France
FRANCE – Wendel raises interest in Saint-Gobain to 20%
Wendel’s interest in listed company Saint-Gobain has been raised to 20.6% giving them 19.6% of the voting rights.
FRANCE – Eurazeo to exit Veolia Environment
Eurazeo is reportedly preparing to exit its 2.1% share in Veolia Environment. Veolia Environment is a supplier of environmental services for water management, energy services, transportation and waste management.
FRANCE - Capzanine purchase OFI’s interest in Bertrand Restauration
Capzanine has purchased OFI Private Equity Capital’s stake in Bertrand Restauration for EUR 1.7m.
FRANCE – TCR Capital Partners III holds final close on EUR 160m
TCR Capital Partners has announced the final closing of its third fund, TCR Capital Partners III, on EUR 160m, ahead of its EUR 150m target. TCR held a first close in March 2007 on EUR 100m. Around 40% of the investors are returning investors who had...
FRANCE – OFI launches takeover of Léon de Bruxelles
OFI Private Equity Capital and the management have launched a takeover bid for listed mussels restaurant chain Leon de Bruxelles for EUR 10.9m per share, an offer which values the company at EUR 64.9m. OFI currently owns a 38.13% stake in the company....
FRANCE - Edmond de Rothschild CP takes majority stake in Sotralu
Edmond de Rothschild Capital Partners has taken a majority stake in Sotralu, alongside CEO Thierry Sainte-Claire Deville and the members of the management team, who have increased their stakes. The deal saw AXA Private Equity and former CEO Jean Prunet...
FRANCE – Carlyle closes EUR 1.1bn deal
The Carlyle Group has completed the EUR 1.1bn deal for a 37.8% stake in telecommunications companies Numericable and Completel. Carlyle acquired the shares from Altice and Cinven, both of which have retained an approximately 30% stake.
FRANCE - Scottish Equity Partners lead B-round in Stentys
Scottish Equity Partners has led a EUR 11.5m B-round of financing in Stentys. Incumbent backer Sofinnova Partners also invested.
FRANCE - ICSO2 announces first close at EUR 63.5m
IRDI and ICSO Gestion have held a first close of their buy-out and growth capital FCPR fund, Icso2, at EUR 63.5m. The vehicle has a target of EUR 100m. S second close is planned for June.
FRANCE - European Commission sets deadline for PSG deal
The European Commission has set a deadline of April 23 for its inquiry into Colony Capital's proposed acquisition of French football club Paris Saint-Germain. Colony Capital is looking to acquire a majority stake in holding company Colfilm from Butler...
FRANCE – Crédit Agricole recruit Sophie Dano
Sophie Dano has joined Crédit Agricole’s Idia team as head of investments and marketing. She joins Crédit Agricole from IDI where she was marketing manager in charge of origination. Dano started her career at Crédit chimique.
FRANCE – Perfectis acquires Groupe Larosa
Perfectis Private Equity has acquired Groupe Larosa in a secondary LBO. Perfectis has taken a 60% stake in Groupe Larosa in a deal which represents an exit for IRDI. The management holds the remaining 40% of Groupe Larose.
EUROPE - Bain Capital closes EUR 3.5bn buyout fund
Bain Capital has closed its third European buyout fund with a total of EUR 3.5bn in commitments.
FRANCE – Crédit Argicole strengthens team
Crédit Argicole Private Equity has strengthened its team by recruiting Frantz Paulus as investment director in their co-investment team.
FRANCE – MBO Partenaires takes 35% stake in BFD
MBO Partenaires has taken a 35% minority stake in banking and finance information systems company BFD. The remaining stake is retained by founder Philippe Michelin. The senior debt package was provided by Société Générale and CIC.
EUROPE - EVCA data shows increased returns in 07
Private equity delivered increased returns for investors in 2007, with buyout funds the best performers, according to data from the European Venture Capital Association.
FRANCE – XAnge holds EUR 50m final close of first fund
XAnge Private Equity has held the final close of its first capital development fund, XPansion on EUR 50m. The fund was launched in July 2006.
FRANCE – Advent International grows team
Advent International has recruited Alice Escoffier as assistant director. Escoffier joined Advent from 3i where she worked for four years in the buyouts team.
FRANCE - Weinberg Capital Partners strengthens team
Weinberg Capital Partners has appointed Benoît Guigou as an analyst. Guigou joins Weinberg CP after three years at Ernst & Young.
FRANCE – AXA et al. finance EUR 10.5m second round in TxCell
Biotechnology company TxCell has received EUR 10.5m in a second round of funding from exisiting shareholders Auriga Partners, AXA Private Equity, Bioam Gestion, CDC Innovation and Seventure
FRANCE - CM-CIC Capital Privé backs buyout of EPS
CM-CIC Capital Privé has acquired industrial cleaning company EPS. CM-CIC funded the deal through its FIP Select Paris Rhône 5 and FIP Select France 6 funds.
FRANCE – Truffle backs consultancy in EUR 2m deal
Truffle Capital has pumped EUR 2.1m into French consultancy firm Eco-Carbone. The business was set up in 2001 as a specialist adviser for climate change mitigation. Eco-Carbone’s two main areas of focus are acting as a consultant to coal mines, and...
Mezzanine funds gather pace
Francois Rowell speaks to Olivier Bossan, leader of Argos Expansion's management team, about the rise of sponsorless mezzanine funds and what this means for the French private equity market