France
Activa Capital to buy Selpro Sélection Professionnelle
Activa Capital has agreed to acquire French HR services provider Selpro SУЉlection Professionnelle from Randstad.
Oséo backs Cerenis and Novasep with €10.7m
The French government's venture arm OsУЉo has invested тЌ10.7m in healthcare companies Cerenis Therapeutics and Groupe Novasep.
French buyouts lag behind rest of Europe
The French buyout market lagged behind its neighbours’ in Q2 2010, according to the unquote” Private Equity Barometer. However, the country saw a significant increase in growth capital and early stage deals.
Blackstone's sixth fund on track with $13.5bn
Blackstone Group said it has raised $13.5bn so far for its sixth private equity fund, BCP VI. Last year, Blackstone had lowered its initial $20bn target to between $15bn-20bn.
Invest Equity completes management-buyout
Invest Equity has completed its own management-buyout, a process that started in 2004.
Qualium set to exit Exxelia
Qualium (formerly CDC Capital Investissement) is looking to sell electronics specialist Exxelia to LBO France.
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Wittur AG on the block again
Cerberus Partners and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners are looking for a buyer for German lift component supplier Wittur AG.
EPS Value Plus supports acquisition for FotoDesk subsidiary
EPS Value Plus has supported the acquisition of the online photo and business printing division of netservice.cc for the Colorplaza AG subsidiary of portfolio company FotoDesk Group AG.
PAI Partners looking to sell Yoplait stake
PAI Partners has put its 50% stake in French yoghurt maker Yoplait up for sale.
Enterprise Investors provide €7m for Webmedia Group
Enterprise Investors has provided тЌ7m for the Estonian software development company Webmedia Group.
AXA Private Equity acquires 50% stake in Autopista Trados 45
AXA Private Equity has acquired 50% of Spanish toll road operator Autopista Trados 45 from Cintra.
PE groups circle Spanish infrastructure asset
The Spanish utility firm Endesa, controlled by Italian giant Enel SpA, is reportedly examining the sale of 80% of its gas transport and distribution business in an effort to reduce the group's borrowings.
Goldman to retain private equity business
Goldman Sachs plans to retain its private equity business, despite recent congressional regulations restricting bank investments in alternative assets.
MCH Private Equity invests in Conservas Garavilla
MCH Private Equity has invested in canned fish producer Conservas Garavilla.
NBGI Private Equity acquires Praticdose
NBGI Private Equity has backed the management buy-in of French medical equipment provider Praticdose.
Ibersuizas closes in on Multiasistencia
Press reports suggest that the Madrid-based later stage investor Ibersuizas has signed heads of agreement over the buyout of Multiasistencia, Spain's leading provider of business process outsourcing services to the financial and corporate sector.
Recruitment: Tough times poaching top talent
Private equity houses have, it seems, been on a recruitment spree hiring many junior professionals after a two-year lull, as they veer into deal making again and poach top-tier resources from banks. However, they may be in for bumpy ride as banks put...
Consortium invests SEK 17m in Barista
Almi Invest, Alveco Invest and six business angels have provided SEK 17m expansionary capital for the coffee chain, Barista Fair Trade Coffee.
Standard & Poor's downgrades Wendel rating
Listed investment company Wendel saw its long-term credit rating downgraded from BB to BB- by Standard & Poor's (S&P) today.
France unquote" August/September 2010
Following subdued deal activity in May, France saw a strong increase in early-stage and expansion transactions in June. In the last few weeks, unquote” has covered 16 such deals, doubling May’s total. However, the French market is still lagging behind...
Internet investments: Venture banking on social networks
Social networking has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years and the sectorтs biggest player, Facebook, is this week set to announce it has 500 million users. However, there remain doubts over whether social networking can be profitable, but this has...
Permira-backed Birds Eye Iglo acquires Findus Italy
Permira-backed Birds Eye Iglo has agreed to acquire the frozen food producer Findus Italy from Unilever.
MJ Hudson heads new generation of law firms
Matthew Hudson has formed new law firm MJ Hudson LLP, which will provide legal advice on the formation of specialist investment funds and the structuring of deals.