France
ArchiMed buys Clean Cells in SBO from Sodero Gestion
GP buys biotechnology service Clean Cells, investing alongside management
Capitem backs Cortex MBO
Deal sees Cortex CEO buy a majority stake in the mail outsourcing and document management firm
Ardian buys Technology & Strategy in SBO from Dzeta
Ardian acquires the technology-focused consultancy via Ardian Expansion Fund IV
Illumina et al. in €16m series-A for Stilla Technologies
Kurma Partners, LBO France, BNP Paribas, Paris Saclay Seeds and Idinvest Partners also take part
Eurazeo buys Efeso Consulting from Argos Wityu for €56m
Acquirer buys a 70% stake in the France-based consultancy firm, ending an eight-year tenure for Argos
IDI-backed Alkan acquires Seca Automatismes
Deal for the data processing and electronic equipment firm will create a group with €50m in revenues
PE-backed Creations & Parfums buys Floressence
BPI France, BNP Paribas Developpement acquire stakes in C&P, which buys Floressence
PAI to buy Stella Group in €600m deal
PAI enters talks to buy building-closure equipment specialist Stella Group from ICG
3i appoints six across PE team
GP hires Simon Andersen as digital director, along with five further hires in Europe and the US
Siparex closes Midcap 3 fund on €170m
GP's latest vehicle is larger than its predecessor, Siparex Midcap 2, which closed on €130m in 2012
EMZ in talks to buy Vignal Lighting in SBO
Eurazeo PME stands to make €119m in proceeds from the sale, representing a return of 2.8x
Sagard, BPI France to buy Sabena Technics
Reports say the transaction would value Sabena at €350m, equivalent to 9x its EBITDA
Single-asset funds afford slow and steady pace
When a fund approaches the end of its lifespan, transferring the last remaining investment into a new vehicle is proving increasingly popular
Gimv buys Groupe Claire in SBO
Belgium-based GP buys the France-based manufacturer of programmable valves from Industries & Finances
SGCP et al. back Milexia
SocGen Capital Partenaires, BPI France, Isatis Capital all acquire minority stakes
Abénex eyes TCR Capital acquisition – report
TCR is currently managing two funds, France Transmission I and TCR Capital Partners III
Argos hires two for Paris office
Marc-Olivier Crisan joins as investment director, and Mario Giannattasio as its new chargé d'affaires
French travel sector deals take off
Investments have rebounded in 2018, with the perception of geopolitical threats subsiding and shifts in consumer habits presenting opportunities
Bain Capital's Autodis Group to acquire Oscaro
Bain, which has backed Autodis since 2015, was planning to list the business in H1 this year
GP Profile: Tikehau Capital
Unquote speaks to UK head Cirenza about the asset manager's evolution and experience investing across the capital structure
VC-backed BlaBlaCar raises €101m, acquires Ouibus
France-based carpooling platform BlaBlaCar raises €101m from SNCF and previous VC backers
Mantra closes two funds
Firm holds a final close for its secondaries-focused fund and a first close for its primary fund-of-funds
Andera, BPI France back Orest Group
Andera buys a stake in Orest Group, investing via its small-cap vehicle Capestan Capital 2
ETF Partners et al. back Phenix
GPs invest €15m in France-based Phenix, a company that helps businesses reduce waste