UK / Ireland
UK - Vitruvian completes first deal with £55m acquisition of Latitude
Vitruvian Partners has completed its first deal, acquiring a majority stake in marketing agency Latitude Group Ltd as part of the £55m management buyout of the company.
UK - Terra Firma finds £200m extra for EMI and makes job cuts
Terra Firma has today told staff at portfolio company EMI its plans to revive the fraught music group. Terra Firma intends to cut costs by £200m and will make between 1,500 and 2,000 staff redundant. The group's marketing budget will be curtailed while...
UK - Zeus reaches final close of maiden fund on £100m+
Zeus Private Equity (ZPE) has reached the final close of its maiden fund on more than £100m. Manchester-based ZPE was launched in December 2006 and held a second close in June 2007 on £65m. Most recent investors in the fund include Access Capital Partners,...
UK - Apax to sell Somerfield for up to £1.8bn
It is understood that Apax is considering a £1.8bn sale of supermarket portfolio company Somerfield after receiving several direct approaches for the business. Bristol-based Somerfield operates approximately 900 stores, primarily in town centres, which...
UK - Landsbanki continues growth of leverage finance team
European corporate and investment bank Landsbanki has continued the expansion of its leverage finance team with the dual appointments of Dave Amber and John Perry as directors.
UK - Octopus backs £15m buyout of broadcast media agency
Octopus Investments has supported the £15m buyout of Bruce Dunlop & Associates (BDA). Octopus has invested £5m from its equity and mezzanine funds to take a minority stake in broadcast media agency BDA. The deal was introduced to Octopus by Baker Tilly....
UK - ISIS recoups 2.5x from sale of Hawksmere
ISIS Equity Partners has sold Hawksmere Ltd to Kaplan Financial for an undisclosed sum. The exit will yield a money multiple of 2.5x to ISIS clients. London-based Hawksmere is a provider of legal, professional, senior management and compliance training...
UK - Survey of SMEs finds CEOs optimistic about private equity
A survey has revealed that CEOs and MDs of companies with turnovers between £10-100m are feeling optimistic about their relationship with private equity and their expectations for growth. 71% of those questioned felt that private equity backers set realistic...
UK - McDermott, Will and Emery appoints new European corporate head
McDermott, Will and Emery has announced the appointment of Hugh Nineham as partner and head of European and London corporate.
UK - DIC consider new Liverpool FC approach
Dubai International Capital (DIC) is contemplating a new approach for Liverpool FC after it lost out to Tom Hicks and George Gillet in the bidding for the club last year.
UK - Wellcome Trust invests £3.5m in Novacta Biosystems
The Wellcome Trust has provided Novacta Biosystems, an anti-infective therapeutics company, with a £3.5m award and investment. The deal sees medical research charity Wellcome take a minority stake in the business which previously received £900,000 of...
UK - Bryan Garnier makes two new hires
Investment bank Bryan Garnier has strengthened its UK corporate finance operations with two new appointments.
UK - Rock situation comes to a head
The fate of beleaguered lender Northern Rock will be known by the end of this week, according to reports. The matter is coming to head with an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for tomorrow. It is understood that insiders believe that there is now...
UK - Babcock & Brown sets sights on Forth Ports
Babcock & Brown (B&B), the Australian infrastructure fund, has bought a 20% stake in listed-ports operator Forth Ports. The Scottish-based business operates ports in Edinburgh, Dundee and London. According to some reports B&B's acquisition could be followed...
A Year of two halves
Daniel Morland of Close Brothers Corporate Finance assesses the state of the debt market at the end of what turned out to be a turbulent year
Chin up
The new year has seen the broadsheets bust out tales of evaporating dealflow. According to non-specialist publications, the private equity industry has ground to a halt. While stories of doom and gloom about an asset class that has hitherto been very...
Coller Capital Research
LPs sceptical about buyout returns
UK/SPAIN - LCA invests £2.5m into Classical Renaissance
Low Carbon Accelerator Ltd (LCA) has completed an investment of £2.5m, provided in the form of a profit participating loan, into Classical Renaissance España SL. As part of the deal, LCA will recieve an equity stake in Classical Renaissance Ltd, the...