France
ESI Group draws EQT, Hg, Thoma Bravo interest
Listed French industrial software maker has drawn wide interest from sponsors and strategic players
Bregal Milestone closes second tech fund on EUR 770m
European technology investor has around 60% dry powder remaining to deploy in its latest fund
52 Entertainment sale enters final round in sponsor-heavy auction
PE owner HLD invested in the Paris-based gaming platform in 2018; it has since made nine add-ons
European VCs need to match actions to words by increasing funding to female-led companies
Women-led startups usually receive less than 2% of VC capital, but more diverse, defensible female-founded businesses emerging
Eurazeo halves deployment and PE fundraising in Q1 amid ‘complex and uncertain’ environment
GP has EUR 7.7bn dry powder across its strategies and remains assured of its potential to make exits in H2 2023
Unquote Private Equity Podcast: Taking the plunge - GPs dive into alternative pools of capital
The Unquote team is joined by Thomas Eskebæk, CEO of private markets platform Titanbay, to discuss private markets’ search for alternative sources of commitments
Cerea Partners raises EUR 700m-plus for multi-asset food and beverage funds
France-headquartered GP is on the road for vehicles across its private equity, mezzanine and senior debt strategies
PAI Partners to acquire The Looping Group from Mubadala Capital
GP will take a majority stake in French leisure park operator via its latest flagship vehicle, PAI Fund VIII
Heran Partners nears full deployment of debut fund, mulls next fundraise
Health tech-focused VC is seeking three further software and hardware deals from EUR 75m debut vehicle
GP Profile: Ardian Expansion doubles down on generalist approach, eyes EUR 3bn Q2 fundraise launch
With its current EUR 1.5bn fifth fund almost at full deployment, Ardian’s Expansion strategy expects to benefit from LP appetite for its strategy ahead of EUR 3bn fundraise
Carbon Equity open to commitments for new impact fund with EUR 125m hard-cap
Netherlands-based fund-of-funds manager will broaden its strategy to incorporate co-investments for its second fund
VC Profile: Klima lines up green energy deals from EUR 210m debut fund
Franco-Spanish Alantra and Enagás-backed VC initiative expects to lay the foundations for its second fund in 2024
CVC Credit targets EUR 7bn for new European direct lending fund
Fresh fundraise follows the EUR 6.3bn final close for the strategy's predecessor vehicle in December 2022
Women in VC: MMV’s Brunet on tech opportunities and navigating volatile markets
Alix Brunet speaks to Unquote about the VC firm’s deal pipeline and how it is engaging with portfolio companies and new founders
Kartesia’s management to take majority stake in Flexam
Pan-European capital solutions provider’s partnership with France-based fund manager will add real-asset financing to its offering
Podcast: Q1 2023 - Bank runs, fund home runs and markets come undone
Unquote’s reporting team discuss themes that have arisen in Q1 2023, ranging from liquidity management to venture and growth activity
The Bolt-Ons Digest – 17 April 2023
Unquote’s selection of the latest add-ons with Triton's BFC Group, Seven2's Groupe Crystal, Palatine's FourNet and more
VC fundraising sinks further with lowest Q1 in a decade
Eight European firms secured just over EUR 2bn in commitments in Q1 2023 as continuing uncertainty suppresses LPs’ risk appetite, but fundraising pipeline looks promising
Charterhouse transfers Sagemcom to AlpInvest-backed continuation fund - filings
GP will make a return of over 5x MOIC on the deal for French telecoms business
Spending bottom dollar: Valuation gaps take Q1 buyout levels back to 2009
Sponsors make just 95 buyouts in Europe in the first quarter - a figure not seen since Sony sold 12m floppy discs in one year
PE roll-up strategies face regulatory heat with focus on consumer industries
With longer holding periods facilitating more bolt-ons, regulators including the UK's CMA are intervening
VC Profile: Hi Inov in pre-marketing for next fund, outlines plans to wrap up Fund II investment period
France and Germany-based early-stage investor has made 15 of its up to 20 planned investments from its EUR 100m Fund II
GP Profile: Metric Capital confident of structured capital strategy demand with multiple exits in pipeline
UK-based sponsor banks on appeal of its strategy as an alternative to private equity and debt providers
KKR holds USD 8bn European Fund VI buyout fund close with 12.5%-plus GP commitment
European Fund VI will deploy equity tickets of EUR 250m-750m in six core sectors