UK / Ireland
Novartis Venture et al. in €33m series-C round for Opsona
A consortium of new and existing investors has injected €33m into Irish immunology drug development company Opsona Therapeutics as part of a series-C funding round.
New Look launches £800m bond offering
Apax- and Permira-backed New Look Group has launched an £800m senior secured notes offering to pay down its debt.
FF&P Private Equity acquires FIT
FF&P Private Equity has backed the buy-in management buyout (BIMBO) of specialist energy efficiency firm Food Industry Technical Ltd (FIT).
VC-backed Shazam to pursue IPO
Shazam, a London-based mobile music recognition app developer, is to pursue an initial public offering.
PAI scoops up R&R Ice Creams
French large-cap specialist PAI partners has struck a deal to buy British ice cream manufacturer R&R Ice Cream from Oaktree Capital for €850m.
Bridges Ventures launches £14m social impact fund
Bridges Ventures and Big Society Capital have launched the Bridges Social Impact Bond Fund with £14m in commitments.
LDC appoints Whitwell as investment director
LDC has appointed Richard Whitwell as investment director in its Birmingham office.
Bridgepoint leads Cote auction
Bridgepoint has emerged as the front-runner in the bidding process for UK-based restaurant chain Cote, which is expected to sell for £100m, according to reports.
Better Capital acquires City Link for £1
Turnaround player Better Capital has bought UK courier company City Link Ltd from Rentokil Initial plc through its Becap12 fund for a symbolic £1.
BGF invests £3.9m in Magmatic
The Business Growth Fund (BGF) has injected £3.9m into Bristol-based children’s travel product manufacturer Magmatic Ltd, which trades under the name Trunki.
Mobeus in ATG Media bolt-on
Mobeus Equity Partners has made an add-on investment of £4.5m in portfolio company ATG Media to finance the acquisition of US-based online auctions site BidSpotter Inc.
Intel buys Aepona from Amadeus et al.
Aepona, a cloud-based telecom network solutions company backed by several venture investors, has been sold to Intel.
UK government considers private equity route for Royal Mail
CVC, Carlyle and KKR are among the firms that have been approached by government advisers regarding a potential buyout of Royal Mail, according to media reports.
Permira holds €2.2bn first close for fifth fund
Permira has raised €2.2bn for its fifth buyout fund so far, just a third of the vehicle’s original €6.5bn target.
Argos Soditic buys Natural Distribution
Argos Soditic has backed the buy-in management buyout (BIMBO) of UK-based food supplements specialist Natural Distribution.
Dentons recruits SJ Berwin partner to lead private equity practice
Dentons has recruited SJ Berwin partner Nicholas Plant to head its private equity practice across the UK, Middle East and Africa region.
Next Wave promotes Wood to investment director
Growth capital investor Next Wave Partners has promoted Peter Wood to investment director.
Q1 activity hits five-year low
The UK & Ireland’s first-quarter activity levels are at their lowest level for five years, according to the latest research from unquote” data.
Mobeus finances ATG Media's acquisition of BidSpotter
Mobeus has financed its portfolio company ATG Media's bolt-on of US-based online auctions business BidSpotter for £4.5m.
Beringea exits Tossed
Beringea has sold UK-based restaurant group Tossed to the business's management and Gemini Restaurants Ltd.
Aquiline buys Equity Insurance Group
US investor Aquiline Capital Partners has acquired Brentwood-based motor insurer Equity Insurance Group from Insurance Australia Group.
NorthEdge acquires Help-Link
NorthEdge Capital has acquired a stake in Leeds-based central heating specialist Help-Link UK Ltd.
Betfair rejects CVC-led £912m takeover bid
A £912m takeover offer led by CVC Capital Partners has been rejected by UK–based online gambling business Betfair.
LDC backs £50m MBO of D&D
UK-based LDC has acquired restaurant group D&D London in a £50m management buyout.