Nordics
SWEDEN - EQT acquires Scandic Hotels from Hilton
EQT V has acquired Nordic hotel chain Scandic Hotels AB from Hilton Hotels Corporation. Scandic, a brand familiar to over 90% of the population of the Nordic region, has 132 hotels and more than 23,000 rooms in 9 countries.
NORWAY - HitecVision founder receives OTC Heritage Award
Jon Gjedebo, co-founder of the Hitec group and HitecVision Private Equity, has been honoured with the OTC Heritage Award for his contributions to the technological development in the offshore industry.
FINLAND - Amanda Capital moves offices
Amanda Capital has moved and the new address is: Aleksanterinkatu 15 A, 6th floor, Helsinki (visiting address) PO Box 896 FI-00101 Helsinki Finland Tel: +358 9 6829 600 Fax: +358 9 6829 6030 Email: firstname.lastname@amandacapital.fi www.amandacapital.fi...
NORWAY - VC-backed Edvantage group merges with Zenaria
E-learning provider Edvantage group, backed by Northzone Ventures and Alliance Venture, has agreed to merge with Zenaria. The merger strengthens Edvantage group's position as a provider of e-learning technology, content and services and will allow the...
DENMARK - EQT acquires Dako in DKK 7.25bn deal
The EQT V fund has agreed to acquire cancer diagnostics company Dako Denmark A/S for an enterprise value of DKK 7,250m. Headquartered in Glostrup, Dako’s current main shareholders include descendants of the company’s founder Niels Harboe, Novo Nordisk...
FINLAND - CapMan acquires Walki Wisa from UPM
CapMan has agreed to buy Walki Wisa Group, a producer of wrappings and composite materials, from UPM-Kymmene.
SWEDEN - EQT partners buy 36% stake in advisory company from Investor
Partners at EQT Partners have agreed with Investor AB to acquire 36% of the shares in the advisory company for SEK 290m. The transaction means that partners at EQT Partners will increase their ownership from the present 33% to 69% and that Investor will...
SWEDEN - 3i buys educational toys supplier from Procuritas
3i has acquired educational learning material and toys supplier Lekolar AB from Procuritas. Headquartered in Osby, Lekolar includes BRIO Lek&Lär AB, Printel Oy, RABO A/S and BRIO Lek&Laer A/S. The company has 230 staff and generated sales of over SEK...
SWEDEN - EQT rumoured to buy Scandic Hotels
EQT is believed to announce in the near future that it will acquire Scandic Hotels from Hilton, according to Swedish press reports.
SWEDEN - Swedish private equity creates more jobs
Swedish private equity-backed companies have recorded an annual employment increase of almost 10%, as well as a 23% increase in sales. The industry creates more new jobs than listed businesses and represents more than 10% of Sweden's 2005 GDP.
DENMARK - Nordic Capital sells Dangaard to Brightpoint
Nordic Capital has agreed to sell wireless handset distributor Dangaard Telecom A/S to Nasdaq-listed Brightpoint Inc.
GLOBAL - Bear Stearns acquires private equity placement agent
Bear Stearns has strengthened its private equity fundraising services with the acquisition of Crane Capital Associatesтs fund placement business.
NORWAY - HitecVision opens offices in Houston
Oil and gas investor HitecVision is opening an office in Houston following increased dealflow and growing interest from investors in the US and Canada.
FINLAND - CapMan announces promotions
CapMan has promoted Markku Hietala to senior partner and Johan Bennarsten, Björn Nordenvall and Tommy Valther Hansen to partners as of 14 February 2007.
SWEDEN - Industrifonden invests SEK 7m in scuba diving company
Industrifonden has invested SEK 7m in Gothenburg-based scuba diving company Poseidon in a funding round also including Start Invest. Start Invest and Industrifonden will hold close to 50% of the shares in the business.
NORWAY - FSN Capital buys a 47% stake in private care company
FSN Capital II has agreed to acquire 47% of the shares in healthcare provider Norlandia Omsorg AS. The deal will enable Norlandia Omsorg to strengthen its market position and grow organically and via acquisitions.
US - Blackstone buys Equity Office for $39bn in world's largest buyout
The Blackstone Group has secured the worldтs largest leveraged buyout, agreeing a $39bn price (ТЃ20.2bn) for Equity Office, the biggest office landlord in the US. Blackstone won the deal after fending off competition from real estate investment trust...
FINLAND - Amanda Capital acquires competitor Proventure
Fund-of-funds manager Amanda Capital Plc has acquired the entire share capital of Proventure companies for EUR 10m in cash. The net asset value of the acquired companies totalled EUR 7.1m as of 31 December 2006.
EUROPE - Return expectations of private equity investors reach record levels
The return expectations of private equity investors have strengthened significantly over the last 12 months т almost half of LPs are now forecasting medium-term returns of 16%+, according to Coller Capitalтs latest Global Private Equity Barometer, compared...
DENMARK - Langholm Capital invests in Cane-Line and Sika-Horsnaes
Langholm Capital has invested in Cane-Line and Skia-Horsnaes, two Danish furniture specialists focusing on woven indoor and outdoor furniture. The investor retains a minority stake in both companies following the deal.
NORWAY - FSN's VIA Travel enters Finland by acquiring Travelzon
FSN Capital-backed VIA Travel has acquired Travelzon Oy, a Finnish independent travel management company, from Berling Capital and three minority shareholders.
NORWAY - Northzone, Verdane and Ferd Venture invest EUR 10m in Colibria
Norwegian Colibria, a provider of new generation mobile instant messaging (MIM) services, has raised EUR 10m from current lead investors Northzone Ventures, Verdane Capital and Ferd Venture.
SWEDEN - EQT sells HemoCue to Quest Diagnostics
EQT II BV has sold HemoCue, a point-of-care diagnostic testing company, to Quest Diagnostics.
SWEDEN - Eqvitec strengthens its Swedish team
Eqvitec Partners has recruited Ivar Strömberg as a senior adviser in the Stockholm office. Strömberg is the entrepreneur behind Swedish Tele1/Song Networks, a company employing more than 1,000 people. His other engagements include Ricaro, Gajdo, AllTele,...