UK / Ireland
UK - LDC promotes Jon Andew
LDC has promoted Jon Andrew to chief operating officer.
UK - Hellman & Friedman to take SSP Holdings private
Hellman & Friedman and IT systems provider SSP Holdings Plc have signed an agreement to take the company private in a deal that values the company at approximately £198m, based on an offer price of 190 pence per share.
SMEs predict tough times ahead
Private equity professionals remain more optimistic about the state of the economy than the owners of the SMEs they are likely to target
Limited partner concerns
LPs are cautious yet still enthusiastic about the return potential of private equity. By Nathan Williams
Hard landing
The horror stories surrounding the commercial airline industry disguise a thriving sub-sector where opportunities for private equity abound. By Nathan Williams
Controlling leaks
new research suggests that leaks to the press can cost time and money and affect the certainty of deals. By Ashley Wassall
UK - Phoenix acquires Expotel and NIS
Phoenix Equity Partners has completed the duel acquisitions of hotel booking agencies Expotel Hotel Reservations and NIS Europe for an undisclosed sum.
DENMARK/UK – Lion Capital acquires FoodVest from CapVest
Lion Capital has agreed to acquire FoodVest Group, a frozen food manufacturer, from funds advised by CapVest Limited for an undisclosed sum.
UK - Impetus Trust hires John Leach
The Impetus Trust has hired John Leach, the former head of Barclays Capital's European sponsor coverage business, as investment director on a pro bono basis.
UK - AFM backs buyout of Merseyside Metalworks
Alliance Fund Managers (AFM), through the MSIF Mezzanine Fund, has provided a £300,000 mezzanine loan to support the buyout of Merseyside Metalworks Ltd, a manufacturer and installer of specialist ductwork.
UK - Paragon and Blackstone in talks
Buy-to-let mortgage lender Paragon is reportedly in talks with Blackstone Group regarding a possible buyout of the struggling buy-to-let lender.
UK - Finance Wales backs Vista buyout
Finance Wales has backed the buyout of Vista Support Services Group Ltd from its parent DigiPos Store Solutions Group.
UK - Avista invests USD 100m into Hansa Hydrocarbons
Avista Capital Partners has invested USD 100m into energy exploration company Hansa Hydrocarbons.
Forgive us our sins
Investments in alcohol, gambling and pornography businesses are attractive, but tricky from a PR point of view. Nathan Williams investigates
UK - Alchemy exits CompAir in £205m deal
Alchemy Partners has sold its investment in CompAir, an air and gas compressor business, to Gardner Denver Inc, a provider of compressed air and gas, vacuum and fluid transfer technologies, in a £205m deal.
UK - Phoenix acquires LK Bennett
Phoenix Equity Partners and Sirius Equity have agreed to invest in fashion brand LK Bennett in a deal rumoured to be worth around £100m.
UK - Fidelity acquires Picsolve in £33m deal
Fidelity Equity Partners has acquired photographic systems and services provider Picsolve International from its formers investors, led by Meridian Equity, in a £33m deal.
UK - ANGLE slams door on Braveheart
ANGLE, the AIM-listed technology commercialisation company, has withdrawn from its discussions with early-stage technology investor Braveheart regarding a possible take-private.
UK - Bank of Scotland supports £450,000 Suface Generation deal
Oxford Investment Opportuity Network (OION) and Bank of Scotland Corporate's Growth Capital team have each invested £140,000 in mould tooling technology company Surface Generation Ltd as part of a £450,000 third round of funding.
UK - Advent wins auction for Craegmoor
Advent International has acquired Craegmoor Healthcare Group from LGV Capital, beating off competition from nursing home operator Southern Cross Healthcare in the final round of bids.
UK - BDO adds four new partners
BDO Stoy Hayward has appointed four new corporate finance partners.
UK - I-Source supports Webjam
I-Source has invested a further £1m in social networking site Webjam.
UK - DN Capital opens office in USA
DN Capital will open an American office in Palo Alto, California.
UK - Bridges promotes investment director
Bridges Ventures has promoted Anne-Marie Harris to investment director.