France
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 bfinance’s 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 country’s 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Goldman Sachs and Colony Capital have withdrawn their bids for French furniture retailer Conforama, according to media reports.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.
Growth investments: GPs lend a hand
The use of growth capital finance has rapidly increased in the UK since the recession. But why are more firms looking to raise capital from private investors since the financial crisis? John Bakie investigates
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.
Fund lifetimes: Extend and pretend?
With market fears that a capital overhang could encourage reckless investments and artificially high valuations, would it make sense to redesign the private equity fund model to allow for longer investment and holding periods? The argument has gained...
Secondary buyout activity stable despite market fears
Despite widespread concern over the number of secondary buyouts being seen in the market, unquote” research suggests they are no more common today than they were in 2005. John Bakie investigates
IDIA et al. back Germicopa MBO
IDIA, Naxicap Partners, Ouest Croissance and UEO have backed the management buyout of French potato breeding company Germicopa, for an undisclosed amount.
Advent Venture holds final close of $120m fund
Advent Venture Partners has announced the final close of its Advent Life Sciences fund, having raised $120m.
Video Interview: 3i's Michael Queen
The private equity landscape has changed since the financial crisis, and firms will need to adopt new strategies to make a success of their portfolio companies, according to 3i's chief executive, Michael Queen.
iXO Private Equity backs CBM
iXO Private Equity has provided French medical diagnostics laboratory CBM with growth capital funding of an undisclosed amount.
NiXEN sells Groupe Plastisud in sponsorless OBO
NiXEN has sold its 60% stake in French plastic moulds manufacturer Plastisud back to the founding family and management.
Ashurst hires new lawyer for Paris corporate practice
Law firm Ashurst has appointed Joël Corcessin as counsel in its Paris corporate department.