France
CDC to sell PE portfolio
France's Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) is planning the sale of a €180m private equity fund portfolio, according to media reports.
Riverside adds two new execs
Global private equity firm The Riverside Company has appointed two new executives, Juan Rufilanchas and Jaime Escribano, to its Madrid office.
2011: The year of the mega buyout
While the increase in volume of European buyouts has been modest in 2011, the surge in value has been impressive. Viktor Lundvall investigates
L Capital buys 35% stake in TWC L'Amy
L Capital, a PE firm sponsored by luxury group LVMH, has acquired a 35% stake in French fashion accessories company TWC L'Amy from Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRIP).
€119m refinancing for PE-backed FPEE
AtriA Capital Partenaires, Pragma Capital and Barclays Private Equity (BPE) have refinanced the 2009 buyout of French building materials company FPEE with a €119m debt package.
German IPOs fail to meet expectations
A relatively large number of IPOs have taken place lately on the Frankfurt stock exchange with more expected later in the year. But doubts still remain over the wisdom of IPOs in the post-crisis era. Diana Petrowicz investigates.
Bernie Ecclestone accused of bribery in F1 buyout
Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone has been accused by German prosecutors of bribing former BayernLB chief risk officer Gerhard Gribkowsky at the time of the company's 2006 buyout.
Operating partners: For pros or for show?
Fans of operating partners deem them performance enhancers; detractors say theyтre merely propaganda to entice LPs. Susannah Birkwood reports
FATCA - An uneven playing field
Despite being an American law which doesnтt come into force until 2013, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act must be dealt with immediately by all international GPs which have US portfolio companies. Susannah Birkwood reports
France unquote" July/August 2011
Chequers Capital and Apax France have closed their latest funds on €850m and €700m respectively, joining the list of French mid-cap firms that successfully hit the fundraising trail in recent months.
unquote" Private Equity Barometer – Q2 2011
Preliminary figures released today in the Q2 2011 unquote" Private Equity Barometer reveal renewed activity during Q2.
Apax France VIII closes on €700m
Apax France has closed its latest mid-cap fund on €700m.
Rumours of key-man clause following AtriA departures
The departure of two partners from French mid-cap firm AtriA Capital Partenaires in April has triggered a key-man clause on its third fund, according to media reports.
UK returns: Think small
The UKтs small buyout sector will continue its decoupling from the larger market, and should provide better returns than large-cap players in the coming years.
PE-backed Afflelou mulls over IPO
French optician Alain Afflelou, a portfolio company of Bridgepoint and Apax France, is considering a potential listing within the next 12 months.
Permira in lead for Alcatel Lucent Enterprise
Permira is currently a frontrunner in the Alcatel Lucent Enterprise sale, according to media reports.
Q&A: Montefiore's Eric Bismuth on the French mid-market
Strategies, opportunities, fundraising... Eric Bismuth, president of mid-cap buyout house Montefiore Investment, talks to Greg Gille about the state of the French mid-market.
IK acquires Savena in SBO
IK Investment Partners has acquired French food ingredient manufacturer Savena from Azulis Capital and Céréa Capital.
Chequers Capital closes fund XVI on €850m
French mid-market GP Chequers Capital has announced the final close of its latest fund on a €850m hard cap.
Alpha sells Mecatherm to Wendel for €170m
Alpha has agreed to sell Mecatherm, a French manufacturer of production lines for bakery products, to industrial holding Wendel.
French tech investments in need of higher gear?
Although optimistic about the sector’s growth prospects in the coming months, French tech entrepreneurs claim capital is hard to come by. Do tech-focused venture firms need to step up their game? Greg Gille reports
Eurazeo invests another €15m in Fonroche
Eurazeo has invested a further €15m in French renewable energy producer Fonroche.
Arjil appoints new partner
French corporate finance firm Arjil has hired Bertrand Grunenwald as partner.
Quartilium hires two for FoF team
Quartilium, the fund-of-funds arm of Groupama Private Equity, has appointed Jérémie Magne and Malcolm Vincent as analysts in its fund-of-funds team.