UK / Ireland
UK - ICG backs Marken in SBO from 3i
Intermediate Capital Group has provided equity and mezzanine financing to support the management buyout of biopharmaceutical logistics business Marken from 3i. The value of the deal was not disclosed. Marken's management hold a majority stake in the newco.
UK - Terra Firma seals EMI deal
Terra Firma has secured music publisher EMI in a £2.4bn take-private deal. 90% of shareholders agreed to sell their shares to Terra Firma ahead of today's final deadline. The meeting of this threshold obliges the remaining shareholders to sell their...
UK - 3i abandons sale of NCP Services
3i has decided to abandon the sale of NCP Services, the traffic warden, clamping and CCTV monitoring business it retained after selling NCP's car park arm to Macquarie for £790m in March. The investor cited the volatility of the markets as the reason...
UK - Walker plans to beef up code of conduct
It is reported that Sir David Walker intends to beef up his proposed code of conduct for the private equity industry. The tighter rules would involve buyout houses issuing details of their strategy for a company including any potential job losses, and...
UK - European Capital completes £144.5m Hillarys Blinds refinancing
European Capital has completed the £144.5m refinancing of portfolio company Hillarys Blinds Ltd. It acquired window blind manufacturer Hillarys in a £229m tertiary buyout from Change Capital Partners in June 2007, providing £167m of debt financing...
UK - Carlyle sells NP Aerospace for £71m
The Carlyle Group has realised its investment in lightweight composite armour system business NP Aerospace Ltd. The Coventry-based company has been acquired by trade player, The Morgan Crucible Company Plc for £71m.
UK - Jefferies appoints Bruce Huber and Warren Scott as European co-heads
The Jefferies investment bank has appointed Bruce Huber and Warren Scott to lead the firm’s financial sponsors effort in Europe as co-heads. Huber is head of European technology and cleantech investment banking at Jefferies International Ltd, the London-based...
UK - Greenhill and JO Hambro acquire Rileys snooker halls business for £30.5m
Greenhill Capital Partners Europe and JO Hambro Capital Management have acquired 150 snooker halls for £30.5m. Rileys operates 150 clubs across the country and was formerly part of Aim-listed Georgica. Rileys recorded EBITDA of £9.5m in 2006 on revenues...
UK - Bain appoints new UK managing partner
Bain & Company has appointed Cyrus Jilla as the new managing partner of the firm's UK operations. Jilla succeeds Roger Siddle who held the role for more than six years. Jilla joined Bain in 1997 from Kalchas, a boutique strategy firm. Prior to this he...
UK - Debevoise & Plimpton appoints Anthony McWhirter
Debevoise & Plimpton has appointed Anthony McWhirter as a partner in the firm’s investment management practice. He will be resident in the firm’s London office, joining the firm in September. McWhirter was previously a partner with Freshfields Bruckhaus...
UK - August Equity acquires software business 4Projects
August Equity has completed the management buyout of 4Projects Holdings Ltd, a provider of project collaboration software solutions. Banking facilities were provided by Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander.
UK - 3i reaps 61% IRR from Care Principles after 10 year investment
3i has seen a money multiple of 3.9x and an IRR of 61% from its 10 year investment in Care Principles. The medium secure hospital operator which provides care for adults with long-term therapy needs has been acquired by The Delta Fund for £270m.
UK - Apax sees 40x return from healthcare exit to Hutton Collins
Sources report that Apax has recouped in excess of 40x its money through the sale of Healthcare at Home to Hutton Collins. Apax invested £800,000 for a minority stake in the home healthcare service provider in 1995. The company was rumoured to have been...
UK - Treasury report inconclusive
The Treasury Committee published its report on the private equity industry today, labelling it an 'interim' report and announcing it is to continue hearings in the autumn. The press release opens by stating 'key questions regarding the impact of larger...
UK - Zeus Private Equity makes first hire in advance of final close
Manchester-based Zeus Private Equity (ZPE) has appointed Beth Houghton as investment executive ahead of the final close of its maiden fund. ZPE reached a second close of £65m in June 2007 and is targeting a final close of £100m before the end of the...
UK - Terra Firma closer to EMI after further deadline extension
Terra Firma's quest to secure music publisher EMI experienced another twist over the weekend, when the deadline for shareholder acceptance had to be extended for the third time. Terra Firma now has until Wednesday to meet the 90% acceptance level. Press...
UK - Apax bids for Emap's B2B division
Apax is understood to have approached Emap regarding the acquisition of the magazine and radio group's B2B publications. The news comes following Emap's decision to conduct a strategic review of its business, thought to have been prompted by the approach....
UK - Pension Corporation appoints new head of business development
Pension Corporation has appointed Charlotte Crosswell as head of business development. Pension Corporation comprises Pension Insurance Corporation, Pension Corporation Investments and Pension Securitisation Investments. Pension Corporation operates in...
UK - London Technology Fund participates in £2.6m funding for Acrobot
London Technology Fund (LTF) has completed an investment in Acrobot, a company focusing on computer assistance for orthopaedic surgery. LTF is part of a syndicate investing up to £2.6m. The syndicate includes PUK Ventures and Imperial Innovations Group...
UK - Aberdeen sees 2x return on RMS exit
Aberdeen Asset Managers Growth Capital has realised its investment in shipping and cargo handling business RMS Europe Group. The exit has returned 2x Aberdeen's money and was facilitated by a £21m secondary buyout led by YFM.
UK - Beringea expands UK investment team
Beringea director Trevor Hope has been appointed to the new role of chief investment officer and new investment director Karen McCormick has joined the Beringea team. Hope, who joined Beringea in 2003, will oversee the company’s investment activites...
UK - Sainsbury deal faces opposition from Tchenguiz
Delta Two is facing additional opposition to its 600p per share bid for UK supermarket chain J Sainsbury. The well-documented resistance to the bid from the Sainsbury family, has been boosted by news that property entrepeneur Robert Tchenguiz also believes...
UK - RJD acquires Teaching Personnel from BPE for £24m
RJD Partners has led the £24m secondary management buyout of specialist teacher recruitment business Teaching Personnel. The deal represents an exit for Barclays Private Equity. RJD's investment was supported by management reinvestment and £14m of banking...
UK - Bridges Ventures invests £2.3m in keyworker housing
Bridges Ventures has invested £2.3m to fund the purchase of three blocks of studio apartments to provide key worker housing. The buildings acquired by a newco established by Bridges will provide accommodation for hospital staff employed by Plymouth Hospitals...