France
ING Parcom exits Sogec in trade sale
ING Parcom Private Equity has sold French customer relations services provider Sogec to Mediapost, in a trade sale of an undisclosed amount.
Qualium sells Exxelia to LBO France
Qualium (formerly CDC Capital Investissement) has sold French electronics specialist Exxelia to LBO France for an undisclosed amount.
The year that was 2010: Greek debt and green shoots
As the end of 2010 approaches, it will likely be remembered as a year of considerable uncertainty. Fear of a double-dip recession, major debt crises, a fragile economic recovery and the return of mega-buyouts are among the major developments affecting...
2010: a step towards recovery
In the end, 2010 has turned out to be the year of the recovery. Deal activity is up, the mega-buyout has reappeared, many houses have managed to record lucrative exits and there have even been some successful fundraisings.
Fondations Capital acquires Courtepaille from ING Parcom
Fondations Capital has acquired French restaurant chain Courtepaille from ING Parcom for €245m.
The year that was 2010: Economy fears dampen slow recovery
As the end of 2010 approaches, it will likely be remembered as a year of considerable uncertainty. Fear of a double-dip recession, major debt crises, a fragile economic recovery and the return of mega-buyouts are among the major developments affecting...
Buyouts spring back in 2010
Preliminary figures for the European Buyout Review 2011 confirm the general feeling in the market that buyout activity has bounced back in 2010. Emanuel Eftimiu gives an overview
A shakeout?
Remember a study titled тGet ready for the private equity shakeoutт published two years ago? Not really? To refresh your memory, it was a white paper published jointly by IESE Business School and The Boston Consulting Group and made headlines by claiming...
Activa sells Materne - Mont Blanc to LBO France
LBO France has acquired French desserts maker Materne - Mont Blanc from Activa Capital, a deal reportedly valued at €190m.
Fundraising market continues to confound
Fundraising conditions are at their toughest for nearly a decade and the market is awash with rumours of stalled fundraising programmes. But there are also regular reports of highly successful fundraisings that fly in the face of the current trends. Julian...
Montefiore buys Groupe Avenir Santé
Montefiore Investment has taken a majority stake in French clinics operator Groupe Avenir Santé, for an undisclosed amount.
Alven Capital backs Smallable.com with €2m
Alven Capital has invested €2m of growth capital funding in e-commerce website Smallable.com.
Last chance to have your say: unquote" end-of-year survey
As 2010 draws to a close the industry can perhaps breathe a sigh of relief. While it has no doubt been a difficult year, unquote.com has noted increased deal completions and more capital flowing into the market.
ISAI invests in Commerce Guys
ISAI has provided French e-commerce solutions provider Commerce Guys with growth capital funding of an undisclosed amount.
GP relationships under scrutiny
Both GPs and LPs expect average private equity returns to fall by as much as 10%, according to new research. The figures, gathered by bfinanceтs Global Private Equity Poll, add weight to suggestions that GPs will need to do more to differentiate themselves...
Spanish private equity goes against the grain
Spain has undoubtedly lagged behind the rest of Europe in its race to return to prosperity. However, amidst speculation regarding a national bail-out, the countryтs private equity market has shown promising signs during 2010. Susannah Birkwood reports...
Barclays sells Aerocan to Ball for €221m
Barclays Private Equity (BPE) has agreed to sell its stake in French aluminium cans manufacturer Aerocan to US-based Ball Corporation, in a deal that values the company at €221m.
Renewables: A maturing industry?
While the prominence of renewable energy may have faded when the financial crisis erupted more than two years ago, private equity and venture capital investors have continued to show high levels of interest in this developing industry. But what kind of...
Goldman Sachs and Colony pull out of Conforama auction
Goldman Sachs and Colony Capital have withdrawn their bids for French furniture retailer Conforama, according to media reports.
Buyouts: All-equity deals on the wane
All equity buyouts have been a common feature in the private equity market since the onset of the financial crisis. Driven by poor leverage availability and high prices at the time, this trend is now in decline as markets return to normal. John Bakie...
Masseran et al. invest €6m in E-Blink
Masseran Gestion has joined existing investors I-Source, Alven Capital and 360 Capital Partners in a €6m round of financing for French telecoms company E-Blink.
ERCP acquires Béaba
Edmond de Rothschild Capital Partners has taken a majority stake in French baby care products company Béaba from CIC Finance, for an undisclosed amount.
Existing investors back €34.5m round for SuperSonic
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners, Auriga Partners, Crédit Agricole Private Equity, NBGI Ventures, BioAm, Wellington Partners and IXO Private Equity have joined new investors in a €34.5m series-C funding round for SuperSonic Imagine.
Cause to cancel Christmas?
With one month to go until Christmas, private equity professionals have other things on their minds than making holiday arrangements for the season.