France
FRANCE - Vermeer Capital closes distressed fund on EUR 75m
Vermeer Capital has held the first closing of its maiden fund of the same name on EUR 75m. The fund will focus on turnarounds of distressed companies. The closing is shy of the EUR 90m hard cap which the next closing is expected to be near to.
EUROPE - EIIB creates private equity practice
The European Islamic Investment Bank has established a private equity and corporate advisory department based in London.
GLOBAL – Industry leaders outline challenges at BVCA summit
At today's BVCAтs 25th Anniversary VIP Summit, run in association with unquoteт, market leaders hammered out what they believe to be the major challenges facing the industry in the year to come.
FRANCE – Meridiam closes EUR 600m infrastructure fund
Crédit Agricole subsidiary Meridiam Infrastructure has closed a EUR 600m fund. The fund will be dedicated to investments in infrastructure projects financed by public/private partnership contracts or subject to concessions.
FRANCE – Demeter injects EUR 1.5m in TREZ
Demeter Partners has invested EUR 1.5m in TREZ in a first round of financing. TREZ plans to industrialise an innovative patented zinc-bearing hazardous waste process originating from the surface treatment industry. The financing round will be used to...
WORLD - Warburg Pincus closes $15bn fund
Warburg Pincus has closed its latest fund, Warburg Pincus Private Equity X on $15bn. The fund has a broad investment remit focusing on early-stage investments through to buyouts and special situations.
FRANCE – Blackstone seeking Vitalia Exit
The Blackstone Group is reportedly seeking to divest healthcare clinic operator Vitalia. The company has 46 clinics and generates around EUR 650 million in revenues.
FRANCE – OFI set to acquire Gault et Fremont
OFI Private Equity has signed an agreement with LBO France to purchase Gault et Fremont. The deal will see LBO France exit its interest in the company while OFI will hold a yet to be determined majority share alongside the management.
FRANCE – Crédit Agricole invests in Conexia
Crédit Agricole Private Equity and Vaorem have purchased a 49% stake in Conexia Energy. Crédit Agricole made the investment via Capenergie, its FCPR energy fund. Vaorem is a developer and operator of wind farms based in Bègles.
FRANCE – Apax set to buy shares in Altran
Apax Partners will take part in a EUR 130m capital increase in Altran Technologies Company by July 31. The price per share price will be between EUR 5 and EUR 6.
FRANCE – Bridgepoint promotes two to associate
Bridgepoint Capital has named Xavier Robert and Vincent Briancon as associates. Robert started his career at Ernst & Young Audit before moving to Bridgepoint in 1998. He was named director in 2005 and had been working in the London office for the past...
WORLD - CVC closes $4.1bn Asia Pacific Fund
CVC Capital Partners has closed its third fund dedicated to investments in the Asia Pacific region, CVC Capital Partners Asia Pacific III, on $4.1bn. It is the biggest ever private equity fund raised in the region.
FRANCE - Butler Capital Partners recruits two
Lionel Mestre has joined Butler Capital Partners as a director. Previously Mestre spent three years with PricewaterhouseCoopers and ten years with PAI.
FRANCE – CAPE invests EUR 3m in Splendia
Crédit Agricole Private Equity has invested EUR 3m in Splendia in a second round of financing alongside historic investor Alven Capital. The company has collected EUR 5m in investments since 2006.
FRANCE - Crédit Agricole Private Equity launches two FCPI innovation funds
Crédit Agricole Private Equity has launched two FCPI innovation funds. The new FCPIs, Crédit Agricole Europe Innovation 2008 and LCL Capital Invest PME, will be offered to Crédit Agricole's high net worth customers in the regional banks and private banks...
FRANCE – MBO Partenaires takes 50% stake in insurance company
MBO Partenaires has taken a stake of around 50% in property insurance company Lyonnaise de Garantie, backing the buyout of the firm by the company's two managers, Daniel Brèches and Pierre Belin.
FRANCE – Siparex closes EUR 150m fund
Sigefi Private Equity subsidiary Siparex Group has closed Siparex Middle Market II on EUR 150m. The new fund will make growth capital/LBO investments ranging between EUR 5m to EUR 15m in SMEs with valuations of up to EUR 150 m.
FRANCE – Edmond de Rothschild backs electronic systems solutions company
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners has invested EUR 1.4m in Innovation Developpment’s holding company ID finance with management investing EUR 2.2m. Senior debt was provided by Banque Populaire and Crédit Agricole Nord-est.
France – I-Source and 360º inject EUR 2.4m in Iminent
I-Source Gestion and incumbent backer 360º Capital Partners have injected EUR 2.4m into Iminent in a second round of financing. The company has had a total EUR 5.4m of investments to date.
SWITZERLAND/FRANCE – Argos Soditic tucks into Valora
Argos Soditic has bought three food production companies from Swiss logistics and retail holding company Valora Holding AG. Switzerland-based Roland Murten AG and Kägi Söhne AG and French company Cansimag France SA have been acquired for an undisclosed...
Public markets and private equity
Conditions in the public markets present an opportunity on the acquisition front but restrict exit options
Infra a shock
The liquidity bubble came to define the term infrastructure and gave a false picture of market depth. Private equity firmsт keen on snatching a piece of the infrastructure pie should be warned: there may not be enough to go around.
List-en to my fund
Listed funds suffered badly on the back of the liquidity crisis and negative press in 2007, with wide discounts the norm. Could investors be missing a trick or is there good reason to shy away?