UK / Ireland
NVM sells Promanex to Costain for £18.8m
NVM Private Equity has sold UK-based engineering services company Promanex to trade buyer Costain for £18.8m.
CVC acquires majority stake in Virgin Active
CVC Capital Partners has acquired a 51% stake in fitness chain Virgin Active. The remaining 49% stake will be retained by Virgin Group.
Micro Focus drops sale talks
UK software firm Micro Focus has dropped sale talks due to difficult market conditions.
Rumour roundup: Birds Eye, FCI, Orange and more
The summer period has been rife with rumours of major deals in the pipeline. unquote" gives a roundup of the headline-hitting deals expected in the coming months.
PE takes key role in financial services consolidation
With Cinven’s acquisition of Guardian Financial Services this week, we are once again reminded of the pressure facing financial services organisations and the opportunities this presents for private equity investors.
Newcomer DTI makes debut UK investment
New York-based DTI Capital has backed the £4m buyout of London-based WTG, unquote” has learned.
Olivia Roberts joins Palamon Capital Partners
Palamon Capital Partners has hired Olivia Roberts as associate principal.
Moulton: Industry mergers to create fewer, larger players
A tumultuous few years as well as increased legislation will lead to the consolidation of the industry into a smaller number of larger buyout houses via mergers. Unquote’s Kimberly Romaine talks to Jon Moulton, Chairman of Better Capital.
Jefferies appoints James Seagrave
Global securities and investment banking firm Jefferies has appointed James Seagrave as managing director of its Global Financial Sponsors Investment Banking Group.
UK & Ireland unquote” 15 August 2011
Financial buyers, including private equity investors, are leaving themselves exposed to outbidding by strategic trade purchasers, warns corporate finance lawyer Garrett Hayes.
Exponent in £121m BBC Magazines buyout
Exponent Private Equity has purchased BBC Worldwide’s consumer magazine business BBC Magazines for £121m.
Octopus appoints venture partner manager
George Whitehead has joined Octopus as a venture partner.
JPEL buys Arch Cru portfolio for £56.5m
J.P. Morgan's Private Equity fund of funds (JPEL) has snapped up 38 investments from the former Arch Cru portfolios in a deal worth £56.5m.
Cinven buys Guardian from Aegon
Cinven has acquired UK life and pensions provider Guardian Financial Services from Aegon for £275m.
Bridgepoint exits Protocol Education
Bridgepoint has sold Protocol Education, part of its portfolio company Protocol Associates, to Graphite Capital.
ECI buys Wireless Logic for £38m
UK mid-market investor ECI Partners has backed the management buyout of Wireless Logic from Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Peter Jones for £38m.
LDC invests £12m in WRG
LDC has invested £12m in Salford-based live events and marketing agency WRG.
UK activity surges in July after slow start
Following a rather lacklustre start to 2011, the UK has seen a sudden spike in private equity investment activity this summer, and professionals will be hopeful this can continue through the rest of the year.
Intel Capital launches Ultrabook Fund
Intel Capital, the private equity arm of computing hardware provider Intel, has announced the launch of its Ultrabook Fund with a $300m target.
Vitruvian's Tinopolis acquires Base Productions
Vitruvian Partners-backed Tinopolis has acquired US-based TV production company Base Productions for a reported $65m.
A third of deals in doubt from September
Recent changes to the Takeover Code would have impacted 32% of UK deals since 2005. But if properly considered, P2Ps will still be do-able. Kimberly Romaine reports.
CapVest's Valeo acquires Jacob Fruitfield
CapVest-backed Valeo Foods has acquired Jacob Fruitfield Food Group in a deal valued between €60-70m.
Business Growth Fund adds execs to board
Four chief executives have been appointed as non-executive board members of the Business Growth Fund (BGF).
Cinven in talks for Guardian Life Insurance
Cinven is set to buy Aegon’s Guardian Life Insurance in a £250m deal.