France
Chequers and Abenex looking to exit Salins
Chequers Capital and Abénex Capital have hired Lazard to manage the sale of French salt producer Salins International, according to media reports.
Stehlin & Associés appoints two partners
French law firm Stehlin & Associés has promoted Svetlana Tokoucheva and Cyrille Boillot as partners in its corporate/M&A department.
BC European Capital IX closes at €6.5bn hard-cap
BC Partners has closed its ninth European Capital fund at the vehicle's €6.5bn hard-cap.
EU leaders call for pan-European VC regime
Ahead of a summit on 1st March, David Cameron has joined 11 other EU leaders in a letter calling for the EU's economic policies to shift their focus from tough austerity cuts to growth-stimulating measures.
NiXEN's Babeau Seguin makes first bolt-on
NiXEN's portfolio company, French home construction group Babeau Seguin, has acquired competitor Maisons et Jardins.
PE-backed EOS Imaging in €120m IPO
French medical devices business EOS Imaging, a portfolio company of Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRIP) and NBGI Ventures among other investors, has listed on NYSE Euronext.
AFIC calls for staff stakes in PE-backed firms
French private equity trade body AFIC has drafted a proposal to simplify and extend the incentivisation mechanism for employees of PE-backed businesses.
DACH venture scene remains on top form
While the rest of Europe has suffered from a low deal volume in 2011, the DACH early-stage sector is going strong. Considering the well-established venture scene, it is not surprising that this region has dominated early-stage in Q4 2011.
Perceva takes majority stake in BPI
Perceva Capital has taken a majority stake in French HR consulting firm BPI, through a capital increase and the purchase of existing shares in the business.
Dodd-Frank fears "overblown"
The extensive requirements and wide reach of the US's Dodd-Frank Act has stirred up fears among European GPs. But law firm DLA Piper downplays worries, pointing to a number of available exemptions. Sonnie Ehrendal investigates.
Leonardo appoints new managing director in Paris
European investment banking firm Leonardo & Co has hired Eric Toulemonde as managing director in its Paris office.
Market consolidation forcing FOFs to evolve
Funds-of-funds are an endangered species, with many shedding the title. Kimberly Romaine finds that today it’s all about diversification and tailoring your offering to prospective clients.
CAPE backs AEMI OBO
Crédit Agricole Private Equity (CAPE) has invested €1.5m in the owner buyout of French industrial parts manufacturer AEMI.
Early-stage and Nordics stand out
2011 was a bleak year for the private equity industry, but it was still an improvement on 2010, writes Olivier Marty
Fragmented ecosystem hampering European venture
The debate surrounding the high returns enjoyed by Silicon Valley investors compared to their European counterparts continues. But why do stateside investments traditionally reap higher returns than those in European startups, and what needs to change...
France unquote” February 2012
French buyout house PAI partners has confirmed it is aiming to raise a £3bn fund this year – potentially staging a comeback following the 2009 power struggle that led to its previous vehicle being significantly downsized.
Abenex appoints new investment manager
French private equity firm Abenex Capital has appointed Nicolas Bertrand as investment manager.
Newfund supports Izeos
Newfund has made a growth equity investment in Izeos, a French company offering a range of online services to medical professionals.
French presidential election spells bad news for PE industry
The regulatory landscape is getting tougher across Europe for private equity - but French players might have more to worry about than most, as presidential candidates unveil measures that could affect the industry. Greg Gille reports
Hogan Lovells appoints new partner in Paris
Hogan Lovells has appointed Xavier Doumen as a partner at the private equity practice in Paris.
France unquote" January 2012
Troubled French mid-cap GP AtriA Capital Partenaires has merged with counterpart Naxicap.
Jersey launches private placement scheme
Jersey has introduced a private placement scheme for institutional and professional investors.
2011 a bumper year for Nordic fundraising
Fundraising activity declined slightly in 2011 compared to the previous year, as the market remains tough and LPs selective. Not all European regions fared equally though, with the Nordic countries and France attracting significant amounts of capital....
Entrepreneur Venture injects €1m in TBS Group
French growth capital investor Entrepreneur Venture has injected €1m into marketing software developer TBS Group.