France
Mirabaud invests in Alain Ducasse Group
GP invested in the gastronomy group via its first fund, which focuses on "living heritage" companies
PandaScore raises $6m in round led by V13 Invest
Startup has so far raised around €9m, according to Crunchbase
Argos Wityu proceeds with buyout of Sword's French operations
French operations of the IT engineering and software consultancy generate revenues of €60m
83North leads $90m series-C round for Exotec
Robotics startup has raised $111m since its founding five years ago
TDR-backed Buffalo Grill acquires distressed rival Courtepaille
Sale process was initiated by Courtepaille's PE sponsor Intermediate Capital Group, which filed for a receivership procedure in July
Highland Europe launches $706m Technology Growth IV
GP held a final close for Highland Europe Technology Growth III in June 2018 on €463m
CDPQ backs Colisée alongside EQT
EQT and CDPQ intend to support the company in its growth strategy in France and internationally
PE firms more bullish than corporates on distressed M&A – survey
Of the PE firms surveyed, t4% cite distressed/turnaround opportunities as a major motivation for acquisitions
BPI France et al. invest $30m in Comet Meetings
Investment was reportedly equally split between equity and debt
Apax to buy Odigo from Capgemini
Company plans to accelerate its growth and international expansion, while boosting its technological innovation
Unquote Private Equity Podcast: Allocate 2020 special
The Pod discusses our upcoming LP/GP conference, Allocate, touching on illiquidity solutions, secondaries, and ESG
PAI buys stake in Amplitude from Apax
Sale ends a nine-year holding period for Apax, which bought the business from Weinberg and Initiative & Finance
LBO France's RG Safety buys Waterfire
Deal is the protective equipment producer's second add-on in Spain since the GP invested in 2017
Siparex, BPI France sell Duralex to trade
Firms invested in the business in 2015 alongside management, acquiring it from Initiative & Finance
French deal pipeline: live, expected and pulled sale processes
A round-up of sale processes ongoing or expected to launch in the coming months in France, courtesy of Unquote sister publication Mergermarket
LT Capital acquires Global Partner
IT consultancy plans to open further offices across France and to expand its product portfolio
Waterland opens office in France; appoints managing director
Louis Huetz will be responsible for establishing and heading the new office
Ardian Expansion V closes on €2bn
Launched in January 2020, the fund's original target was €1.5bn - already 50% larger than its predecessor
Apax France to buy Groupe Crystal
GP will buy a majority stake, while Crystal president Bruno Narchal and director Jean-Maximilien Vancayezeele will retain a minority
Sagard NewGen backs Laboratoires Delbert
Socadif Capital Investissement, Idia Capital Investissement and MACSF also invest in the company
Alliance Entreprendre acquires Ecoclean, LT reinvests
LT and Alliance Entreprendre invest €6m and €10m respectively, according to Capital Finance
Sagard NewGen holds first close for €300m first fund
Fund invests in majority and minority stakes of European companies with revenues of up to €150m
Astorg's Aries Group to offload two subsidiaries – reports
Beleaguered aerospace sub-contractor is looking to sell ACB and Dufieux, according to local reports
HIG European Capital Partners III sets target on €1bn
GP is also fundraising for HIG Europe Middle Market LBO Fund, which has a target of €2bn