UK / Ireland
Endless buys Trutex
Turnaround investor Endless has acquired schoolwear supplier Trutex.
Octopus Ventures in £1.5m round for Metrasens
Octopus Ventures has invested £1.5m in technology business Metrasens.
Advent International opens office in NY; Franks relocates
Advent International has announced that it will be opening an office in New York this month and as a result, managing director Tim Franks will relocate from London to lead the new office.
Inflexion appoints marketing director
Inflexion Private Equity has hired Rachel Gillon as marketing director.
Trade sales make roaring start to 2010
While many companies are still waiting in the IPO wings, trade sales seem to be the preferred exit option in the UK these days. Deborah Sterescu investigates
IIGCC launches guide for private equity community
The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) today launched a guide on climate change aimed at private equity investors.
Augentius appoints new MD
Fund administrator Augentius has appointed Glyn Thomas as managing director of its Guernsey office.
HgCapital investigates understated profits by Goldshield
HgCapital has already appointed auditors and lawyers to investigate the alleged understatement of profits by portfolio company Goldshield Group, the drug business the investor took private in a £179m deal last year.
Braveheart leads further £500,000 financing for Tayside
Technology-focused investor Braveheart has led a further funding round for life science business Tayside Flow Technologies worth more than £500,000.
Bridgepoint to acquire Care UK in £280m deal
Bridgepoint has agreed to acquire listed health and social care company Care UK for 450 pence per share, in a deal that values the business at £281m.
Barclays PE reaps 5.7x on £325m Deb sale to Charterhouse
Barclays Private Equity (BPE) has sold skincare company Deb Group in a secondary buyout deal to Charterhouse Capital Partners for £325m.
Venture back in the spotlight
Venture capital in the UK is booming this week following two major deals in the healthcare sector. Deborah Sterescu reports.
Octopus invests £2m in BOX-IT
Octopus Ventures has invested £2m in document storage business BOX-IT. The investment was made from the firm’s £30m Octopus Capital for Enterprise Fund (OCfE).
Octopus backs Frankis Solutions with £2m
Octopus Investments has invested £2m in land remediation services and groundworks specialist Frankis Solutions Limited (FSL).
Sovereign backs EEG management buyout
Sovereign Capital has backed the management buyout of Euro Environmental Group (EEG), a provider of drain and sewer cleaning, inspection and repair services.
Novo and Warburg invest £65m in Archimedes Pharma
New investor Novo Growth Equity has led a £65m fundraise for specialty pharmaceutical company Archimedes Pharma alongside existing backer Warburg Pincus.
NVM bulks up regional investment team
NVM Private Equity has hired Dominic Ely as part of its regional investment team.
Listed PE investors expect a buoyant 2010
Private equity professionals are forecasting a more favourable investment environment in 2010, with a significant majority expecting an improvement in the availability of debt financing, according to new research.
Apax-backed Promethean to launch £448m IPO
According to reports, Apax Partners-backed Promethean World, the UK education technology group, is aiming to raise up to £224m by selling shares in an IPO that values the business at up to £448m.
Encore Ventures and MTI exit ApaTech in $330m deal
Encore Ventures and MTI Partners have exited their investment in orthobiologics products company ApaTech via a trade sale to healthcare business Baxter Inc. for a total consideration of up to $330m.
LDC acquires Speed Check Services
UK mid-market investor LDC has acquired a majority stake in traffic management specialist Speed Check Services (SCS).
Banks seize control of 3i-backed Ultralase
Senior lenders have reportedly taken control of 3i-backed Ultralase, the UK laser eye surgery chain, as part of a pre-pack administration, making it the second of the private equity firm's portfolio companies to fall within a week.
Candover's shares rise as firm hints at new beginnings
Troubled private equity firm Candover's shares went up 8% in early morning today after it reportedly hinted at future plans to raise new funds.