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

GERMANY - GEP acquires VARTA Microbattery

Global Equity Partners has acquired VARTA Microbattery GmbH from VARTA AG for EUR 30m. Two new managing directors will support the company’s management to further expand and promote its current strength.

UK - ISIS commits £30m to Paragon

ISIS Equity Partners has completed its investment in Paragon (UK) Ltd, a provider of supported living and domiciliary care services. The company currently employs over 230 people and is based in Adlington, Lancashire. Paragon provides tailored packages...

UK - CBPE sells Gradus to BOSIF in £41m secondary buyout

Close Brothers Private Equity has sold contract interior company Gradus Ltd for £41m. CBPE generated a 3.1x return on its investment and an IRR of 28% on its five year ownership of the company. The business has been acquired by its management team with...

UK - Bank of Scotland invests in Rocela Growth

Bank of Scotland Corporate has invested more than £1m in Edinburgh-based software consultancy business Rocela through its growth equity division. The new capital will be used to support overseas expansion plans.

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...

UK - General Atlantic Partners to float Xchanging

General Atlantic Partners is considering an IPO of outsourcing and processing portfolio company Xchanging. The asset could fetch up to £500m on the London Stock Exchange, with General Atlantic expected to continue to hold a stake in it.

FRANCE - Rexel begins IPO process

Private equity-backed electrical equipment manufacturer Rexel yesterday applied for listing with the Authorité de Marchés Financiers, just over two years after it was de-listed by Eurazeo.

UK - GMG'sTrader Media Group to be sold to private equity?

Guardian Media Group is reported to be in discussions with Apax, Blackstone and Candover about a possible sale of its Trader Media Group. Trader is responsible for listings magazine Auto Trader and approximately 70 titles in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands...

UK - Bridges Community Ventures makes third successful exit

Bridges Community Ventures has sold its stake in vehicle spare parts distributor HS Atec Ltd back to management. The exit has generated returns of over 2x and an IRR of 28.7% and represents a third successful exit for the community development-focused...

GERMANY - Earlybird strengthens technology team

Earlybird has appointed Gayathri Radhakrishnan as an associate focusing on technology investments. In addition, the venture capital firm has brought the total number of partners to six by promoting Wolfgang Seibold and Thom Rasche.

GERMANY - APCOA changes hands for EUR 885m

Investcorp has sold pan-European manager of parking services APCOA to Eurazeo for an enterprise value of EUR 885m. In the summer of 2004, Investcorp acquired 98.26% of APCOA Parking AG from Salamander AG, a subsidiary of EnBW Energie Baden Württemberg...

UK - 3i-backed NCP to be subject of £800m tertiary buyout

3i is reported to be in discussions with Macquarie over a possible sale of NCP, the UK car park operator. The deal could fetch up to £800m generating impressive returns for 3i, which acquired NCP from Cinven for £555m in mid-2005. Macquarie had bid...

UK - Apollo launches £1bn formal bid for Countrywide

Apollo Management has launched a £1bn takeover of the UK's largest estate agency chain Countrywide. The offer excedes the £971m bid by 3i earlier this year which was rejected by shareholders after being recommended by the company's board.

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.