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 - Natexis and Crédit Agricole back buyout of luxury bottle maker
Natexis Industrie, Natexis Investissement and Crédit Agricole Private Equity have backed the buyout of Saverglass, a designer, manufacturer and distributor of luxury glass bottles and decanters.
UK - Alchemy in takeover bid for Cathedral Capital
Alchemy Partners is set to acquire insurance and reinsurance group Cathedral Capital after 80% of the unlisted public company's shareholders recommended the offer.
IRELAND - Irish Venture Capital Association elects new chairman
Niall Carroll, managing director of ACT Venture Capital, has been elected chairman of the Irish Venture Capital Association.
SPAIN - ING and RBS on the lookout for partners forTelepizza's debt package
According to reports in the Spanish press, banks ING and Royal Bank of Scotland are currently searching for a partner to join in the long-term financing arranged for the Telepizza deal. The pizza chain was bought by Permira last September for around EUR...
BELGIUM - Clear2Pay raises additional EUR 2m from Iris Capital
Clear2Pay,a Belgian software vendor of next generation payment solutions for financial institutions, has received a EUR 2m capital increase from Iris Capital. In addition, the telco and media venture capitalist has purchased existing equity for the value...
UK - Sovereign Capital expands team
Sovereign Capital has expanded its team with the appointment of investment executive Alex Dampier.
UK - Permira, TDR and Apollo bid for Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe, the chain of 121 restaurants, four hotels and two casinos owned by UK leisure group Rank is being sold. Bidders include Permira, TDR Capital and US-based Apollo Management as well as trade interest from Seminole Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos,...
FINLAND/UK - BioFund exits Ark Therapeutics
BioFund Management Oy has sold all shares of Ark Therapeutics Group Plc, a biopharmaceutical company based in Finland and the UK. Bio Fund Ventures II LP invested in Ark in 2000 and Ark was listed on the London Stock Exchange main list in March 2004.
ITALY/GERMANY - Berlusconi and private equity funds to compete for media giant
According to reports in the Italian press, Silvio Berlusconi's broadcasting empire Mediaset is planning to launch a bid for 50.5% of German television network ProSiebenSat.1 Media. It is understood that a decision will be made next Tuesday, when the group's...
FRANCE - 21 Centrale Partners plans to delist Apem
21 Centrale Partners has entered negotiations to take-private Apem, a manufacturer of miniature switches for electronic applications notably.
FINLAND - CapMan redefines objectives
CapMan has redefined its financial objectives and revised vision, mission and values. CapMan’s financial objectives include average capital growth of funds under management of at least 15% per annum and equity fund performance above 15% net IRR to fund...
SPAIN - A good year for private equity in the Basque Country
The Sociedad de Gestión de Capital Riesgo del País Vasco, entity managing the private equity activities in the Basque country, is forecasted to end the year of 2006 with investments in 15 companies, totalling EUR 11m. The entity was launched in 1985...
ITALY - Stroili Oro Group partners with Upim
Jewellery business Stroili Oro Group has recently signed an agreement with department store chain Upim to sell an 'accessible' line in its 50 shops, based all over Italy. Rumour has it that both businesses have planned a tailor-made approach to the alliance,...
SPAIN - First Tuesday to discuss financing for web-based companies
Financing for internet-based and 'new-tech' companies will be one of the topics discussed at the fourth Barcelona edition of First Tuesday, to be held tonight at the Carpe Diem Lounge Club. The agenda of the business networking forum also includes advice...
UK - Ingenious appoints David Mansfield as a main board director
Ingenious, the media investment and advisory group, has appointed David Mansfield as a main board director. Mansfield joined the advisory board of Ingenious Media Active Capital Plc, the AIM listed fund, early this year and now joins the company in an...
UK - Probitas Parnters makes new London appointments
Placement agent Probitas Partners has announced that Jonathan Leinmuller and François Garcin have joined their London team. Leinmuller joins as a director from Matrix Private Funds Group, another placement agent. He has a degree in Economics from Bristol...
FRANCE - Willkie Farr & Gallagher bolsters its Paris office
Law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher has appointed Pierre Ullmann as associate in its Paris office. Emmanuel Galifer, who has worked with Ullmann since 2004 also joins the law firm.
UK - Whitbread rumours intensify as Starwood appoints former Whitbread director
Rumours surrounding the leisure group Whitbread and its possible delisting by Starwood Capital have intensified this morning as it emerged that Starwood had appointed Desmond Taljaard, formerly property director at the group.
UK - Kevin Dunn appointed new European head of leveraged finance for GE Commercial Finance
Kevin Dunn has been named as the new European head of leveraged finance for GE Commercial Finance. Based in London, Dunn will oversee the entire European leveraged finance operation, with offices in Paris, Milan and Frankfurt. Dunn replaces Sandeep Kamat,...
UK - 3i sells 6% stake in Travelex to majority owners Apax and Standard Chartered
Funds advised by Apax Partners together with Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) have entered into a series of agreements with funds advised by 3i to purchase 3i's remaining 6% stake in Travelex. The transaction is due to complete within the next 5 months.
UK - Aberdeen Asset Managers sells interest in Bond Aviation Solutions
Aberdeen Asset Managers Growth Capital has sold Bond Aviation Solutions Ltd to Alpha Aviation Group. Aberdeen originally led the £4m management buyout of Bond from Astraeus Ltd, another Aberdeen Asset Managers-backed company, in November 2005. The sale...
UK - Ingenious Media takes stake in Apax target Incisive Media
Ingenious Media Active Capital Ltd part of Ingenious Media Plc, the entertainment and media-focused investor has acquired an 11% stake in Incisive Media Plc for £22m. Ingenious paid 195p per share which matches the price offered by Apax six weeks ago...
SWEDEN - Roschier recruits seven new lawyers to Stockholm office
Roschier has strengthened its operations in Sweden through the recruitment of seven new lawyers to its Stockholm office. Fredrik Rydin, a specialist in acquisitions finance, has been appointed partner and recruitment continues on all levels.
UK - Bowmark Capital generates 6.7x return on Medscreen exit
Bowmark Capital has sold its majority interest in drug and alcohol testing services provider Medscreen Holdings Ltd to Concateno Plc, an AIM-listed company. The exit has generated an IRR of 52% and a return of 6.7x for Bowmark Capital.