France
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, China’s 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.
FRANCE - Fonds Partenaires sells Burgienne to 3M
Fonds Partenaires Gestion has sold licence plate manufacturer Financière Burgienne to US-based company 3M via an auction process run by Hawkpoint.
FRANCE - Argos Soditic strengthens team
Argos Soditic has hired Constance Jay to lead their investor relations team in Paris.
FRANCE - Ouest Ventures to launch EUR 50m fund
According to reports, Ouest Ventures is to launch its second fund in November with a target of EUR 50m.
FRANCE - Somfy acquires Sirem
Somfy has acquired an 89% stake in Financière Nouveau Monde, the new holding company of pump and motor manufacturer Sirem, with the management team led by Nicolas Ciampi holding the balance of the equity.
FRANCE - 21 Centrale Partners sells AFU to Amlin
21 Centrale has wholly exited its investment in Anglo French Underwriters (AFU), an underwriting agent for Lloyd’s of London in France, to Amlin Plc, a UK based insurance and reinsurance company.
EUROPE - EVCA study reveals little improvement in tax and legal environment
The European Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (EVCA) has published its fourth Benchmarking study of European tax and legal environments, with the results revealing that there has been little overall improvement in conditions since the previous...
FRANCE - Chequers Capital acquires Cenexi
Chequers Capital, formerly Charterhouse France, has backed the buyout of pharmaceutical products manufacturer Cenexi from Hoffmann-La Roche (Roche). Chequers will take a majority stake in the business, with the management and mezzanine provider Indigo...
FRANCE - 360º leads EUR 5m financing of E-Blink
360º Capital Partners has lnvested EUR 3.5m as part of a EUR 5m funding round for telecommunications company E-Blink, with returning investors I-Source Gestion and Alven Capital providing the balance.
FRANCE - Apax seeking to divest Morgan
Apax Partners is reportedly seeking to exit its investment in Prêt-a-Porter fashion brand Morgan, with Emerisque, the investment company belonging to Lee Cooper owner Ajay Khaitan, believed to have shown interest in acquiring the business.
FRANCE - CAPE acquires Sepchat and Ludovic Le Gall
Crédit Agricole Private Equity (CAPE), through CACI 3, has completed the dual acquisition of recycling businesses Sepchat and Ludovic. The companies will be merged into a single entity, in which CAPE will hold a 60% stake.
FRANCE - OSEO leads EUR 11.5m Crocus funding
OSEO has provided EUR 3m of an EUR 11.5m financing round for Crocus Technology, a developer of magnetic random access memory, with the balance being provided by existing investors AGF Private Equity, CDC Innovation, NanoDimension, Sofinnova and Ventech.
FRANCE - CAPE invests in Melkonian
Crédit Agricole Private Equity and Sofipaca have backed the buyout of Groupe Melkonian, a producer of mining materials, alongside the Melkonian family.
FRANCE - Alven Capital strengthen team
Alven Capital has hired Jérémy Uzan as investment manager.
FRANCE - AXA PE and CDC in partial exit of Saur
AXA Private Equity and Caisse des Dépôts (CDC) have sold a portion of their interest in Hime, the holding company of water services business the Saur Group, to CUBE Infrastructure.
FRANCE - Atlas and OTC make EUR 10m Inspirational investment
New investor Atlas Venture and returning backer OTC Asset Management have invested EUR 10m in a second round of funding for e-commerce specialist Inspirational Stores.
FRANCE - Argos acquires LEXSI
Argos Soditic has acquired a majority stake in security consultancy Laboratoire d’Expertise en Sécurité Informatique (LEXSI) as part of a management buyout transaction, with founder Jöel Rivière and the management retaining the balance of the equity.
FRANCE - City Star becomes Clavel Investissement
City Star Private Equity, the company founded by Laurence Albertini and Jean-Louis Charon in 2004 has changed its name to Clavel Investissement.