UK / Ireland
YFM-backed Fishawack acquires Phocus
YFM Equity Partners’ portfolio company Fishawack has acquired Swiss medical communication service provider Phocus Services GmbH.
Addleshaw loses PE partner
Leeds private equity partner Simon Pilling is to leave Addleshaw Goddard at the end of the summer, unquote” has learned.
RJD backs Verdant Leisure bolt-on
RJD Partners portfolio company Verdant Leisure has completed its first add-on acquisition, adding holiday park Viewfield Manor to its portfolio.
Endless closes third fund on £220m
UK turnaround investor Endless has closed its latest vehicle on £220m.
VC-backed PhotoBox acquires Moonpig for £120m
PhotoBox, which is backed by a consortium of investors that include Highland Capital Partners, Index Ventures and HarbourVest, has acquired online greetings card retailer Moonpig.com for £120m.
Carlyle seeks assistance for RAC
Less than two months after signing the £1bn deal, Carlyle is reportedly looking to syndicate down equity in UK vehicle recovery business RAC to other investors.
ISIS looking to float or sell Wiggle
ISIS Equity Partners is considering a flotation or sale of online cycling and swimwear retailer Wiggle, according to reports.
2011: The year of the mega buyout
While the increase in volume of European buyouts has been modest in 2011, the surge in value has been impressive. Viktor Lundvall investigates
UK Watch: A cold chill in Q2
Despite the warm weather, figures in the latest unquote” UK Watch, in association with Corbett Keeling, could send a chill down the spine of many UK professionals.
BC Partners holds second close at €5.5bn
BC Partners has held a second close of its BC European Capital IX fund at €5.5bn.
3i-backed Enterprise in potential restructuring
3i’s portfolio company Enterprise is considering a full-scale restructuring, according to reports.
Catapult invests £850,000 in Kick Sport
Catapult Venture Managers has invested £850,000 in martial arts retailer Kick Sport.
German IPOs fail to meet expectations
A relatively large number of IPOs have taken place lately on the Frankfurt stock exchange with more expected later in the year. But doubts still remain over the wisdom of IPOs in the post-crisis era. Diana Petrowicz investigates.
MTI leads investment in Oxford Photovoltaics
MTI Partners has led a £650,000 investment round in UK cleantech company Oxford Photovoltaics Limited (OPV).
Imperial Innovations backs Stanmore Implants
Imperial Innovations Group has invested €4m in customised implants specialist Stanmore Implants.
Consortium invest £16.9m in Atlas Genetics
A consortium, led by Novartis Venture and Consort Medical, has invested £16.9m in diagnostic company Atlas Genetics Ltd.
Bernie Ecclestone accused of bribery in F1 buyout
Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone has been accused by German prosecutors of bribing former BayernLB chief risk officer Gerhard Gribkowsky at the time of the company's 2006 buyout.
LDC acquires Original Additions
LDC has acquired beauty accessories supplier Original Additions in a secondary buyout from Matrix Private Equity and Barclays Ventures.
Operating partners: For pros or for show?
Fans of operating partners deem them performance enhancers; detractors say they’re merely propaganda to entice LPs. Susannah Birkwood reports
Hermes GPE to launch in Boston, Singapore
Hermes GPE is opening new offices in Boston and Singapore, a reflection of the investor’s increasing interest in overseas opportunities.
Michael Joseph joins Tyler Mangan
Tyler Mangan has appointed Michael Joseph, former CEO of Lloyds Development Capital, to work in an advisory capacity.
Piper cashes in on retail sector expertise
The retail sector is filling headlines for all the wrong reasons at the moment. Despite the difficult period for the sector, Piper Private Equity has just held final close of its new fund, reinforcing the merits of sector specialism. Viktor Lundvall investigates
Permira prepares NDS IPO
Permira has hired JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to assist in listing digital set-top box manufacturer NDS in New York.
PE firms circle American Golf
A number of private equity investors are to place bids for the buyout of LDC-owned American Golf, a UK-based retailer of golfing equipment, according to media reports.