DACH
GERMANY - Candover's Qioptiq tenders strategic add-on
Candover portfolio company Qioptiq has launched a strategic public tender for Frankfurt-listed Linos AG. The acquisition is being made via a Qioptiq acquisition vehicle called Optco Akquisitions GmbH and is funded from the company's balance sheet.
AUSTRIA - Blackstone to target Telekom Austria
According to press reports the Blackstone Group is in discussions with the Austrian government over a possible participation in Telekom Austria. Reports from investment bankers at UBS Bank also confirm that financial investors are likely to consider the...
GERMANY - Hogan & Hartson expands private equity practice
Hogan & Hartson LLP has appointed Dr Uwe Steininger as a partner within its Munich practice. Steininger, who formerly worked for SJ Berwin as an international private equity and funds lawyer, will help lead the German and pan-European expansion of Hogan...
FRANCE/GERMANY - Aforge Finance in cross-border partnership
Giuliani Capital Advisors (US), Aforge Finance (France) and Sal Oppenheim (Germany) have agreed to form an alliance focused on cross-border acquisitions.
GERMANY - Gilde and Capvis sell Soudronic AG
Gilde Buy Out Partners and Capvis have sold their 75% stake in Swiss metal packaging specialist Soudronic AG. The acquirer is Keystone Group Holding AG.
GERMANY - AIB appoints new portfolio management leader
Allied Irish Banks has appointed Jens Dienstbach as team leader of portfolio management in Germany. Dienstbach will be responsible for leading the portfolio management team in Frankfurt with the aim of expanding AIB's acquisition finance activities in...
GERMANY - Palamon takes controlling stake in cadooz
Palamon Capital Partners has acquired a controlling stake in cadooz AG. The company is a provider of gift certificates for corporate customers in Germany. The financial investor has committed EUR 15m in capital within the framework of the transaction....
GERMANY - 3i and Triton exit CoCreate
3i and Triton have exited their holding in CoCreate to HBK Private Equity Group.
SWITZERLAND - Capvis invests in storage solutions
Capvis Equity Partners has taken a majority stake in Lista B+L Holding, comprised of the Lista Workspace and Storage Systems group. The deal is part of Lista Group's 18-month restructuring plan. The company recorded revenues of SFr 220m in 2005, with...
GERMANY - Dr Neuhaus Techno Nord announces new appointment
Paul Jozefak has joined Dr Neuhaus Techno Nord from his former position as investment director with SAP AG.
AUSTRIA - gcp portfolio company branches out
RFID-based tracking and tracing specialist Identec Solutions, a gamma capital partners portfolio investment, has acquired Baumer Ident GmbH. Baumer is a global manufacturer of industrial auto-ID systems and is currently headquartered in Weinheim Switzerland....
GERMANY - 3i and Creathor acquire Accovion
3i and Creathor have wholly acquired Accovion AG from Sanofi-Aventis. Accovion was spun out from Aventis' departments for clinical research, biological statistics and drug monitoring. 3i financed the 2001 spin-out with a significant minority participation....
GERMANY - Auctus acquires Aluminium smelting specialist
Auctus Management has acquired aluminium smelting specialist ZPF therm GmbH. Financial details have not been disclosed, but the buy and build specialist will consider strategic add-on acquisitions. BW Bank provided debt financing for the transaction....
AUSTRIA - AVCO to appoint new chairman
According to an article in Austrian Venture Capital newsletter Venturewoche, Thomas Jud has announced that he will resign from the post of chairman of the Austrian Venture Capital Association before the end of the year.
SWITZERLAND - Adveq appoints Philippe Bucher as chief financial officer
Adveq has announced the appointment of their current head of finance, Philippe Bucher, as chief financial officer and executive director.
GERMANY - Blackstone plans Deutsche Telekom takeover
According to press reports, the US private equity group, Blackstone is planning to raise a EUR 60bn fund by the end of 2006 in order to launch a full takeover bid for Deutsche Telekom by the beginning of 2007. This takeover would reduce KfW’s stake in...
GERMANY - bmp AG sells shares in eprofessional GmbH to ZANOX.de
Berlin-based bmp AG has announced the sale of its 25.5% holding in eprofessional GmbH to Zanox.de for a sum of EUR 4m. The proceeds from this transaction, including the repayment of a silent partnership, will result in a seven figure profit for bmp.
GERMANY - Demag Cranes lists following adjusted bookbuilding
Demag Cranes AG, one of the companies contained within the Demag portfolio in which KKR acquired a majority stake from Siemens in 2002, has listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange. The company floated approximately 50% of its capital stock at an opening...
GERMANY - Triton makes two buyouts in two weeks
Triton Advisers has acquired Basler, a producer of women's clothing for age 40 and over. The deal follows the announcement last week that Triton had acquired Dematic from Siemens for an undisclosed sum.
GERMANY - Texas Pacific Group to bridge Freenet cashflow block
According to a report in German financial newspaper Handelsblatt, Freenet might receive financial support for its tender for AOL Deutschland's internet access business from Texas Pacific Group. Freenet, which is currently in the process of merging with...
GERMANY - Triton acquires stake in Dematic
Triton, together with the company's management, has taken over shares previously held by Siemens AG in Dematic GmbH & Co. KG. The parties have agreed not to disclose details of the transaction. Dematic employs around 4,000 people and achieved revenues...
GERMANY - Süd and DZ go in on ball bearings secondary
Süd Private Equity and DZ Equity Partner have, together with the management, acquired myonic Group, Leutkirch. The vendor, Capvis Equity Partners acquired a majority stake in the company in 1999.
EUROPE - EVCA stats show returns improved in 2005
The European private equity industryтs final performance figures for 2005 show steadily improving returns across all parts of the industry. The long-term returns have now increased to more than 10% due to the improved performance of short-term returns...
EUROPE - EVCA reports 2005 a record year for private equity
EVCA has announced the final fundraising, investment and divestment figures for European private equity in 2005 at its annual Symposium in Monte-Carlo. The annual figures show records for all three stages of activity in the industry. After three years...