France
FRANCE - PPM buys jewellers from Apax
PPM Capital, a mid-market private equity specialist, has reached an agreement in principle to acquire Histoire d'Or, a leading French jewellery distributor, from a group of investors led by Apax Partners for a consideration of EUR 230m. The transaction...
FRANCE - Heinz sells seafood business to Lehman Brothers
Heinz has signed a definitive agreement to sell its European Seafood business to Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking for EUR 425m. The transaction is subject to customary EU competition review and approval. Pending regulatory approval, Heinz expects to complete...
FRANCE - European Capital invests in Tokheim buyout
European Capital, S.A. SICAR has announced today it has invested EUR 14m in the mezzanine and second lien facilities of Tokheim SAS, the leading European supplier of retail fuel systems. European Capital’s investment represents a share of the mezzanine...
FRANCE - Siparex records active 2005
Siparex has dubbed itself as the leading independent private equity investor in France’s middle market. Although investments over the past year were 11% lower than the amounts recorded in 2004, its exits have doubled and gross capital gains nearly tripled,...
EUROPE - LBO market smashes EUR 100bn barrier
2005 saw further significant growth in the European buyout market with the total value of deals topping EUR 100bn for the first time ever, according to the latest European Buyout Review due to be published in March 2006 by Incisive Media in association...
FRANCE - PE houses dig for French gold
CDC Entreprises has just acquired France’s largest chain of jewellers Marc Orian for an estimated EUR 140m, according to press reports. The Paris-based newco, Financière M.O, was taken private by Crédit Lyonnais Asset Management, now Crédit Agricole Private...
FRANCE - European Capital buys motorcycle specialist
European Capital has today announced the completion of its one stop buyout of Action Sport Holding, a leading distributor of motorcycle and bicycle gear and accessories in France. The group’s investment takes the form of senior term loans, mezzanine debt,...
FRANCE - Launch of First biotech start-up funding organisation
Inserm-Transfert Initiative is France’s first ever venture company to specialise in financing early-stage health and biotechnology projects. It has been launched by Inserm-Transfert, a French company that funds project development in the human health...
FRANCE - AXA goes it alone with eBuyClub
AXA Private Equity is sole investor in the recent EUR 2m round of funding in Plebicom. Founded in December 2000, following its incubation by Teamlog, Plebicom manages eBuyClub - an online retailing club. It offers its 300,000 members reductions on products...
FRANCE - Telisma receives further EUR 3m funding
Telisma has completed a EUR 3m fourth round of funding, via its existing investors. Ventech and Innovacom have each invested EUR 1m in the company, while 3i and AGF Private Equity have take equal stakes in the balance. As a result of this third round...
FRANCE - Casino's cafeteria business up for grabs
Five private equity houses have made bids to acquire the cafeteria business of the supermarket chain Casino, according to a recent article published in Le Figaro. Rothschild has been mandated to run the auction for the sale of the business, which is valued...
FRANCE - Butler turns down Lanson International
Following Butler Capital Partner’s (BCP) decision to abandon its bid to buy Lanson International, Boizel Chanoine stepped in with an offer. The rival champagne producer acquired France’s second largest champagne producer for an estimated EUR 520m, including...
FRANCE - Naxicap funds La Fée
Naxicap Partners has financed a EUR 1.5m first round of funding in La Fée through its funds BP Développement and FIP Banque Populaire Proximité Sud-Est. Company founders, Jean-Michel Calsat and Jean-Pierre Braillard, hold the balance. The transaction...
FRANCE - AXA falls short of 95% to delist Camaïeu
On 31 January 2006, AXA Private Equity (AXA PE) launched a simplified tender offer for Camaïeu’s remaining 47.2% floating on Euronext Paris. As previously, the shares were offered at EUR 130. The tender offer closed last night on 13 February 2005 leaving...
FRANCE - AXA Private Equity opens Asia office
AXA Private Equity has today announced its opening of a Singapore office and local subsidiary AXA Private Equity Asia. The group is planning to expand significantly its activities in this region with a first allocation of $550m. Asia is one of the fastest...
FRANCE - Let It Wave raises EUR 6m from Iris Capital and T-Source
Let It Wave has completed a first round of financing for EUR 6m from Iris Capital, T-Source and private investors. Founded in 2001, by four research professors from the French Ecole Polytechnique, the firm has been self-funded since its inception.
FRANCE - AXA's public tender offer on Camaïeu to close in three days
AXA Private Equity has only three more days of its simplified tender offer for Camaïeu’s remaining 47.2% currently floating on Euronext Paris. On 12 January 2006, AXA's holding company, Modamax filed a simplified cash tender offer on the shares of Camaïeu....
FRANCE - Duke Street begins build-up for Proclif
Duke Street Capital's portfolio company Proclif has today announced the acquisition of Clinique Lambert and its subsidiary Clinique La Montagne. This acquisition fits in with the Group’s build-up strategy put in place when Duke Street Capital made its...
FRANCE - Starwood Capital to sell Taittinger
JP Morgan and Rothschild have been mandated to run an auction for Starwood Capital’s imminent sale of Taittinger, according to press reports published today. Belgian billionaire Albert Frère, who exited his 25% interest in the French champagne producer...
FRANCE - Erenis raises EUR 22.5m from venture consortium
Iris Capital has led a EUR 22.5m second round of funding in Erenis, France’s largest optical fibre operator firm. AGF Private Equity and Crédit Agricole Private Equity have co-invested in the firm, alongside existing investor Net Partner.
FRANCE - BPE acquires Sogetrel for EUR 90.3m
ABN AMRO Capital and BBS Capital have agreed to sell Sogetrel to management and Barclays Private Equity France for an enterprise value of EUR 90.3m, subject to regulatory approval.
FRANCE - Auriga Partners appoints Jacques Mallet
Auriga Partners has announced the arrival of Jacques Mallet, who has joined the team as a partner in its life sciences division. Mallet has 12 years experience in strategy consulting for the pharmaceutical industry, which he gained at Monitor Group and...
Barclays Private Equity France leads purchase of Amstutz Levin
Barclays Private Equity has led the purchase of Amstutz Levin, located near Belfort (Alsace, France) for an undisclosed amount. The company with a turnover of about EUR 40m is a leading designer and manufacturer of small metal components for the French...
Candover appoints new partner in Paris
Candover has announced the appointment of Bertrand Finet as a partner in its Paris office.