UK / Ireland
Energy Ventures invests £3.2m in ffA
Energy Ventures AS has invested £3.2m in Foster Findlay Associates (ffA), a 3D seismic analysis software and service provider for the oil and gas industry.
unquote" Germany Report 2010
The latest unquote” Germany Report covers all the latest trends and issues affecting the German private equity and venture capital markets.
Ingenious invests £2m in Jongleurs
Ingenious Ventures, the private equity arm of investment company Ingenious, has invested £2m in comedy club chain Jongleurs.
Blacks Outdoor seeks buyer
Outdoors retailer Blacks is seeking a buyer after reportedly receiving approaches from two private equity funds.
UK & Ireland unquote" 18 October
Buyout values in the UK have bounced back in 2010, suggesting improved leverage conditions. Figures from unquote" research suggest the market is on its way up once more.
Frog acquires stake in GB Group
Frog Capital has accumulated a 10% stake in AIM-listed fraud and identity management business GB Group PLC.
Buyout values bounce back in 2010
Buyout values in the UK have bounced back in 2010, suggesting improved leverage conditions. Figures from unquote” Research suggest the market is on its way up once more. John Bakie gives an overview
Vision Capital hires Principal
International investor Vision Capital has appointed Samer Cortas as Principal.
Show me the exit
Talking to a few GPs recently, there seems to be a general notion that, if not already, then we are certainly entering an exit-friendly period.
Beringea invests in Monica Vinader
Beringea has invested in fashion jewellery brand Monica Vinader Limited.
Electra announces new director
Kate Barker has joined Electra Private Equity as a non-executive director, effective from 1st November.
Kernel sells ChipSensors to Silicon Laboratories
Kernel Capital has exited its 40% stake in University of Limerick-based ChipSensors via a trade sale to Silicon Laboratories.
PAI moves closer to full exit from Kwik Fit
Less than four months after having offloaded the insurance branch of Kwik Fit to Fortis UK for £215m, reports suggest that PAI Partners may be moving closer to selling the main operating business.
Private equity looks to private sales clubs
Members-only sales clubs have been a surprisingly attractive investment target for private equity firms in 2010. Industry insiders have been branding this sector as “the new cleantech”, having seen at least 10 small to medium private equity deals...
Bain Capital closes in on Priory
More than four months after reports suggested that private equity firms were among the front runners to snap up mental healthcare provider Priory Group, Bain Capital has emerged as the clear favourite.
HIG Capital injects cash into Engine Group
UK marketing communications agency Engine Group has secured a £32.5m investment from HIG Capital to fund expansion into the US, Brazil and China.
Catapult backs MBO of Oxford Cryosystems
Catapult Venture Managers has backed the MBO of Oxford Cryosystems Ltd.
LGV buys Amber Taverns in SBO
LGV Capital has purchased community-based pub company Amber Taverns from Unicorn Asset Management, Acuity Capital Management and MaxCap Partners.
Another acquisition for Lyceum-backed Carewatch
Carewatch has acquired British home-care services provider New Directions, following an earlier investment from Lyceum Capital.
Government VCs and the venture ecosystem
Governments have been involved in funding small businesses for many years now, and government-backed VCs are a common sight in many European countries. While in the past, they might have been seen as just another source of funding for many start-up companies,...
Jenny Wheater joins Proskauer
UK tax and investment funds lawyer Jenny Wheater has joined global law firm Proskauer as a partner in London.
DFJ Esprit hires Partner for Dublin office
Cross-stage venture capital firm DFJ Esprit has appointed entrepreneur Brian Caulfield as a Partner at its Dublin offices.
Sovereign Capital announces new hires
Sovereign Capital has added four to its deal team, as well as a new communications manager.
Running for the exit?
Exit numbers are set to boom in the coming months as market conditions improve, according to research. While trade sales are very much the preferred route for private equity investors, IPOs remain unattractive. John Bakie gives an overview.