France
EUROPE - Cognetas hires adviser
Pan-European buyout house Cognetas has hired David Pusinelli as senior adviser specialising in financial services.
EUROPE - Bridgepoint closes fourth fund EUR 800m above target
Bridgepoint has closed its fourth fund, Bridgepoint Europe IV Fund, on more than EUR тЌ4.8bn - well above its original target of тЌ4bn.
FRANCE - SGAM AI invests EUR 3.5m into Biosystems
SGAM AI, alongside several business angels and an undisclosed European pharmaceuticals company, has invested EUR 3.5m into biotechnology business Biosystems International (BSI).
FRANCE - 123 Venture backs balloon manufacturer
123 Venture has invested EUR 2.4m into Aerophile, a tethered gas balloon manufacturer, distributor and operator.
EUROPE - Private equity investment drops to four year low
Figures published today in the unquote" Private Equity Barometer, produced in association with Candover, reveal that the total value of private equity-backed investments fell to less than EUR 20m between July and September - a 35% drop on the previous...
FRANCE/UK - Platina converts to LLP
Platina Partners has adpoted LLP status.
EUROPE - EVCA appoints new chairman of Tax and Legal Committee
The European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA) has appointed Fabio Brunelli as the new chairman of its Tax and Legal Committee.
FRANCE - CDC Entreprises invests EUR 4m into Groupe Cap'Cinéma
CDC Entreprises, through its funds Patrimoine & Création and Fonds de co-investissement, has invested EUR 4m into Ciné Invest, the holding company of cinema operator Groupe Cap’Cinéma.
FRANCE - 3i sells Transports Alloin
3i, alongside the management team, has wholly exited its stake in Transports Alloin to Swiss sector player Kühne + Nagel.
FRANCE - Duke Street acquires Biomnis for EUR 217m
Duke Street has acquired French medical analysis specialist Biomnis in a deal valued at EUR 217m.
FRANCE – AXA postpones sale of Skyrock.com
Reports suggest that AXA Private Equity's proposed sale of the Skyrock.com blogging platform could be postponed as there have been no offers of interest.
FRANCE - Pechel III holds final close on EUR 165m
Pechel Industries Partenaires has held its final close of its new fund, Pechel Industries III, on EUR 165m; ahead of its EUR 150m target but within the hard-cap of EUR 180m.
The last resort?
With the ongoing turmoil in the banking sector continuing to limit the availability of debt financing, buyout houses seem to be increasingly turning to asset based lenders to fill the liquidity void. By Ashley Wassall
FRANCE - Sigefi opens Strasbourg office
Sigefi, the management firm of Groupe Siparex, has opened a new office in Strasbourg, which will be headed up from 1 January 2009 by Nathanaël Martin.
Performance data: using returns to predict returns
Gaining access to reliable performance data has become something of a holy grail for private equity professionals seeking to stay one step ahead of the market, but it has historically be difficult to find. Is this set to change?
EUROPE - Beechbrook launches maiden fund with USD 75m
Beechbrook Capital has launched its first fund, Beechbrook Mezzanine I LP, with an initial commitment of up to USD 75m.
EUROPE - smac partners closes new secondaries fund
Munich-based venture capital firm smac partners has closed its new secondaries vehicle, smac partners fund III, which will be advised by UK-based Headway Capital Partners.
FRANCE - Ventech et al invest EUR 8m into Augure
New investors Ventech and Serena Capital have joined returning backers Société Générale Asset Management (SGAM AI), OTC Asset Management and Ouest Ventures in an EUR 8m fourth funding round for software business Augure.
UK/GERMANY - Electra Partners invests EUR 45m into Steadfast fund
Electra Partners has purchased a significant interest in Steadfast Capital Fund I, managed by Steadfast Capital GmbH, for EUR 45m.
GLOBAL - CIC to increase stake in Blackstone
According to reports, Chinaтs sovereign wealth fund, China Investment Corp (CIC), is planning to increase its stake in Blackstone Group from 9.9 per cent to 12.5 per cent.
FRANCE - CIC acquires ORC
CIC LBO Partners has supported the management buyout of public relations and human resources advisory firm ORC Image et Stratégies d’Employeur, alongside CM-CIC Capital Privé.
FRANCE - Advent spins out Experian card processing unit
Advent International, along with La Poste subsidiary Doc@post, has acquired the transaction processing activities of information processing business Experian France for a total consideration of EUR 203m.
FRANCE - Astorg promotes Couturier to partner
Astorg Partners has promoted director of investments Christian Couturier to partner.