France
FRANCE - Noble Ventures invests EUR 7m into Ipanema
Noble Ventures has invested EUR 7m into traffic management systems provider Ipanema Technologies.
FRANCE - Sagard cedes CEPL for EUR 500m
Sagard has signed a definitive agreement to divest portfolio logistics company Compagnie Européenne de Prestations Logistiques (CEPL) to Arcapita, a Bahrain-based investment firm, in a secondary buyout valued at around EUR 500m.
US - Linklaters hires Jeffrey Schmidt for New York office
Linklaters has appointed Jeffrey Schmidt as partner in the New York office.
GLOBAL - Permira beefs up Asian presence
UK-based buyout house Permira has appointed longtime Goldman Sachs banker Henry Chen as its head for Greater China.
FRANCE - AXA PE ups stake in Carbone Lorraine
AXA Private Equity has increased its holding in listed electrical and materials company Carbone Lorraine from 10.5% to 11.43%.
EUROPE - Earlybird closes new fund on EUR 127m
Earlybird has held a final closing of its new fund Earlybird IV, with investors from Germany, the US, Asia and the Middle East committing EUR 127m towards the early-stage financing of young, innovative companies.
EUROPE - Apollo and Lazard join forces
US buyout house Apollo Management and investment bank Lazard have announced a strategic partnership for private equity in Europe.
GLOBAL - Private equity investments drop 40%
A new report published by International Financial Services London has revealed that private equity investments have declined by approximately 40% in the first half of 2008 compared to the corresponding period last year.
EUROPE - RBS et al sell ABN assets for £156m
Reports suggest that Royal Bank of Scotland, alongside Fortis and Santander bank, has sold a portfolio of seven private equity assets controlled by ABN Amro to a consortium led by Goldman Sachs in a deal thought to be worth around £156m.
GLOBAL - Secondaries market set to grow as credit crunch squeezes returns
The private equity secondaries market could see strong growth in activity in 2008 in the wake of fears of underperformance in large buyout funds, with US private company exchange Nyppex estimating that total value could reach a record breaking USD 18bn...
FRANCE - Belvedere in talks with private equity
Drinks manufacturer Belvedere is reportedly in talks with several private equity houses regarding the potential sale of around 400,000 of its listed shares, representing a 15% stake in the business.
FRANCE - PAI-backed SPIE acquires Groupe Juret
PAI Partners portfolio company SPIE has acquired Groupe Juret, a provider of electrical solutions and air condition services.
GLOBAL - Blackstone forms cleantech group
The Blackstone Group has formed a cleantech group, which will both make investments and advise Blackstone portfolio companies on renewable energy strategies.
A Pipe Dream Or Reality?
Andrew Carpenter and Mike Hinchliffe of Addleshaw Goddard on why PIPEs may make a lot of sense
FRANCE - AGF PE increase stake in Bioalliance to 5%
AGF Private Equity has increased its stake in biopharmaceutical business Bioalliance Pharma to 5.06%.
GLOBAL - Syndicate eyes up Rio Tinto Alcan division
A private equity syndicate comprising Eurazeo, Apollo, AXA Private Equity, TPG and la Caisse des Dépots are considering an offer for mining company Rio Tinto Alcan’s aeronautics and automotive unit, Alcan Engineered Products, which could value the...
FRANCE - OFI acquires 65% stake in hair care company Dessange
OFI Private Equity Capital has acquired 65% stake in hair care and beauty salon firm Dessange International in a deal valued at about EUR 80m. The firm has acquired the stake from company founder Jacques Dessange, his partners Daniel Conte and Michel...
FRANCE – Colony looks for new investor for PSG
Colony Capital and Charles Villeneuve are seeking new financial investors to acquire Morgan Stanley’s stake in football club Paris Saint Germain.
WORLD - Blackstone opens Beijing office
The Blackstone Group will open a representative office in Beijing and has appointed Shan Fu, a former official with various economic bodies within the Chinese government, as its chief representative.
FRANCE - Turenne Capital acquires Groupe Idé
Turenne Capital alongside Christophe Héral has acquired computer graphics business Groupe Idé in a deal valued at EUR 3m.
FRANCE - Sofinnova acquires mobile manufacturer Sagem
Sofinnova has acquired mobile phone manufacturer Sagem from Saffran Group.