France
Buyouts surge in Q2
The private equity market is back in black, with deal values at their highest level since the heady days of 2007, according to the latest unquote” Private Equity Barometer, done in association with Arle Capital Partners.
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 UK’s 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.
Is pharma losing out on venture funding?
Despite mass publicity, early-stage software and technology companies have often played second fiddle to pharma on funding, but this could be about to change. John Bakie investigates
3i hires investment banker to CIO role
3i has appointed Simon Borrows, a senior City banker, as chief investment officer, the firm revealed today.
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.
Lexington Partners raises $7bn secondaries fund
Lexington Partners has raised the world’s largest ever secondaries fund, reaching its $7bn cap.
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
AXA PE buys $740m portfolio from Barclays
AXA Private Equity has acquired a $740m portfolio of 22 limited partnership interests in private equity buyout funds and a number of stakes in co-investment vehicles from Barclays.
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.
Corporate buyers: Stealing the deal?
Private equity funds have been sitting on significant dry powder recently, which has led to a recent surge in deal activity and a return of higher multiples. However, as corporates have emerged from the recession with strong balance sheets, GPs are facing...
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.
Butler-backed Sernam interested in Mory
French industrial delivery services company Sernam, owned by turnaround fund Butler Capital, is reportedly looking to acquire rival Mory.
Q&A: The role of funds-of-funds
Emanuel Eftimiu talks to Tim Creed, executive director and head of Adveq’s European investment programme, about the relevance of fund-of-funds in today's market, the future of large-cap buyout funds and the impact of upcoming regulation.
Venture follows money on cleantech
Global investment into the cleantech sector reached a record high last year of nearly $250bn, but venture is losing market share as it shies away from early-stage funding.
Abénex appoints two
French mid-cap firm Abénex Capital has hired Antoine Houël as manager and François Even as chargé d'affaires.