UK / Ireland
AIFM vote put back to autumn
A crucial vote on the Alternative Investment Fund Managers’ (AIFM) Directive has been delayed until September.
Tertiary buyouts: Passing it on
As deal making fever returns to the market, tertiary sales appear to be back in vogue for a number of private equity investors looking to put their secondary assets on the block.
LGT closes secondaries fund on €1.2bn
LGT Capital Partners has reached final close for its Crown Global Secondaries II plc fund, on $1.2bn.
LDC backs AIM Aviation Group MBO
The Midlands office of LDC has invested in the management buy-out of AIM Aviation Group, for an undisclosed amount.
Consortium sell stake in Cognis
Permira, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and SVG Capital have sold their stakes in Cognis to BASF.
Segulah divests NEA
Segulah has sold portfolio company Närkes Elektriska AB (NEA) to Imtech in a trade sale.
Lyceum-backed McKinnon & Clarke acquires Encore International
Lyceum Capital has acquired risk management specialist Encore International on behalf of platform investment McKinnon & Clarke for £6.25m.
Report: Nordic private equity is warming up
While buyout markets in the rest of Europe are only showing modest signs of stirring, activity levels in Europe’s most northerly region are picking up nicely, indicating that the two-year winter for local buyout investors may be giving way to spring.
Clearwater adds Clarke and Stickland to Manchester team
Clearwater Corporate Finance has appointed John Clarke and Andy Strickland to its Manchester Team.
Karnell acquires Kasthall
Karnell has closed the second deal for its K3 fund, with the acquisition of Kasthall Mattor och Golv AB.
3i-backed Inspicio sells part of operation to Bureau Veritas
3i owned Inspicio has sold part of its business to Bureau Veritas for £450m.
LDC backs 1st The Exchange acquisition of N4
LDC portfolio company 1st The Exchange has acquired N4 Solutions with backing from the private equity investor.
WHEB Ventures invests €4.4m in VIA Optronics
Cleantech-focused WHEB Ventures has backed German company VIA Optronics with €4.4m.
Viveris Management et al. inject €1.4m in Devederm
Viveris Management and Promelys Participations have co-led a €1.4m round of fundraising for cosmetics company Devederm.
Emergency Budget: Osborne hikes CGT to 28%
UK Chancellor George Osborne has announced a swathe of tax changes in his emergency Budget. With capital gains tax (CGT) up and corporation tax set to be cut, how will these and other changes affect private equity managers and their portfolio companies?...
Ashridge and Core commit £17.5m to Ark
Ashridge Capital and Core Capital have committed £17.5m to UK domiciliary healthcare provider, Ark Home Healthcare.
Almi Invest provides funding for Videofy.me
Almi Invest have provided funding for Videofy.me, an online video service based in Sweden.
Candover, Cinven, Permira exit Gala Coral
Candover, Cinven and Permira have reportedly exited Gala Coral, following a restructuring deal that sees them collectively lose most of their £1.2bn original investment - with mezzanine investors taking control of the company.
Catapult provides £900,000 for Renewable Technical Services
Catapult Venture has invested £900,000 in wind energy support provider Renewable Technical Services Ltd (RTS).
CVC Capital to take 30% slice of Merlin
CVC Capital Partners is on the verge of closing a deal to buy a 30% share in Merlin Entertainments, the UK-based theme park group.
Ratos makes takeover offer for HL Display
Ratos has offered to acquire all remaining shares in HL Display, after increasing its share ownership to 57% of value and 79.1% of votes.
Mari Thjømøe to join Argentum’s board of directors
Mari Thjømøe will replace Ada Kjeseth on Argentum’s board of directors, a position Kjeseth has held since 2001.
Nordic Capital acquire SiC Processing in SBO
Nordic Capital has acquired a majority stake in the German photovoltaic wafer producer SiC Processing from a group of sellers including Frog Capital in a secondary buyout.
Change Capital sells Republic to TPG
Change Capital Partners has exited its controlling stake in UK fashion retailer, Republic, in a tertiary sale to TPG Capital, reportedly valued at £300m.