UK / Ireland
Pearson courseware unit attracts trade, sponsors in first round
Sun European Partners, Epiris and Platinum Equity had signalled preliminary interest, one source says
Greenhill hires Silverfleet's Harrison
Andrew Harrison will advise on capital raising across entities including funds and co-investments
Verdane closes debut impact growth fund on EUR 300m
Verdane Idun I will deploy tickets in a sweet spot of EUR 10m-15m, making 20-25 deals in total
PE-backed Argus Media explores potential 2022 IPO
Listing could value the information data provider at more than GBP 2bn
Golding holds EUR 280m close for first secondaries fund
Fund will target small- and mid-cap LP stakes and GP-led secondaries, and has made 14 deals to date
Altimeter, Dragoneer et al. in USD 1bn round for Checkout.com
UK-based payments processor reaches a valuation of USD 40bn following the Series D
Sprints Capital holds EUR 525m final close for Fund IV
Growth fund has made two deals to date, including refurbished electronics marketplace Back Market
Axcel buys Danx, Livingbridge-backed Carousel
Livingbridge invested in Carousel Logistics in 2013; the company will now merge with Danx
Palatine appoints new partners amid influx of promotions
Richard Thomas and James Gregson are appointed as partners, while Tom Ross-Jones and Gareth Wilson are promoted
Bregal invests in Redstor; Beech Tree exits
Bregal Milestone intends to support the data management software with its US expansion
GHO Capital backs biotech RoslinCT
RoslinCT is a spin-out from the University of Edinburgh
ECI sells Travel Chapter for 2.6x
ECI is selling the holiday booking platform to its management, backed by investment from ICG
IK hires 3i's Pete Wilson to launch UK mid-cap strategy
European PE firm simulataneously promotes five new partners across its London, Stockholm and Paris offices
PE activity reaches EUR 392bn in record-breaking 2021
Q4 may have shown signs of a market slowdown, but 2021 nevertheless stands out as a phenomenal year for PE deployment across Europe
Softbank leads USD 150m round for Gousto
Meal delivery startup receives USD 100m from Softbank and is now valued at USD 1.7bn
Sovereign's Paragon Skills enters second round of auction
Sovereign Capital Partners has owned the UK-based apprenticeship provider since 2008
Permira to offload 6.5% stake in Dr Martens
Permira will offload approximately 6.5% stake in Dr Martens via accelerated bookbuild
Verdane reaps 4x in USD 360m Brightpearl exit
Shareholders including Cipio Partners and Notion Capital are also selling their stakes to Sage Group
Primary's ICS Learn to be acquired by IK-backed Skill & You
Company was expected to fetch a mid-teens EBITDA multiple, indicating an EV of around GBP 150m
Earth Capital hires new head of investment
Sustainable private equity firm Earth Capital promotes Avent Bezuidenhoudt to head of investment
Livingbridge buys Quorum; Maven reaps 6.5x
Maven invested in the cybersecurity company in June 2020 via its venture capital trusts
Azalea holds USD 805m close for Altrium II
Vehicle is the second in Azalea Investment Management's PE fund-of-funds strategy
IK Partners acquires e-commerce specialist Stein HGS
IK acquires its stake in the e-commerce company from Lennertz & Co, which will reinvest
Pollen Street, BC Partners consider IPO for Shawbrook Bank - report
UK-based retail and commercial bank could achieve a valuation higher than GBP 1bn if floated or sold this year, according to reports