France
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...
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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Vulcanic changes hands
AXA Private Equity has sold its interest in Vulcanic Group, a European electrothermics and instrument transformer manufacturer, to 21 Centrale Partners and the company's management for EUR 82.5m
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.
FRANCE - AGF Private Equity recruits VoIP specialist
Matthieu Baret joins AGF Private Equity's venture team, where he will specialise in telecoms, IT and electronics investments.
FRANCE - Pechel to invest in Rasec
Pechel is set to invest in Rasec through its fund Pechel Industrie. Previous investors 3i and ABN Amro Capital will not be renewing their commitment on this round of financing.
FRANCE - NEPE becomes UFG Private Equity
Crédit Mutuel Nord Europe is bringing its subsidiaries together to form Groupe UFG.
FRANCE - ABN Amro Capital backs tertiary LBO of Outinord
ABN Amro Capital has acquired a majority stake in steel formworks solutions provider Outinord from Siparex and Spef Venture, for an undisclosed sum.
FRANCE - New law office: cabinet Bremond
Guilhem Bremond, former head of the turnaround division of cabinet Veil Jourde, has announced the creation of cabinet Bremond.
FRANCE - Ipnotic Telecom raises EUR 9.6m
A syndicate of investors including Turenne Capital, CM-CIC Capital Privé, CDC Entreprises Innovation and A Plus Finance have injected EUR 9.6m in a first round of financing for Ipnotic Telecom
FRANCE - Viaduc receives EUR 5m from French investors
Viaduc, the French leading online professional contacts exchange, has gathered EUR 5m from AGF Private Equity and Ventech.
FRANCE - Weinberg Capital Partners makes its first investment
Weinberg Capital Partners (WCP) has announced an agreement to acquire 70% of Pharmaceutical company Pharma Omnium International.
FRANCE - AXA Private Equity set to secure first French take-private of 2006
AXA private Equity has announced an agreement to purchase MAAF Assurances SA's 85.45% share of TLD Group. The French buyout house will also acquire an extra 9.58% from minority shareholders who have irrevocable agreed to tender their shares in AXA's simplified...
FRANCE - Bridgepoint acquires French publisher from Sagard
Bridgepoint has taken a majority stake in Groupe Moniteur in a secondary LBO. French buyout house Sagard is exiting the investment it made in 2004.
FRANCE - Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners backs Alturia's owner buyout
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners and Socadif have taken minority stakes to back Henry Robet's buyout of Groupe Alturia.
FRANCE - Indian brewery may buy Taittinger
According to press reports, Indian company United Breweries is part of six potential buyers shortlisted for the acquisition of French champagne producer, Taittinger.
FRANCE - French government will double contribution into Oséo by 2007
Groupe Oséo has announced that state contributions will increase from EUR 200m in 2005 to EUR 400m in 2007.