UK / Ireland
LDC backs NRS Healthcare MBO
LDC has taken a stake in the £24m management buyout of NRS Healthcare, the healthcare division of listed multi-channel retailer Findel plc.
Arlington backs MB Aerospace MBO
Arlington Capital Partners has backed the secondary management buyout of UK- and US-based aerospace engineering group MB Aerospace from LDC.
Mobeus backs Gro Group MBO
Mobeus Equity Partners has invested in the management buyout of nursery brand Gro Group.
Patron et al. in Cala Group bolt-on
Patron Capital Partners and Legal & General Group have agreed to acquire UK-based home builder Cala Group Ltd for £210m.
Marks & Spencer circled by Qatar-led consortium
Iconic British retailer Marks & Spencer could be the target of an £8bn takeover by a Qatar Investment Authority-led consortium, which could also include private equity players such as CVC, according to reports.
Greencoat Capital leads £6.75m round for Aveillant
Greencoat Capital has led a £6.75m funding round for UK-based radar technology developer Aveillant.
Calls for calm over BoE private equity report
Private equity professionals should not panic over the latest Bank of England report on the private equity sector, according to the ICAEW.
London & Scotland see most growth investment
In 2012, the UK’s venture and growth capital scene was once again most active in London, where unquote” data recorded 82 transactions with a combined value of £734m.
NVM exits Interlube Systems in trade sale
NVM Private Equity has sold British automated lubrication producer Interlube Systems to a subsidiary of The Timken Company, reaping a money multiple of 3x.
Moulton predicts 10x increase in dealflow
Q&A: Jon Moulton
Enterprise Ventures et al. invest £10m in Xeros Ltd
Enterprise Ventures-backed cleaning technology developer Xeros Ltd has raised a further £10m from new and existing investors.
3i and RCP exit Giraffe to Tesco
3i and Risk Capital Partners (RCP) have sold their 36.8% stakes in UK-based restaurant chain Giraffe to Tesco, giving the business a £48.6m enterprise value.
GCP backs Scopus Engineering with £13m
Growth Capital Partners (GCP) has invested £13m in Scopus Engineering, a Scottish provider of laser survey services to the global oil & gas industry.
Endless reaps 6x on Acenta Steel exit
Endless has sold its stake in UK-based steel bars processor Acenta Steel to the company's management, reaping a return of 6x its original investment.
unquote” Regional Mid-market Barometer
A rise in alternative lenders and a strong trade buyer presence helped drive the UK’s mid-market in 2012, according to the latest unquote” Regional Mid-market Barometer, published in association with LDC.
NorthEdge Capital appoints investment manager
NorthEdge Capital has appointed Tom Rowley as an investment manager in its Leeds office.
RJD's Harrington Brooks acquires customer books in bolt-on
RJD Partners portfolio company Harrington Brooks has acquired customer books from Carrington Dean and The Nostrum Group, marking the company's first expansion following its secondary buyout in July 2012.
GSK plans Lucozade and Ribena sale
Pharmaceutical group GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has put soft drinks brands Lucozade and Ribena up for sale, giving rise to a bidding war in excess of £1bn, according to reports.
Maven launches £5m top up offer for VCTs
Maven Capital Partners has launched a £5m top-up offer for Maven Income and Growth VCT 4.
Maven sells Homelux to QEP Company
Maven Capital Partners has sold tile accessories business Homelux to US firm QEP Company, following its carve-out from UK-based Homelux Nenplas Ltd.
Finance Wales backs Safety Technology
Finance Wales has provided Monmouthshire-based safety specialist Safety Technology with a six-figure loan.
LDC backs Fever-Tree
LDC has taken a 25% stake in Fever-Tree, valuing the UK tonic water and mixers brand at £48m.
Oxford Capital exits Arieso to JDSU
Oxford Capital Partners has sold UK-based mobile network optimisation specialist Arieso to Nasdaq-listed JDSU in a $85m deal.
UK consumer sector: private equity dealflow up 45% in 2012
High street woes notwithstanding, the UK consumer sector proved to be ripe for investment opportunities last year: private equity dealflow was up by 45% compared to 2011 figures while the overall value of these investments rose by a quarter.