France
Italy shines in January thanks to CVC mega-buyout
Italy topped Europe's private equity value charts in January, while the UK recorded the most deals, showing both familiar names and outliers starting 2013 on a high.
CDC Entreprises et al. invest €7m in Compario
CDC Entreprises, Capitalaria, iSource Gestion and XAnge Private Equity have participated in a €7m funding round for French software-as-a-service (SaaS) firm Compario.
Isai invests €2m in Hospimedia
Isai Gestion has injected €2m into French medical information website Hospimedia, in what marks the first investment from its latest fund.
Argos Soditic to buy four Sage subsidiaries
Mid-cap GP Argos Soditic has entered exclusive negotiations with Sage Group regarding the acquisition of four of its software-focused subsidiaries in France and Spain.
CVC, BC Partners to team up for Elior bid
UK-based private equity houses CVC Capital Partners and BC Partners are reportedly planning a €3.5bn bid for French catering company Elior.
Activa Capital sells Logitrade to Soridec et al.
French mid-cap GP Activa Capital has sold outsourcing business Logitrade to regional growth capital specialists Soridec, Sofilaro, Sofipac, Multicroissance and Sopromec.
CDC Entreprises, I-Source, Bouygues in €3.7m round for Ijenko
French energy management solutions provider Ijenko has raised €3.7m in its third round of institutional funding since 2010.
PE-backed Labco in €100m high-yield refinancing
French medical diagnostics company Labco has made a €100m bond issue to repay the outstanding amounts borrowed under its revolving credit facility.
Ace and CM-CIC in €3.2m round for Socomore
Ace Management and existing backer CM-CIC Capital Finance have taken part in a €3.2m funding round for Socomore, a French producer of surface treatment solutions used in the aerospace industry.
Private equity backers sell Rexel stake for €640m
Private equity backers including Clayton Dubilier & Rice and Eurazeo have sold a 14.7% stake in French listed electrical distributor Rexel for €640m.
French retail fundraising down for fourth year in row
France's FCPI and FIP retail vehicles – used extensively by the country's venture and growth capital players – raised €646m last year, down 12% from 2011 figures.
Omnes Capital invests €50m in Exclusive Networks
Omnes Capital has committed €50m to French IT security software business Exclusive Networks to fund further acquisitions, according to reports.
UK activity falls behind France and DACH
The UK & Ireland private equity market has been overtaken by the French and DACH regions in January according to figures from unquoteт data.
XAnge's XPansion 2 reaches €32m first close
XAnge Private Equity has held a first close for its latest growth capital vehicle, XPansion 2, on €32m.
MBO Partenaires and A Plus back Ingertec buyout
MBO Partenaires and A Plus Finance have backed the management buyout of French electrical installations specialist Ingertec.
Paul Hastings expands European practice
Law firm Paul Hastings has appointed David Revcolevschi as a partner in its European corporate practice, based in the firm's Paris office.
A Plus and Promelys in €3m round for Greenweez
Promelys Participations has joined existing investor A Plus Finance in a €3m funding round for French e-commerce player Greenweez.
Newfund injects €1.5m into Camping-Car Park
Newfund has provided French caravanning sites operator Camping-Car Park with €1.5m of funding.
Cobepa buys Socotec from Qualium
Investment holding Cobepa has acquired a majority stake in French management consulting firm Socotec from Qualium Investissement, alongside private equity investor Five Arrows and management.
France unquote" February 2013
Most French private equity practitioners will no doubt be eager to put 2012 behind them as quickly as possible.
Omnes backs Groupe Eyssautier MBO
Omnes Capital has taken a stake in the management buyout of French marine and transport insurance broker Groupe Eyssautier.
Oraxys in €21m round for Leosphere
Cleantech investor Oraxys has injected €10.5m into French laser measurement company Leosphere in what constitutes the first tranche of a €21m funding round.
Ace and IRDI inject €4.5m into ARM
Ace Management and investment company IRDI have provided French spare parts manufacturer Groupe ARM with €4.5m of growth capital funding.
Apax and LBO France to sell Maisons du Monde
Apax France- and LBO France-owned furniture stores chain Maisons du Monde is up for sale in a process run by investment banks Lazard and Messier Maris, according to reports.