France
EUROPE - Later stage rounds dominate European venture activity in Q1 2007
Recent research into European venture investing in Q1 2007 shows that later stage rounds have dominated activity. 40% of the rounds in the first quarter were later-stage rounds, the largest percentage since 1999. In total, Q1 2007 recorded EUR 1.07bn...
SPAIN/FRANCE - Altadis opens its books to trigger bidding war
In an effort to ramp up competition for its acquisition, Franco-Spanish tobacco company Altadis yesterday opened its books to the scrutiny of bidders Imperial Tobacco and a CVC Capital Partners/PAI partners syndicate.
FRANCE - HgCapital buys French wind farms for EUR 69m
Via its fund Hg Renewable Power Partners, HgCapital has acquired four wind farms in the Picardie region, for a total consideration of EUR 69m.
FRANCE - I-Source and 3i sell ScreenTonic to Microsoft
I-Source Gestion and 3i have sold mobile media content business ScreenTonic to Microsoft.
FRANCE - Metabolic Explorer takes legal action over IP issues
Metabolic Explorer (ME) announced its intention to take legal action against Philippe Malière and Alain Gallochat of Holditech Heurisko in order to prevent them from continuing the ''campaign of disparagement'' they are currently undertaking with regard...
FRANCE - Apax Partners SA merges its listed vehicles
Apax has announced the planned merger of its two listed investment vehicles Altamir and Amboise.
FRANCE - Triago to open Dubai office
Placement agent and secondaries specialist Triago is to open a new office in Dubai before the end of 2007, according to press reports.
FRANCE - Apax sells Parkéon to Barclays Private Equity for around EUR 260m
Apax Partners has agreed to sell the former parking and ticketing division of Schlumberger (e-city) to Barclays Private Equity for a total consideration of approximately EUR 260 million.
FRANCE - CDC CI backs Genoyer's secondary buyout
CDC Capital Investissement has acquired a majority stake in the secondary buyout of oil, gas, water and petrochemicals pipes manufacturer Genoyer. The deal means an exit for Carlyle, which had piloted the company's first buyout in 1998.
FRANCE - AXA PE acquires SYNERLAB
AXA Private Equity has acquired SYNERLAB Group, a French pharmaceutical sub-contractor. SYNERLAB manufactures and packages dry drugs and liquid drugs to customer requirements. SYNERLAB has 520 staff and recorded revenues in 2006 of approximately EUR...
FRANCE - Industri Kapital to sell Ceva Santé to management-led syndicate
Industri Kapital (IK) will generate an IRR of 40% on the sale of veterinary pharmaceutical laboratory Ceva Santé Animale to a syndicate led by management and including Euromezzanine and Natexis Private Equity.
FRANCE - Apax-led syndicate sells Cartesis to Business Objects
Apax Partners, Advent Ventures Partners, Caisse des Dépots et Placements du Québec and Partech International have sold their interests in finance and performance management software developer Cartesis, to business intelligence solutions provider Business...
FRANCE - Turenne backs online lottery business Mediastay
Turenne Capital Partenaires has invested in the owner buyout of Mediastay via its listed fund Turenne Investissement and its FIP Hexagone Croissance I.
EUROPE - ECB survey says private equity poses limited systemic risk to banking sector
European leveraged buyout activity poses a limited systemic risk to the European banking sector, says a report by the Banking Supervision Committee of the European Central Bank.
EUROPE – US interest in European offers co-invest opportunities but increases valuations
‘The sign of a bubble is when the IPO market goes from push to pull,’ said Gerard Lopez this morning at the Benelux unquote" Private Equity Congress in Luxembourg. The Skype backer explained that valuation levels are increasing and cited the example...
EUROPE – Pipeline of EUR 10bn funds
There is a pipeline of mega funds coming to market in the coming months, according to Stef Oostvogels at law firm Oostvogels Pfister Roemers, speaking at the Benelux unquote" Private Equity Congress in Luxembourg this morning. He indicated that many are...
FRANCE - EdRIP backs BestofMedia with hybrid deal
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRIP) invested EUR 2m in equity in an a-typical acquisition financing deal, allowing online IT publisher BestofMedia to Tom’s Hardware Guide.
FRANCE - Diana Ingrédients to be sold by Cognetas
European private equity firm Cognetas (formerly known as Electra Partners) has mandated both Hawkpoint and BNP Paribas to run the sale of Diana Ingrédients, according to French press reports.
FRANCE - A Plus, CDC and Banexi Ventures invest EUR 5m in Brandalley
Online discount clothes retailer Brandalley has raised a EUR 5m second round of funding from A Plus Finance, CDC Entreprises (investing on behalf of state initiative France Investissement) and first round backer Banexi Ventures.
FRANCE - DeA Capital invests in Générale de Santé
DeA Capital, De Agostini's listed investment holding, will take at least 35% of Santé Sarl, a holding which indirectly owns 59.8% of French listed private healthcare group Générale de Santé.
EUROPE - unquote'' Benelux Private Equity Congress
unquote” is excited to bring you the second unquote” Benelux Private Equity Congress, on 19 April 2007 in Luxembourg.
FRANCE - Crédit Agricole Private Equity invests in business mobility software
Sparus Software has raised EUR 3-4m in its second round of financing, from Crédit Agricole Private Equity (CAPE) and AXA Private Equity (AXA PE).
FRANCE - Spef LBO sells Colorant Chromatix
Spef LBO has generated highly satisfactory returns from the sale of colour and additives supplier Colorant Chromatix to trade buyer ColorMatix.
FRANCE - DLA Piper hires M&A specialist for its Paris office
International law firm DLA Piper has appointed Geraud de Franclieu as an associate to strengthen the corporate department of its Paris office.