France
FRANCE - Fonds Partenaires sells Fahrenheit to EDF
French private equity firm Fonds Partenaires has realised its investement in gas-powered boilers maintenance company Fahrenheit.
FRANCE - Direct Energie receives additional funding
Crédit Agricole Private Equity (CAPE), CITA Gestion and NBGI Ventures have renewed their commitments in the third round financing of Direct Energie. As a result of the transaction, industrial Group Louis Dreyfus takes a two third equity stake, financial...
FRANCE - Bridgepoint suspends Médica IPO decision
Because of particularly unfavourable market conditions, Bridgepoint has abandonned its project to float Médica. The equity house will review its options over the coming weeks
FRANCE - GPs exits Directinet with 6x returns
A syndicate of investors including Pyramid venture Capital, I-Source Gestion, zCorporate, Angel Invest, Afipa, MMA, Groupama, Casino Rally and Avenir Tourisme France has realised its investment in Directinet, with a money multiple in excess of 6x.
FRANCE - Banexi Ventures makes investment into wi-fi rabbit maker
In its second deal this month, Banexi Ventures Partners has injected EUR 3m in Violet's first round of financing.
FRANCE - Acto acquires warehouse storage company
Acto has backed the LBO of Locabri, for an undisclosed sum.
FRANCE - Industri Kapital acquires French laboratories in tertiary buyout
Industri Kapital has acquired a majority stake of Group Cerba from Astorg Partners for about EUR 160m. To secure this buyout, the European private equity firm defeated APAX Partners, 3i and PPM Capital in a competitive auction. The deal should be completed...
FRANCE - Duke Street reinforces its French team
Didier Bismuth joins Duke Street Capital as a partner in its French office.
FRANCE - Crocus technology attracts EUR 13.5m on first round
Sofinnova ventures, Ventech, CDC Entreprises Innovation, AGF Private Equity, Sofinnova Partners and NanoDimension participated in the EUR13.5m round of financing.
FRANCE - Capzanine recruits Benoit Choppin
Capzanine has added 26-year-old Benoit Choppin to its team of eight investment experts.
EUROPE - EVCA stats show returns improved in 2005
The European private equity industryтs final performance figures for 2005 show steadily improving returns across all parts of the industry. The long-term returns have now increased to more than 10% due to the improved performance of short-term returns...
EUROPE - EVCA appoints new chairman
At the annual ordinary general assembly of the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA) last night, Javier Loizaga, CEO and Managing Partner of Mercapital, was officially elected as association chairman for the period June 2006 to...
EUROPE - EVCA reports 2005 a record year for private equity
EVCA has announced the final fundraising, investment and divestment figures for European private equity in 2005 at its annual Symposium in Monte-Carlo. The annual figures show records for all three stages of activity in the industry. After three years...
FRANCE - Varioptic receives extra EUR 1m from Dow Corporate Venture Capital
The American investor Dow Corporate Venture Capital has joined exisiting investors with a contribution of EUR 1m in the third round of financing for liquid lens developer Varioptic.
FRANCE - PE firms defeated in competition for EMAP France
EMAP has announced that it has entered exclusive negotiations with Silvio Berlusconi's Italian publisher Mondadori, for the sale of its French business.
FRANCE - Medica to float on Euronext
Medica, the third largest French retirement homes company has announced it has submitted documentation to AMF (Autorité des Marchés Financiers) in view of its flotation on Euronext Paris.
FRANCE - Berwin Leighton Paisner appoints cross-border lawyer
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has announced the appointment of Antoine-Audoin Maggiar to their corporate finance team as a senior partner. He will be focusing on developing the firm’s international portfolio of clients to offer an exceptional legal service...
FRANCE - Triago X announces new board of directors
Triago-X, the private equity secondary transactions specialist, has announced three new appointments that will form the board of company directors. This change comes prior to a planned company expansion and their listing on the Alternext of Euronext™...
FRANCE - EUR 10m backing for sports publisher
Iris Capital and London-based Complete Leisure Group are joining previous investors Galiléo Partners and Crédit Agricole Private Equity (CAPE) in a EUR 10m financing of French publisher Sports Medias & Stratégie.
FRANCE - Sagard acquires pharmaceuticals distributor
Sagard has taken a majority stake in Depolabo, the leading French distributor of pharmaceuticals, alongside its management. Previous investor Steinbeck Holding retains a minority stake in the company.
FRANCE - OFI Private Equity boosts its investment team
OFI Private Equity, subsidiary of the Ofivalmo Group, has announced two new appointments to its investment team. Ludovic Prévost, 36, will be director of investor relations. He leaves his associate position at Global Private Equity. His career started...
FRANCE - Bids for PagesJaunes to close on 18 June
The deadline for bidders to declare their interest in France Telecom's directory business PagesJaunes is the 18 June.
FRANCE - AXA Private Equity and Jaccar invest in ship builder
AXA Private Equity and Jaccar have each taken a 40% stake in Piriou, while the company's management retain the balance.
FRANCE - Stone Point Capital backs AXA RE's spinout
AXA has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to cede AXA RE, its mid-sized reinsurer, to a syndicate of investors led by US private equity firm, Stone Point Capital.