France
Video: OTPP's Topley discusses liquidity squeeze, GP discipline
Joe Topley, head of European funds at Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, shares his LP perspective on the current state of the private equity market
Andera Partners backs Groupe Panhard MBO
Deal is the eighth from Andera Partners' Winch 4 vehicle, which focused on SMEs in France and Spain
Eurazeo increases stake in Idinvest to 80%
Eurazeo acquired 70% of the French asset manager in early 2018
Eurazeo portfolio's revenues dragged down by travel & leisure assets in Q1
Rest of portfolio revenue remained stable, with updated NAVs not due until mid-year
Unigestion gears up to invest in small and mid-market PE
Unigestion partners expect investment opportunities to emerge in the small-cap market
Unquote Private Equity Podcast: Belt & braces
Rowan Bamford and Gareth Rees from Liberty GTS examine the impact of Covid-19 on W&I insurance, and share their take on where the M&A market is headed
Parquest Capital sells Homeperf
GP, alongside minority shareholders BNP Paribas, Arkéa and Vivalto, reinvest in the business
Travel sector assets: Seeking solutions to long-lasting woes
Unquote explores the challenges ahead, how PE-backed companies are adapting their business models, and how they can bounce back
360 Capital holds €90m first close for fifth fund
Fund targets series-A and -B rounds in European startups and deploys tickets in the €2-10m range
Cathay Capital raises €500m for Innovation II fund
Fund targets startups operating in a wide variety of sectors, with a focus on artificial intelligence
Cathay Capital closes Midcap II on €800m
Fund targets companies based in Europe, Asia and North America with high-growth potential and expansion plans
Acquisition prices for SMEs decline in Q1 2020 – research
Prices paid to acquire SMEs declined significantly to 9.3x EBITDA in the first quarter of 2020
LGT buys Bridgepoint-backed 5aSec in debt-to-equity swap
Bridgepoint has sold its equity stake in 5aSec for a symbolic €1, which sees the firm wholly exit
Q1 Barometer: Year of sustained growth finally halted in Q1
The European private equity market cooled in Q1, even before the Covid-19 crisis took hold, after an especially active Q4 2019
InfraVia Growth Fund reaches €270m first close
New fund targets European B2B tech businesses involved in digitalising the economy
VC Profile: Isai reaches 1st close in lockdown
Founder Jean-David Chamboredon discusses the challenges of raising a fund in lockdown, and plans to deploy capital in an uncertain environment
AVP leads €25m series-B for InsideBoard
Round also saw participation from Orange Ventures, Isai Cap Venture and Entrepreneur Venture
Axa Venture holds €200m first close for Diversified II
AVP Diversified II is the second vintage of AVP's fund-of-funds strategy
Ara Partners closes debut fund on $400m
Fund makes buyout and growth capital investments in companies based across North America and Europe
E-scooter startups feel brunt of lockdowns but anticipate future upside
The coronavirus lockdown in Europe has put a brake on the transport sector - should e-scooter startups and their investors be worried?
Isai reaches first close on €90m for Venture III fund
French VC's third early-stage venture vehicle brings its total assets under management to €500m
Ambienta raises $150m for absolute return fund
Ambienta X Alpha is managed by a team based in London, led by chief investment officer Fabio Pecce
Partech leads €15m round for Agicap
Partech is currently investing from its €400m Partech International Ventures VII fund
French startup Back Market raises €110m series-C
Online refurbished electronics marketplace had already raised €48m since inception