Nordics
Swings and roundabouts
The end of 2008 was a frosty one, particularly on the leveraged buyout front. According to figures from unquote" proprietary database Private Equity Insight, Q4 saw a considerable drop in the number and value of deals vis-a-vis Q3 (see graph 2, cover)....
FINLAND - Bridgepoint launches EUR 162m offer for Terveystalo
Bridgepoint has launched a cash offer for listed Finnish healthcare provider Terveystalo Healthcare Oyj valuing the company at EUR 162m.
GLOBAL - Blackstone to invest in South Korea
According to reports, Blackstone Group will open a unit in South Korea in January.
DENMARK - 7TM Pharma secures USD 75m from existing investors
7TM Pharma, a developer of drugs targeting metabolic disorders, has closed a financing round securing USD 15m from existing investors. The firm's current investors include Index Ventures, Novo A/S, Alta Partners and Sofinnova Partners among others.
EUROPE - Unigestion to raise two funds in 2009
According to reports, Geneva-based Unigestion will raise two new funds in 2009: a secondaries fund targeting EUR 150m, and a sustainable development vehicle with a USD 250m target.
SWEDEN - MedCap increases stake in Handitek
MedCap has acquired a further 33% of Handitek AB for SEK 6.6m, increasing its stake in the company to 51%.
NORWAY/SWITZERLAND - Consortium invests EUR 10m in ReVolt Technology
NorthZone Ventures, SINTEF, SOFINNOVA Partners, TVM Capital, Verdane Capital, Viking Venture and new corporate venture investor RWE Innogy have raised EUR 10m for a B-round investment in ReVolt Technology.
FINLAND/SWEDEN - Roschier appoints new managing partner
Ulf-Henrik Kull succeeds Lennart Simonsen as new managing partner of Nordic law firm Roschier. Axel Calissendorff has been appointed co-senior partner.
SWEDEN - Swedish law firms Lindahl and RydinCarlsten to merge
The two law firms join forces in February 2009, and the combined unit will employ 200 corporate lawyers.
SWEDEN - Doughthy Hanson appoints head of Nordic team
Doughty Hanson has appointed Anders Tägt as principal.
GLOBAL - Advent International promotes 18
Advent International has promoted 18 members of its global investment team.
DENMARK - Vækstfonden leads DKK 16m funding round for PhotoSolar
Vækstfonden and Teknologisk Institut have invested DKK 12m and DKK 4m respectively in solar shading technology firm PhotoSolar.
EUROPE - Credit Suisse sets up restructuring advisory division
It is understood that Credit Suisse has established a new division to provide restructuring advice to companies and private equity firms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
SWEDEN - Candover appoints senior adviser for the Nordic region
Candover has appointed Fredrik Arp, former CEO of Volvo, as senior adviser with a particular focus on the Nordic region.
EUROPE - Value of buyouts plunges to five year low
The value of private equity-backed acquisitions across Europe fell to a five-year low in 2008 amidst continuing illiquidity in the debt markets and a worsening macroeconomic climate, dropping by 61% from 2007's record high of more than EUR 184bn to EUR...
EUROPE - Balderton holds $430m first closing of fourth fund
Balderton Capital has held the first close of its new $500m vehicle, Balderton IV, on $430m.
GLOBAL - LBPE agrees to buy back more shares
Lehman Brothers Private Equity Partners has amended the liquidition enhancement agreement from July 2008 to raise the amount of shares it can buy back.