Region
Unquote has a long history of delivering in-depth coverage for each European market, from individual deals to fundraising and region-specific trend analysis. Click on the following links to access content for a specific region:
UK & Ireland DACH Nordic France Southern Europe Benelux CEE
FRANCE - Duke Street Capital exits Marie Brizard
Duke Street Capital (DSC) has announced today the sale of its 69.3% stake in Marie Brizard & Roger International (MBRI) to French Spirits Group Belvédère, for a total consideration of EUR 397m. DSC took control of MBRI in May 2000 when the family-owned...
GERMANY - Brockhaus sells majority stake in DMS
Brockhaus Private Equity has exited its controlling stake in DMS Dynamic Micro Systems Semiconductor Equipment GmbH. The acquirer, Arcadia Beteiligungen, together with management, plans to support the continued expansion of the firm initiated by Brockhaus....
UK - Private equity cautious on pensions
Private equity investors are becoming increasingly cautious about investing in companies with defined pension deficits, according to a survey of mid-market private equity investors carried out by Grant Thornton Corporate Finance.
UK - West Private Equity goes independent
West Private Equity (WPE) has announced that its management team has agreed to acquire the management company of the WPE funds. Following regulatory clearance, WPE will be renamed Lyceum Capital.
NORWAY - HgCapital announces intention to take Visma private
Engel Holding AS, owned by funds managed by HgCapital, has decided to make a recommended public voluntary cash offer for all outstanding shares in Norwegian Visma ASA. The offer price, which is NOK 135 per share, values Visma at NOK 4.32bn.
GERMANY - MatlinPatterson to take over Heros
MatlinPatterson has agreed the takeover of insolvent currency transport service Heros with its creditors.
UK - Terra Firma strengthens team for Thames Water bid
John Roberts, a former chief executive at United Utilities, has joined Terra Firma as an adviser to help on its planned bid for Thames Water.
GLOBAL - JPMorgan sells private equity portfolio
Press reports confirm that Goldman Sachs Asset Management and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board have co-led the secondary purchase of a US$925m stake in the JPMorgan Partners Global Fund from JPMorgan Chase.
UK - Black Diamond expands in UK
Black Diamond, the US alternative assets firm, is opening a new office in London.
FRANCE – Perfectis backs security group BIMBO
Perfectis Private Equity has backed the BIMBO of SEPTAM to acquire a majority stake in the newco Vesta Capital. The investment marks the private equity house’s third investment through its FCPR Perfectis II. The balance is held by incoming CEO Eric Thord...
NETHERLANDS - Rabo Participaties to acquire Luzac College
USG People NV, a provider of employment services in Europe, has announced that it expects to sell Luzac Holding NV, a parent company of among others Luzac College and InterCollege, to Rabo Participaties and management.
NETHERLANDS - 3i to exit Refresco
A consortium led by FL Group hf. has signed an agreement to acquire Refresco Holding B.V. (Refresco), the Dutch private label soft drink manufacturer from the investment fund 3i Plc for a total consideration (enterprise value) of EUR 461m.
NORDICS - Doughty Hanson makes Nordic appointment
Doughty Hanson has appointed Jan Amethier as senior principal to focus on the Nordic region, starting in July 2006.
UK - LMS to spin off venture division
London Merchant Securities (LMS), the property group, is set to become a real estate investment trust (Reit) once it has spun-off its venture capital arm as a new Aim-listed company called Leo Capital.
GERMANY - Skadden, Arps names new partner
International law firm Skadden, Arps has named Dr Lutz Zimmer as partner at its Munich practice. Zimmer joined Skadden as counsel in 2004 and has extensive experience in the fields of private equity and venture capital.
UK - Tom Wrenn joins ECI Partners
ECI Partners has announced the appointment of Tom Wrenn as investment executive.
FRANCE - Colony and Butler buy Paris St Germain from Canal+
Colony Capital and Butler Capital Partners (BCP) have purchased the football club Paris St Germain (PSG) from Canal+ for EUR 41m. Colony has invested via Colyzeo, which formed in partnership with cornerstone investor Eurazeo. The private equity houses...
UK- Veronis Suhler Stevenson acquires Granada Learning
Veronis Suhler Stevenson has acquired UK-based educational publishing business Granada Learning from ITV.
NETHERLANDS - ABN AMRO Capital leads biotech deal
ABN AMRO Capital has led a EUR 13m second round of funding in PanGenetics, alongside existing investors Index Ventures and Crédit Agricole Private Equity (CAPE).
GERMANY - Olbort to leave 3i
Following more than seven years on 3i's Mittelstand finance team, Martin Olbort has opted to leave the company. Olbort will become managing partner of Weilbacher Olbort Paletten, looking after business, finance and strategy.
UK - Ingenious Ventures exits Lionhead Studios
Ingenious Ventures, the private equity arm of Ingenious Media, has realised its investment in Lionhead Studios, a leading video game developer, through a sale to Microsoft Game Studios.
FRANCE - Finatem acquires Mecanindus-Vogelsang Group
Finatem has acquired 75% of Mecanindus-Vogelsang group. The remaining 25% interest has been acquired by the management and the former owners. IKB provided senior debt to finance the transaction via its Frankfurt and Paris offices.
UK - 3i's Nolan to assume UK buyout leadership role
3i has announced that its pan-European buyout business has given responsibility for its UK buyout operations to Ian Nolan.
GERMANY - German secretary of finance points to changes in law
Speaking at the BVK's eighth private equity convention, Joachim Würmeling set out the German government's intent to improve the country's legal framework for private equity funds. The secretary to the German ministry of finance said 'As announced in the...