UK / Ireland
UK - BRM and Cubits back $6.3m eToro investment
Isreali investor BRM Group and Cubit Investments are amongst several private equity groups that have supported online financial trading platform eToro with funding totalling more than $6m.
UK - MML Capital backs £31m Vanguard MBO
MML Capital Partners has backed the £31m management buyout of surgical and diagnostic facility provider Vanguard Healthcare Solutions, providing a mezzanine loan alongside a significant equity investment.
IRELAND - Montagu looks to sell Survitec Group
Reports suggest that Montagu Private Equity is seeking a buyer for Ireland-based survival technology manufacturer Survitec Group, with the price tag estimated at around £200m.
UK - Carlyle Group ends Innovation talks
British software company Innovation Group plc has confirmed that takeover talks with private equity firm Carlyle Group have been terminated, according to reports.
UK - Foresight promotes partner
Venture investor Foresight Group has promoted Russell Healey to partner.
Candover reveals full extent of downturn
Pioneering buyout house to downsize fund and cut staff as portfolio halves in value. Ashley Wassall reports
PE set to become PR nightmare: EVCA forum
Ashley Wassall reports from Geneva
Private equity to be public relations nightmare
Ashley Wassall reports from Geneva
UK/US - CVC to buy iShares for £3bn
CVC Capital Partners has entered exclusive negotiations with Barclays to purchase the derivatives investment business from the bank's subsidiary iShares, in a deal reportedly worth around £3bn.
GLOBAL - Google launches $100m venture fund
Search engine Google has set up Google Ventures, a $100m venture capital fund designed to invest in early-stage companies.
EUROPE - EVPA hires MD
The European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) has hired Beate Trück as managing director.
EUROPE - Price joins Candover as general counsel
Philip Price, formerly with hedge fund SRM Global, has joined Candover Investments as general counsel.
UK - Baugur to offload Debenhams stake
Islandic investor Baugur Group has mandated HSBC to sell its 13% stake in retailer Debenhams through a placing priced at 40-45 pence per share.
UK - Versatus hires two
New debt advisory firm Versatus has appointed Tara Moore as director and Andrew Stevenson as associate.
UK - Mercia et al raise £1m for Warwick Effect Polymers
The Mercia Technology Seed Fund, Catapult Venture Managers and Oxford Technology have participated in a £1m funding round alongside private investors and management for polymer chemistry company Warwick Effect Polymers Ltd (WEP).
UK - Bridgepoint takes over £550m Hermes direct investment portfolio
Bridgepoint has been appointed to become the manager of Hermes Fund Managers' direct investment portfolio, which comprises two funds totalling £550m: Hermes Private Equity Partners II and Hermes Private Equity Partners III.
EUROPE - Silverfleet’s Paramount trouble a blip
Silverfleet Capital has called in debt advisers for its portfolio company Paramount Holdings, a UK-based restaurant group which saw its pre-tax loss increase to £27m in the year to June 2008, up from £12m the previous year.
UK - TTP Group buys back 3i stake
Technology company TTP Group has bought back the stake held by 3i for an undisclosed sum.
UK - Mourant hires director
Mourant International Finance Administration has appointed Francois Chesnay as director in its corporate services team.
UK - Havers named BVCA chairman
Baird Capital Partners' Simon Havers has been named as the 27th chairman of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA).
UK - Foursome becomes Frog; increases funds under management
UK-based early-stage and growth investor Foursome Investments has re-branded as Frog Capital and increased the size of its fund from EUR 60m to EUR 100m - a move almost unheard of in this economic climate.