Blackstone to sell Sulo
According to press reports, the largest deal ever to take place in Germany's waste disposal sector is in the pipeline. Berlin-based Alba is looking to buy its Hamburg-based competitor Sulo from Apax Partners and The Blackstone Group. No firm commitments...
GERMANY - Baird Capital Partners Europe acquires Prettl
Baird Capital Partners Europe has acquired a majority stake in Prettl Appliance Systems Group. The company, which is being sold by its family owners, specialises in the development and production of control panels for white goods.
GERMANY - Michael Schneider to chair BayBG supervisory board
Michael Schneider has been elected to chair the supervisory board of BayBG Bayerische Beteiligungsgesellschaft. Schneider is acting head of the executive commitee of LfA Förderbank Bayern, the largest single shareholder in BayBG.
GERMANY - Tax reform could increase risk of insolvency
According to a front-page report in German financial newspaper Handelsblatt, the German corporate tax reform could seriously worsen conditions for private equity groups operating in the country. Peer Steinbrück's move to abolish tax relief on corporate...
GERMANY - BayBG and S-Partner finance StarMedTech spin-out
BayBG and S-Partner Kapital AG have together financed the management buyout of the urological laser unit of WaveLight AG. Based in Starnberg, the new company will henceforth go by the name StarMedTec GmbH. The company will continue its activities as a...
GERMANY - Deutsche Börse announces excellent results for Q2 2006
Deutsche Börse has announced that its results for Q2 2006, making this the most successful quarter ever. It has managed to reduce costs by a further 3%, significantly increase sales revenue by 21% and have recorded a net interest income of EUR 37.8m....
GERMANY - Interest grows in Altana Pharma from various quarters
According to a report in Financial Times Deutschland the pharmaceutical arm of Altana is a potential target for a range of high profile buyers. These could include EQT in collaboration with Hexal founders Thomas and Andreas Strüngmann and ex-Merck head...
SWITZERLAND - ESBATech raises SFr 50m for expansion
A syndicate of new investors led by SV Life Sciences, Clarus Ventures, HBM BioVentures and HBM BioCapital has invested SFr 50m in ESBATech AG alongside existing investors. The series B financing is aimed at further developing the company's lead product,...
GERMANY - Equita exits woodwork specialist
Equita has sold a 19.7% stake in German sawmill and wood working enterprise Klenk Holz AG via the Klenk family to WestLB AG. The remaining 10% stake was sold to the Klenk Holz AG itself as treasury stock. Equita was invested in Klenk Holz AG through its...
GERMANY - Auctus Management makes 18x money on Time Partner
Auctus Management has exited a majority share in its temporary recruitment platform Time Partner to Investcorp for approximately EUR 250m. The financial investor made 18x its invested capital which it began building in 2004, yielding EUR 100m from the...
GERMANY - Steadfast Capital acquires Peine Group
Steadfast Capital, alongside the company's management, has acquired Peine Group. The Wilhelmshaven-based company is a producer of business and formal wear for men.
GERMANY - Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein to refinance APCOA
Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein has been mandated by Investcorp to lead the refinancing of German car parks operator APCOA. No equity will be taken out in the course of the refinancing.
GERMANY - Brenntag goes to BC Partners
Bain Capital has sold chemical distribution firm Brenntag GmbH to BC Partners for an undisclosed sum. The deal remains subject to approval from the cartel authorities. Bain Capital intends to retain a minority shareholding in the company following the...
GERMANY - JC Flowers expands insurance portfolio
JC Flowers portfolio company Württembergische & Badische Versicherungs AG (Wüba) has acquired Darag Deutsche Versicherungs- und Rückversicherungs-AG. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.
SWITZERLAND - Barclays Private Equity to open Zurich office
According to market rumours, Barclays Private Equity is planning to open an office in Switzerland. The financial investor's new Swiss arm will be run by Philippe Stüdi. Barclays has so far been unavailable to comment on the new opening.
GERMANY - Barclays Private Equity buys into shipping packaging solutions
Barclays Private Equity alongside company management has acquired a majority stake in Pliening-based Ratioform Gruppe. The financial investor bought its stake from Thomas Krieg, who will retain a 19% participatory stake in the company, with the management...