France
3i loses healthcare chief exec
Denis Ribon, former global head of healthcare at 3i Group, has left the firm to launch his own fund focused on the small-cap space.
Deal in Focus: Astorg to buy Kerneos for €600m
The background work has finally paid off for Astorg Partners: after looking at a raft of deals in the past 12 months to no avail, the French GP has entered exclusive negotiations to acquire chemicals company Kerneos for €600m.
Omnes et al. invest €8m in Gecko Biomedical
Omnes Capital, CM-CIC Capital Finance and CapDecisif Management have backed an €8m series-A round for Paris-based medical devices company Gecko Biomedical.
EmCap buys stake in Moretti
Newly launched investor EmCap has acquired a minority stake in Italian luxury shoemaker Alberto Moretti, marking the GP’s maiden investment.
Video: DFJ's Sage on Europe's next big tech trends
Video: DFJ Esprit
Kima launches new start-up initiative
Kima Ventures has launched its new Kima15 initiative, which aims to invest in more than 50 start-ups over the next 12 months.
LPs expect net returns of at least 11%
The majority of LPs anticipate annual net returns in excess of 11% over the next three to five years, according to the latest Coller Capital Global Barometer.
TCR acquires GEC in MBI
TCR Capital has acquired Générale d’Etanchéité et de Couverture Ile-de-France (GEC) in a management buy-in, bringing in Jean-Christophe Blot to succeed the company’s current president.
Direct secondaries: breathing new life
An industry-wide impetus is needed to resuscitate an ailing sector. Kimberly Romaine reports
Sketchfab raises $2m
Sketchfab, a French online publishing platform for 3D files, has raised $2m in a round led by Balderton Capital.
Vitruvian collects £1bn for second fund
Vitruvian Partners has closed its second fund on ТЃ1bn, well above its initial ТЃ800m target.
Astorg to buy Kerneos from Materis for €600m
French GP Astorg Partners has entered exclusive negotiations to acquire chemicals company Kerneos from Wendel-owned Materis for €600m.
Truwit, Sillitoe replace Halusa at Apax helm
Mitch Truwit and Andrew Sillitoe, Apax Partners
Idinvest targets retail investors for new debt fund
French manager Idinvest Partners has started raising a second retail debt vehicle.
Industries & Finances recruits associate
Nicolas Degrassat, Industries & Finances
Credit Suisse to sell DLJ Merchant Banking to Coller
Credit Suisse Group is to sell its shares in mid-market buyout arm DLJ Merchant Banking Partners to Coller Capital, according to reports.
BPI France et al. back EBlink with €2.8m
French telecoms equipment developer EBlink has received €2.8m in funding from investors BPI France, 360 Capital Partners, Seventure Partners and I-Source Gestion.
Iris and BPI France invest €10m in Mister-Auto
Iris Capital and BPI France have injected €10m into Mister-Auto, a France-based online retailer of car parts and accessories.
Rhonda Ryan joins Altius
Rhonda Ryan, Altius Associates
State-backed BPI France pledges not to outbid PE firms
French state investment arm BPI France has pledged it will not look to compete unfairly with local private equity players.
Gimv, UI Gestion acquire Almaviva
Gimv and UI Gestion have acquired French operator of private clinics Almaviva Santé from 21 Partners, with each of the firms contributing €40m towards the buyout.
Weinberg's Alliance Automotive in high-yield refinancing
Alliance Automotive, a French portfolio company of Weinberg Capital Partners (WCP), has issued a €185m private high-yield bond.
CEA Investissement et al. back Bioaxial
Paris-based medical equipment company Bioaxial has raised €1.9m from CEA Investissement, Viveris Management, Inserm Transfert Initiative (ITI) and several individual investors.
Naxicap et al. back Arenadour platform
Naxicap, Arkea Capital and Ouest Croissance have backed the merger of thermal spas Thermes Adour and Thermes des Arènes, creating the Arenadour group.