France
EdRIP purchase 25% holding in Geotec
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRIP) has acquired a 25% stake in Geotec Group, an industrial services company, in an OBO deal.
Sigma leads investment round in Lekiosque.fr
Sigma Gestion has led a first round of financing in Lekiosque.fr, an online publisher, by providing over >€1m alongside returning investors, a family office and private individuals.
Platina closes renewable energy fund on €209m
Renewable energy and turnaround investor Platina Partners LLP has reached the closing of its European Renewable Energy Fund (EREF) with total commitments of тЌ209m.
Oddo PE injects ActivNetwork with €2.5m
Oddo Private Equity has led a €2.5m investment in ActivNetwork, a technology company, alongside Bouygues Telecom Initiative.
Private equity philanthropy: taking responsibility
With more people (and particularly investors) becoming socially and environmentally conscious, private equity firms are keener than ever to demonstrate their commitment to a responsible investment ethos. Mareen Goebel investigates.
KKR sells 4.4% stake in Legrand
KKR is to sell a 4.4% stake in Legrand, an electrical equipment company.
Private equity embraces environmental due diligence
With the launch of Carlyle and EDFтs analysis tool for environmental due diligence, Francinia Protti-Alvarez finds that putting green issues on the agenda makes financial sense.
3i closes growth fund on €1.2bn; open to new investments
Further strengthening its position in the markets, 3i has just announced the final close of its Growth Capital Fund on тЌ1.2bn, and has made it clear that the firm will continue to look for new investment opportunities.
Debt markets go full circle
With senior leverage loans on the secondary debt market trading at around par, investors are returning to the primary market. Emanuel Eftimiu reports
Siparex to acquire part of UFG PE
Siparex, parent company of Sigefi Private Equity, is in exclusive negotiations with UFG-LFP to acquire part of its UFG Private Equity division.
Eurazeo appoints new board member
Eurazeo has appointed Fabrice de Gaudemar as a member of its executive board. He bas been a member of Eurazeo's Executive Committee since 2007, and is a member of Europcar Groupe's Board of Directors as Eurazeo's representative.
Avenir supports Initiatives & Energies Locals
Avenir Entreprises and Esfin Participations have invested in Initiatives & Energies Locals, a company specialsed in green energy solutions.
Elliot Advisors et al. support new €8m investment in Tagsys
Elliot Advisors, Endeavour Vision, Add Partners, DFJ Esprit and Saffron Hill Ventures have provided Tagsys, a semiconductor company, with an € 8m investment in a D-round of financing. The company has previously received $80m in investments.
Lexington Partners holds interim closing on $3bn
Secondaries specialist Lexington Partners has held an interim closing of its seventh fund, Lexington Capital Partners VII, on just over $3.1bn.
ICG Recovery Fund set to close
As the first quarter of the year comes to a close, recovery remains at the top of many businessesт agendas as more of them struggle to repay their loans. Firms like ICG are looking to take advantage of these situations with its new Recovery vehicle. Deborah...
Apollo to offer $50m worth of shares in IPO
Apollo Management is considering offering up to $50m worth of shares in an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange, according to a regulatory filing revealed yesterday.
France unquote March 2010
The industry expected 2010 would bring a few more exits to the table. For a while there was reason for these hopes to be high and many appeared to toy with the idea of IPOs returning. However, only some materialised often failing to meet expectations....
KRS appoints Arcano to manage European PE investments
US limited partner The Kentucky Retirement System (KRS) has mandated Spanish asset management firm Arcano Capital with its European and Latin American private equity investments.
Carlyle and EDF launch green analysis tool
The Carlyle Group and Environmental Defence Fund (EDF) has launched EcoValuScreen, a green analysis tool to be used in the due diligence processes before making an investment.
Atomico closes second fund on $165m
Early-stage technology investor Atomico has closed its second fund, Atomico Ventures II, on $165m.
Novitas hires Vareika; opens Luxembourg office
Corporate finance advisory firm Novitas Partners has hired Michale Vareika to head up its new Luxembourg office.
Taking stock of asset-based lending
ABFA's latest stats show a decrease in asset-based lending last year. But there are promising signs that the demand for this product could rise in 2010. Deborah Sterescu reports.
French PE subsidiaries change hands
Consolidation in the French private equity market continues at pace: Natixis is closing in on a deal with Axa Private Equity over the sale of a part of its private equity division, while the IDI Group has acquired AGF Private Equity from Allianz France....
360° CP invest € 2m in Smartdate
360° Capital Partners has provided Smartdate, an online dating website, with a € 2m investment. The company had previously received $400,000 from four business angels.