France
FRANCE - ABN Amro acquires Findis
ABN Amro Capital France has backed the buyout of household appliances distributor Findis, in a deal valuing the business at between EUR 40-50m.
GLOBAL - GE chairman keeps the pressure on private equity
In comments to the UK press, Jeffrey Immelt, the chairman of GE, has added his voice to the sceptical chorus surrounding private equity in recent months. His argument is based on a critique of the industry that sounded like the idiots guide to a buyout...
GLOBAL - $48.5bn deal for BCE the largest ever
The investment arm of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Teachers Private Capital, has joined forces with Providence Equity Partners and Madison Dearborn Partners to acquire BCE, Canada's largest telecom group. The $48.5bn price-tag will make it the...
SPAIN/FRANCE - CVC calls on cov-lite debt ahead of Altadis bid
CVC Capital Partners has reportedly secured EUR 12.8m in covenant-light debt to support its bid to acquire Franco-Spanish tobacco business Altadis, according to press reports.
FRANCE - IDI aims to raise additional EUR 50m
Mid-cap investor IDI is to launch a capital increase of EUR 50m, in order to boost its private equity activity and increase the liquiditiy and attractiveness of its shares.
FRANCE - Elior's acquisition of Vivae provides exit for Quartus
Quartus Gestion is set to divest its stake in contract catering group Vivaë, through a trade sale to Charterhouse and Chequers-backed restaurant giant Elior.
FRANCE - Siparex completes three exits
Siparex has generated between 24% and 30% IRR from each of its three latest exits.
FRANCE - Venture-backed Pertinence merges with Intercim
Paris-based Enterprise manufacturing intelligence specialist Pertinence has merged with manufacturing execution systems solution provider Intercim, allowing Seeft Venture, Advent Venture Partners and Partech Intenational to realise their stakes.
FRANCE - Coronis Systems sold to Elster Group
Coronis systems, a developer of ultra-low-power wireless solutions headquartered in Montpellier has been acquired by metering company Elster Group, providing an exit for Banexi Ventures and AXA Private Equity.
FRANCE - Argos Soditic leads MBO of FBH
Mid-market private equity firm Argos Soditic has backed the management buyout of Financiere Harlé Bickford, a real-estate-owning diversified family conglomerate in the field of pyrotechnics and radiocommunications.
FRANCE - Alyotech receives backing from Iris and CDC Entreprises
Iris Capital and CDC Entreprises have committed up to EUR 10m for technology consultancy group Alyotech.
FRANCE - Chausson Finance appoints Galileo's Christophe Viet as Partner
Venture corporate financier Chausson Finance has appointed former venture capital investment professional Christophe Viet as partner.
FRANCE - Lovells poaches Eversheds partner
Law firm Lovells has recruited Pascal de Moidrey for its Paris private equity practice.
FRANCE - Bluekiwi Software receives EUR 4m from Sofinnova Partners
Sofinnova Partners has invested EUR 4m in Blukiwi Software, a developer of collaborative software solutions for corporate environments.
FRANCE - CAPE backs MBI of Ocean
LCL Régions Développement, a fund managed by Crédit Agricole Private Equity (CAPE), has acquired a minority interest in Ocean on the occasion of the buyout of the company by two incoming entrepreneurs.
FRANCE - Siparex leads investment in OneDirect
The fund Siparex Midcap and the fund SES Iberian I, which is co-managed by the Siparex and Portugal's Espírito Santo group, have invested more than EUR 3m for a minority ownership interest in OneDirect, a telephone hardware distributor.
FRANCE - IT security specialist raises EUR 3m from EdRIP
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRIP) has invested EUR 3m in Exclsuive Networks, a distributor of IT security systems.
FRANCE - AFIC party highlights serentiy of French private equity
AFIC's annual bash was a chance for the industry's leaders to gather and witness the handing over of the trade body's presidency from Eurazeo's Patrick Sayer to Apax's Eddie Misrahi, who, in his inaugural speech, stressed the importance of unity between...
FRANCE - 21 Centrale Partners backs buyout of Groupe Sud Robinetterie
21 Centrale Partners has led the buyout of Groupe Sud Robinetterie (GSR), a manufacturer and distributor of high-end valves for the oil & gas, petrochemical, power generation and chemical industries. The deal was supported by senior and junior mezzanine...
FRANCE - ERCP makes 40% IRR from sale of H3S Group
Edmond de Rothschild Capital Partners (ERCP) has sold its controlling stake in special-interest free publishing business H3S Group to S3G, a subsidiary of the Sud-Ouest Group.
FRANCE - Marathon sale attracts De Agostini and Apax
In the sale of television producer Marathon, vendor Bridgepoint has received firm offers from De Agostini and Apax Partners, according to reports in the French press.
EUROPE - Schühsler replaces Loizaga as EVCA chairman
TVM Capital's managing partner Helmut Schühsler was officially elected as EVCA chairman for the period June 2007 to June 2008.
FRANCE - Astorg backs secondary buyout of Webhelp
Astorg Partners is set to acquire a majority stake in CRM specialist Webhelp. Vendor Barclays Private Equity will retain a minority interest in the business, while management is increasing its stake.
EUROPE - EVCA defiant on difficult day for private equity
The mood at the EVCA Symposium held in Rome today was defiant. On the day that the BVCA CEO stepped down the voices on this side of the Channel were clear: "Politicians should be careful what they wish for," warned Philippe Costeletos from Texas Pacific...