France
FRANCE - Oséo backs EUR 580,000 Neli financing
Start-up business Neli Technologies, which develops technology for the digital television sector, has secured EUR 580,000 in new financing, with EUR 260,000 coming from Oséo, EUR 220,000 from business angels, EUR 100,000 from Bretagne Jeunes Entreprises,...
FRANCE - ASI invests in Drimki
Ambient Sound Investments (ASI) has completed a seed round investment in Drimki.
FRANCE - TechFund leads EUR 5m investment into Miyowa
TechFund Europe, alongside Crédit Agricole Private Equity, has invested EUR 5m into software company Miyowa in a second round of financing. Venture capital firms Techfund and Sophia Euro have both previously supported the company with EUR 1.5m, taking...
FRANCE - AXA PE portfolio company acquires Dylon
AXA Private Equity portfolio company Spotless group has acquired UK-based company Dylon international limited.
FRANCE - AGF PE continues to back Yoono
AGF Private Equity has returned for a EUR 4m round of financing for Yoono, a software developer. Previously AGF Private Equity had invested EUR 1.7m in first round of funding in 2006.
FRANCE - Abénex Capital strengthens team
Jérome Vandermarcq has joined Abénex Capital as manager.
The problem with pension funds
With pension liabilities increasing buyouts of pension funds are on the rise, but what are the implications for private equity? By Ashley Wassall
FRANCE - XAnge leads EUR 3.1m investment in Luneau Technology
XAnge has led a EUR 3.1m third round of financing for Luneau Technology, a company that specialises in the development of ophthalmic technologies. The private equity house invested EUR 2.5m via its fund XPansion, with the balance being provided by Califfe...
FRANCE - PAI increases share in Atos Origin to 18%
PAI partners has acquired a 17.9% stake in computer services company Atos Origin, becoming the largest single shareholder ahead of active investors Pardus and Centaurus Capital, which collectively own 23%. PAI purchased around 5 million shares at a price...
EUROPE - EVCA publishes study on global scenario for private equity
A new report by the EVCA, Global Scenarios for Private Equity and Venture Capital, presents four potential scenarios for global economic development over the coming decade and the impact these will have on the development of the private equity industry....
EUROPE - Jonathan Russell appointed new EVCA chairman
The board of the EVCA has elected Jonathan Russell, managing partner of buyouts at 3i, as its new chairman for the year 2008-2009.
UK - EVCA final figures show record investment in 2007
The EVCA has released its final figures for private equiity activity in 2007, with the report showing that a record EUR 73.8bn was invested across Europe, EUR 2.6bn higher than in 2006.
FRANCE - Granville Baird portfolio company makes acquisition
Granville Baird's portfolio company Zarges Tubesca Group has acquired aviation ground equipment company Group Albret. The transaction was financed with a debt-only package.
FRANCE - Weinberg Capital Partners strengthens team
Yann Ballan has been appointed Vice-President at Weinberg Capital Partners and will oversee the acquisition and management of real estate assets.
FRANCE - EUR 2bn Converteam deal provides partial exit for BPE
According to reports, Barclays Private Equity (BPE) has completed a partial exit of power conversion engineering company Converteam in what is set to be the largest secondary buyout of the year, with a value of around EUR 2bn, backed by LBO France.
FRANCE - LBO France to divest Cegelec
According to reports, LBO France and the management team have entered exclusive negotiations with Qatari Diar after seeing around ten offers tabled for electrical engineering group Cegelec. The asking price is thought to be around EUR 1.7bn.
EUROPE - Lazard recruits Wouter Gabriels
Lazard has recruited Wouter Gabriels as managing director in investment banking in Europe.
SWITZERLAND/FRANCE – Argos Soditic divests food companies after one month
Argos Soditic has agreed to sell Roland Murten AG and Cansimag France SA to Swiss food company Cornu SA for an undisclosed amount. This follows just one month after Argos Soditic acquired the two businesses, together with a third company, Kägi Söhne AG,...
GLOBAL - 3i Infrastructure raises fresh funds
Despite the current sombre economic backdrop, 3i Infrastructure has launched a ТЃ114.6m new share issue to increase its warchest for investing in global infrastructure assets. The firm is issuing just over 108 million new shares at a price of 106 pence...
EUROPE - Industri Kapital re-brands as IK Investment Partners
Industri Kapital has changed its name to IK Investment Partners (IK) to mark the evolution of the firmтs investment and geographic focus.
GLOBAL - TPG en route to closing record buyout fund
TPG Capital's latest fund is well on course to top Blackstone Group's record USD 21.7bn offering last year, reports suggest. The news comes just a day after it was reported that China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange has invested more than USD...
GLOBAL - China invests USD 2.5bn in TPG fund
China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange has agreed to invest more than USD 2.5bn in the latest TPG fund.
GLOBAL - LPs concern over GP strategy shift
According to a global barometer by Coller Capital, global LPs are worried about recent GP strategy shifts as the credit crisis continues to bite.
FRANCE – 21 Investimenti acquires 80% stake in Club Med Gym
21 Investimenti has acquired an 80% stake in Club Med Gym in a deal valued at EUR 74m.