France
FRANCE – Sofinnova et al. inject EUR 7m into Qosmos
A syndicate comprising Sofinnova, Alven Capital and GFK AG has invested EUR 7m into software company Qosmos in a third financing round.
EUROPE – Keravac joins Campbell Lutyens from Calyon
Unquote” can reveal that Jean-Phillppe Keravec is to join private equity advisory firm Campbell Lutyens in June as a partner. Keravec joins the practice from Calyon’s private placement team.
GLOBAL – Morgan Stanley close USD 4bn fund
Morgan Stanley has announced the closing of a USD 4bn private equity fund dedicated to infrastructure projects. The fund far exceeded its initial USD 2.5bn target and is one of the largest infrastructure funds raised to date.
GLOBAL – Cerberus seeks Eastern alliance
According to sources Cerberus Capital Management, is in the midst of talks with Chinese sovereign wealth fund CIC about a possible co-operation agreement. The talks come on the heels of CIC’s investment in Blackstone last year, under the terms of which...
FRANCE - VC consortium exits Realviz
A venture capital consortium consisting of Intel Capital, Eurazeo, MVI Sverige, HPI Holding SA, Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners and Solaris Asset Management have all realised their investments in Realviz after it was purchased in its entirety...
UK/GERMANY - Exponent investee company buys Hobsons
Target Holdings Ltd, a recruitment business and portfolio company of Exponent Private Equity, has acquired UK- and Germany-based graduate recruitment business Hobsons Plc for £26m.
EUROPE - ACP plans to raise €150m
ACP Mezzanine Ltd has announced plans to raise €150m in a secondary share placement to fund its strong deal pipeline.
FRANCE – Activa takes 37% stake in Sport 2000
Activa Capital has acquired a 37% stake in sports retailer Sport 2000. The deal will lead to a demutualisation of the company's current co-operative structure and the regroupment of all 398 ‘co-op’ members to transform it into a private company structure.
FRANCE - Colony and Eurazeo to raise stakes in Accor to 30%
Colony Capital and Eurazeo plan to raise their stakes in publicly listed Accor to a combined total of 30%. On 13 May 2008 Eurazeo will thus own 19,561,291 shares, which is 8.5% of Accor’s share capital, and over time will seek to increase this position...
EUROPE – PAI close EUR 5.4bn fund
PAI partners has held the final close of PAI Europe V on EUR 5.4bn. The fund is the largest ever raised in Continental Europe.
FRANCE – BPE to divest Converteam
Barclays Private Equity (BPE) is reportedly seeking to divest its power conversion portfolio company Converteam. An auction process, which could see the company sell for around EUR 1bn, has attracted interest from a number of private equity houses.
FRANCE – EdRIP supports duel acquisitions for CEME
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners' (EdRIP) portfolio company Compagnie d’Entreprises Mechaniques et Electroniques (CEME), which comprises a number of diverse industrial businesses, has completed the joint acquisitions of air conditioning specialists...
GLOBAL - BC Partners to bid for Kroll
It was reported today that BC Partners has recruited David Buchler, former chairman at restructuring business Kroll, now at security group Marsh & McLennan, to lead the buyout of Kroll.
EUROPE - Headway closes fund
Headway Capital Partners has closed its second private equity secondaries fund, Headway Investment Partners II, LP at €150m.
EUROPE - European Capital to halt equity investing
Reports today suggest that European Capital, the private equity arm of alternative asset manager American Capital, is to cease its European buyout activities at the behest of its parent due to the worsening economic climate.
EUROPE – Houlihan Lokey names new VP debt advisory team
Houlihan Lokey, the international investment bank, has announced the appointment of Richard Clark as vice president in the Debt Advisory team.
FRANCE – IPO invests in Maisons Socoren
IPO has invested in construction company Maisons Socoren. The investment will be used to consolidate it’s position in the market as well as continue the company’s development program.
Ready for restructure?
An economic slowdown and tightened liquidity are putting strain on portfolio companies. Private equity houses will need to initiate effective restructuring or see turnaround players and activist investors swoop for distressed assets, writes Nathan Williams