France
I-Source lead €3m Compario financing
I-Source has led a €3m first round of financing in Compario, an e-commerce company, along side XAnge Private Equity.
NextStage exits interest in Groupe Gruau
NextStage has exited its investment in Groupe Gruau, a commercial vehicle converter, selling its stake back to Patrick Gruau and reaping a 2.36x multiple on its initial investment.
Uzumeri leaves Ontario Teachers'
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan is looking for a new head of private equity after Erol Uzumeri announced he is to leave the Toronto-based pension fund manager on 14 May.
France unquote" May 2010
Buyout numbers in France were static in Q1 2010, however deal values rose from €747m to €1.85bn (68%), making it the second largest market behind the UK.
Yacht investments - private equity is back in the regatta
Private equity backers sunk a lot of money into yacht builder deals during the peak of the buyout boom, taking control of the biggest brands in the industry within just a few years. In many cases, the outcome has been disastrous. Now, a private equity...
Orkos leads $4m investment in MXP4
Orkos Capital has led a $4m third financing round in MXP4, a music technology platform, alongside returning investors Sofinnova Partners and Ventech.
123Venture and Solairedirect invest €8.5m in EthicOhm
123Venture and Solairedirect have provided their joint venture, solar energy company EthicOhm, with €8.5m of financing.
AXA buys BoA's $1.9bn private equity secondary interests
AXA Private Equity has acquired Bank of America's(BoA) $1.9bn portfolio of limited partnership interests in private equity funds, as the bank seeks to divest its non-core private equity investments.
CA Private Equity injects €4m into oclio
Crédit Agricole (CA) Private Equity has invested €4m in oclio, an online puericulture company.
Recovery fund: releasing the shackles of debt
ICGтs new recovery fund specifically supports companies chained down by over-leverage, rather than loss-making businesses that require a complete turnaround. Francinia Protti-Alvarez investigates
Trilanctic in sale talks over MW Brands
Media reports suggest that private equity firm Trilantic Capital Partners has allegedly launched talks with banks over the possible sale of canned seafood firm MW Brands.
Fees: GPs surrender to LPs
After years of GPs and LPs operating under a standard relationship model, asset managers are beginning to balk under the LP pressure for increased transparency and fee reductions as institutional investors become more aggressive in cutting costs. Gail...
HarbourVest appoints Lund as EMEA head of sales
HarbourVest Partners has appointed Simon Lund as head of sales and marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Natixis finalising sale of PE divisions to AXA PE
Natixis has reached an agreement to sell iXEN Partners, NI Partners and Initiative &Finance Gestion, three of its private equity division, to AXA Private Equity for €534m with potential performance-led premiums.
Avenir invest in Estivel
Avenir Entreprises has staged an LBO of Estivel alongside Alban and Lise Maurial, the company founders, a luxury real estate agency focused on the Aquitaine region in France.
Neuberger Berman to launch distressed debt fund
Private Equity investor Neuberger Berman, plans to launch NB Distressed Debt Investment, a fund targeting asset-backed senior debt.
Siparex et al in €2m round for Aztec
A group of investors including Rhône-Alpes Création, Expansinvest, Siparex et Haute Savoie Demain have injected €2m in Aztec.
AXA PE backs SynerLAB build up
AXA Private Equity has supported its portfolio company The SynerLAB Group in the acquisition of Pharmaster, a third party manufacturer in sterile, liquid preservative-free forms.
CLO market thaws
The primary collateralised loan obligation (CLO) market seems to be spluttering back to life, following significant activity in recent weeks. But questions still remain as to whether the economics are in place to support a full-blown recovery. Gail Mwamba...
Bridgepoint Development Capital set up Paris team
Bridgepoint Development Capital (BDC) has set up an office in Paris led by Pierre Colasson.
Fundraising: Unlocking LP appetite
Fundraising in the current environment can feel like facing a series of closed doors, but there are ways of unlocking LP commitments. Julian Longhurst reports
ISAI hold €24m close of venture fund
ISAI, launched in 2008, has held a first close of €24m of its ISAI Developpement fund.
CDC Enterprises in $18m round for biospace med
CDC Entreprises, (acting on behalf of the Strategic Investment Fund -SIF), has participated in an $18m round for biospace med alongside existing investors Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners, Crédit Agricole Private Equity, UFG Private Equity, NBGI...
Managing value: back to basics
2009 and 2010 have been all about getting back to basics hands-on operational support. A big part of this is about having the best management for the job. Francinia Protti-Alvarez reports.