France
FRANCE - Atos Origin weighs its options out
French computer services company Atos Origin has confirmed it is exploring strategic options. The supervisory and management boards have mandated Rothschild and Goldman Sachs to run the process.
FRANCE - Camaieu sold to Cinven
AXA Private Equity will sell its controlling shareholding in clothing brand Camaïeu to Cinven, at a unitary share price of EUR 267. The offer values the target at EUR 1.6bn.
FRANCE - Speculation over Apollo's interest in Valeo
US private equity firm Apollo is considering a bid for French auto parts business Valeo, according to market rumours.
FRANCE - Barclays PE backs secondary buyout of Kermel
Barclays Private Equity has led the secondary buyout of aramide fibres manufacturer Kermel, alongside management and previous investor Argos Soditic.
FRANCE - Rexel launches EUR 1.015bn IPO
Private equity-backed electrical equipment distributor Rexel has submitted details of its planned IPO to the French financial market authorities.
FRANCE - New player in French mezzanine - Audacia
Charles Beidbeder has announced the launched of Audacia, a new structure providing warrant-less mezzanine directly to French SMEs.
FRANCE - IPO announces 2006 results
Small-cap listed fund IPO has disclosed its performance figures for 2006.
EUROPE - Covenant-lite loans stoke heavy fears
Reports of banks accepting тcovenant-liteт loans to win deals has worried industry professionals. тIt is due to an oversupply of capital and a very clear sign of an overheated market,т one banker said. тIt is a bad structure and will come unstuck т we...
FRANCE - Weinberg pilots secondary buyout of Via Location
Weinberg Capital Partners has taken a majority stake of truck rental business Via Location. The deal means an exit for Edmond de Rothschild Capital Partners (ERCP).
FRANCE - MBO Partenaires invests in dried fruit distributor
French mid-cap private equity firm MBO Partenaires has backed the buyout of Daco, a distributor of dried fruits.
FRANCE - Consortium wins Saur exclusivity
A syndicate led by state-backed CDC and including industrial company Séché Environnement and AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) has won exclusivity in an auction for water business Saur. According to reports in the French press, the price obtained by vendor...
FRANCE - Global Private Equity hires US LP specialist
International placement agent Global Private Equity has appointed Gayle Jackson as senior consultant.
FRANCE - Atos Origin denies buyout rumours
Computer services company Atos Origin has announced it has not signed any agreement relating to financial operations on its shareholding.
FRANCE - Close Brothers creates small-cap team based in Lyon
Corporate Financier Close Brothers has created a team dedicated to small cap M&A for companies valued at less than EUR 30m.
FRANCE - Aurel Nextstage publishes FCPI performance
Small-cap private equity firm Aurel-Nextstage has published the latest performance figures for its FCPI funds.
EUROPE - No overhang, but concerns regarding returns say LPs
'There is no capital overhang,' according to Urs Wietlisbach at Partners Group, speaking at the EVCA Investors' Forum in Geneva on Wednesday. As Thomson revealed that nearly EUR 90bn was raised for investment last year, panelists were quick to point out...
GLOBAL - S&P launches industry index
In a move that underlines the increasing significance of private equity, ratings agency Standard & Poorтs has launched a new index to track the industryтs performance. The tracker will follow the 25 most liquid private equity firms around the globe.
FRANCE - CDC CI acquires 66% of Feu Vert
CDC Capital Investissement has acquired 66% of Cofidim, a holding comprising car servicing business Feu Vert, spare parts distributor Impex, and windshield repair company Mondiale Par-Brise.
FRANCE - Sofinnova and Ventech invest EUR 6.5m in new music standard
Sofinnova Partners and Ventech have invested in the fist round of funding in MXP4, a start-up which has created technology allowing artists to create non-linear, interactive music.
FRANCE - Candidates prepare bids for Saur
LBO France, Terra Firma, AXA Private Equity and Eurazeo are said to mulling bids for water utility company Saur, according to reports in the French press.
FRANCE - CDC Capital Investissement hires three investors
CDC Capital Investissement (CDC CI) has poached three new investors from Sigefi, Ernst & Young and Natexis Investissement Partners.
FRANCE - AtriA sells Clextral to Legris Industries
AtriA Capital Partenaires has sold its 43% stake in extrusion equipment manufacturer Clextral, to Chequers-backed Legris Indutries.
FRANCE - IPO invests EUR 700,000 in Armor Panneaux
The Institut de Participation de l'Ouest (IPO) has invested EUR 700,000 in Armor Panneaux, a Brittany-based manufacturer of composite pannels layered with polyester.
FRANCE - Emertec generates at least 88% IRR and >3x on latest sale
Grenoble-based Emertec Gestion has generated an IRR of 88% and a money multiple in excess of 3x, following the sale of Eco Alternative to a large industrial company.