France
FRANCE - Dii opens its capital to BNP Paribas Développement
BNP Paribas has bought a 25% share of Development Institute International (Dii) for an undisclosed sum, diluting management’s total hold of the company’s capital.
FRANCE - 21 Centrale Partners buys industrial lighting specialist
French financial investor 21 Centrale Partners has backed the leveraged buyout of Auteroche-ABL, for an undisclosed amount.
FRANCE - Bruno Ziegler acquires FMA with two French GP's back-up
Swiss businessman Bruno Ziegler has backed the MBI of IT maintenance company FMA, alongside regional private equity houses Centre Capital Developpement (CCD) and Euro Capital.
FRANCE - French pharmaceutical company raises fourth round of financing
Limonest-based OPi has raised EUR 4.5m from its fourth round of financing. The syndicate of investors includes Innoveris (15%), Spef Ventures (14%), FCJE (13%), Sofimac (11%), Siparex (7%), BioMérieux (4%), Sud Partners (5%), Rhone-Alpes Création (2%)...
FRANCE - Prado Finance makes two acquisitions in aeronautics
Belgian private equity house Prado Finance has acquired medium-range airline Axis Airways and private jet maintenance company Uni Air Entreprise.
FRANCE - Galileo Partners injects EUR 2m in Talend
According to press sources, French privatre equity house Galileo Partners has invested EUR 2m in software developer Talend.
FRANCE - Investcorp acquires office supplies giant Orefi
Investcorp has backed the buyout of Orefi, for an undisclosed sum.
FRANCE - OTC AM injects EUR 2m in RVR Systems
RVR Systems has secured a EUR 2m first round of financing from OTC AM.
FRANCE - Franco-American placement agent wants to float on Euronext
Triago-X, the leading European placement agent which specialises in secondary transactions, has announced its intention to float on Euronext Paris.
FRANCE - JP Morgan leads massive EUR 25m expansion in Tagsys
JP Morgan Asset Management, Endeavour and Cazenove have invested EUR 27.5m in a second round of financing for Tagsys, following its MBO from Gemplus in 2001.
FRANCE - CVC Capital Partners makes two senior appointments
CVC Capital Partners has bolstered its Paris office with two senior recruits.
FRANCE - 3i sells its stake in French gas specialist Oldham to US group
3i has realised its interest in Oldham SA, the French leading manufacturer of gas detection and measurement tools. The buyer is Industrial Scientific Corporation, the American leader in this same field.
FRANCE - MBO Partnenaires backs AntemetA's MBO
MBO Partenaires has taken a majority holding of AntemetA, a provider of IT solutions. The company's staff, Soginnove and SGAM AI have taken minority stakes. The MBO will allow the company to split from Groupe D-FI.
FRANCE - Perfectis participates in OBO and expansion of Ekis
Perfectis Private Equity, Alain Fourcade of COMIDOC and M Prime have created and invested in EKIS (Enterprise Knowledge & International Support).
FRANCE - Virtual reality software developer gets EUR 4.5m extra backing
Previous investors Partech International and I-Source Gestion have been joined by Elaia Partners in the second round of financing for Total Immersion, a French software developer, specialised in virtual reality applications.
FRANCE - Advent International exits from BCS
Advent International has signed an agreement to sell its stake in the bakery and deli specialist BCS.
FRANCE - LCD developer Nemoptic raises EUR 9m
Nemoptichas received a EUR 9m round of funding from previous investors Ventech Capital, CDC Entreprises Innovation, Crédit Agricole Private Equity, SGAM AI, Auriga Partners, Alven Capital Gestion and Financière de Brienne, and new investor, LC Capital.
FRANCE - Sofinnova Partners hires pharmaceuticals expert
Sofinnova partners has recruited Graziano Seghezzi as partner.
EUROPE - Apax Partners publishes report on the future of private equity
Apax Partners, together with the Economist Intelligence Unit, has produced a report on the future of private equity. This follows a 2002 report in which it accurately predicted deal sizes increasing significantly and liquidity improving.
FRANCE - Possible buyout will not be discussed at Thomson's general assembly today
Thomson SA has made it clear that the potential de-listing of the company would not be discussed at today's annual general assembly of shareholders.
FRANCE - AFIC announces the creation of the Maison du Capital Investissement
Renaud Dutreil, French Minister for Small Businesses and Entreprise, has inaugurated the new Maison du Capital Investissement.
FRANCE - Thierry Laugel joins AGF Private Equity's venture capital team
AGF Private Equity has appointed Thierry Laugel as partner in itsventure capital team.
FRANCE - Argos Soditic backs Sitour's MBO
Argos Soditic has backed the management buyout of Groupe Sitour. This is the first investment made through the equity house's new fund, Euroknights V.
FRANCE - BI-SAM Technologies receives EUR 5m from Galileo and Alven
Galileo Partners and Alven Capital have invested EUR 5m in BI-Sam Technologies, in two tranches. The company’s three founders retain a majority equity stake