UK / Ireland
UK - Close Ventures invests in Helveta
Close Ventures is pleased to announce that it has invested £1.4m in Helveta Ltd, creator of the TracElite timber traceability solution. Close led a £2m funding round, with the balance provided by existing investors Oxford Capital Partners and a number...
UK - NBGI Private Equity adds to investment team
NBGI Private Equity has announced that Nick Gibbons has joined its investment team as investment manager. He previously worked at Centrica Plc for four years in corporate strategy, commercial and business development positions.
UK - LDC invests in Personal Touch Financial Services
LDC has invested £9m for a minority stake in financial services network Personal Touch Financial Services (PTFS). The deal values the company at approximately £50m. A key driver of this investment for LDC is to support the growth of PTFS over the next...
UK - Langholm Capital acquires plus-size retailer Elvi
Langholm Capital has acquired Elvi, the UK's largest independent plus-size women's fashion retailer. Langholm is backing Oliver Spark, the former managing director of the White Company, as an incoming chief executive.
UK - DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and Morgan Crucible talks fall through
Talks between the private equity arm of Credit Suisse DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and 150 year old engineering firm Morgan Crucible about a delisting of the company have faltered.
UK - Credit Suisse Infrastructure Fund involved in bid for City Airport
It is expected that a consortium led by US insurer AIG and involving GE Capital and Credit Suisse's infrastructure fund has won the auction for City Airport. The deal is thought to value the airport which was acquired by Irish billionaire Dermot Desmond...
UK - Nikko Principal Investments exits Menzies Hotels Group Ltd
Nikko Principal Investments Ltd (NPIL), has sold the four star hotel chain, Menzies Hotels Group Ltd, to property investors aAIM and R20, for £180m. This exit combined with the sale of the Salcombe Hotel in the summer of this year, takes the total exit...
UK - YFM invests £250,000 in International School for Security and Explosives Education
The International School for Security and Explosives Education (ISSEE), a company which provides counter-terrorism training to businesses and organisations across the world has secured £250,000 from the South West Ventures Fund, run by YFM.
UK - Octopus leads MBO of Audio Visual Machines
Octopus has undetaken the management buyout of Audio Visual Machines (AVM) from Parkmead Group Plc. Octopus financed the deal and will hold a minority equity share in the business.
UK - Cinven offer for listed Pizza Express and ASK
Cinven has submitted its official offer for Gondola Holdings Plc, the name behind the Pizza Express and ASK restaurant chains through its acquisition vehicle Paternoster Acquisitions Ltd. The 415p per share offer values the share capital of Gondola at...
UK - InforSense receives £5.3m funding led by FF&P Private Equity
InforSense Ltd, a leading provider of software to the life sciences, financial services and other industries has received a £5.3m investment led by Fleming Family and Partners Private Equity (FF&P). Imperial Innovations provided £1.6m of the total funding...
UK - ECI Partners invests £12m in M2 Digital
ECI Partners has invested £12m in M2 Digital, a fast-growing support services provider providing clients with innovative solutions for their document printing, copying and scanning requirements.
UK - Daniel Mytnik joins Palamon Capital Partners
Daniel Mytnik has joined Palamon Capital Partners in London. Previously, he worked at Altium, the mid-market investment bank and Morgan Stanley Private Equity.
UK - First Reserve Corporation acquires Acteon Group Ltd
First Reserve Corporation has acquired a majority stake in Acteon Group Ltd. Acteon is a leading worldwide provider of specialised offshore and subsea services and equipment. The Company is active in the subsea service and construction market and offers...
UK - Och-Ziff's Whitehead Mann deal under threat
The proposed take-private of headhunting firm Whitehead Mann led by Och-Ziff is reported to be under threat from Jeremy Hosking. He has already built up a stake in the company through his vehicle Marathon Asset Management and apparently intends to augment...
UK - Schroders Ventures Life Sciences exits PowerMed via sale to Pfizer
Pfizer Inc has announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire PowderMed Ltd, an Oxford-based company specializing in the emerging science of DNA-based vaccines. PowderMed has developed a unique and proprietary technology to deliver DNA directly...
UK - Interest in UK water companies continues
Anglia Water (AWG) which last week recommended a £2.2bn takeover offer from Osprey, a consortium including Colonial First State, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and 3i's infrastructure fund, may be the subject of another takeover bid. Reports suggest...
UK - Aurigo Management join Esporta auction
Esporta, the fitness-club chain held by Duke Street Capital, has reportedly received interest from the private equity vehicle of former Asda chairman, Archie Norman. His vehicle Aurigo Management will join leisure group Whitbread, owner of David Lloyd...
UK - launch of venture-backed Healthcare Brands International
Healthcare Brands International (HBI), a new company helping to turn innovative medical product technology into successful consumer brands, was officially launched today. Backed by £25m of venture capital from a syndicate of investors including Abingworth,...
IRELAND - Maples Finance launches Fund Administration capability in Dublin
Maples Finance, the wholly owned subsidiary of international law firm, Maples and Calder, has announced the launch of its European regulated fund administration service. The new fund administration service will be based in Dublin and is regulated by the...
UK - Arcapita launches £1.62bn bid for Viridian Group Plc
London Stock Exchange-listed Viridian Group Plc has received a take-private offer from Arcapita Bank through its vehicle ElectricInvest. The bid offers 1,336p per share which represents a premium of 23% on the share price before Viridian announced it...
UK - Countrywide and 3i yet to reach agreement
The UK's largest chain of estate agents, Countrywide, which has received an offer of 530p per share from 3i is yet to come to an agreement with the private equity firm.
UK - Scott Mead joins Apax
Scott Mead, formerly of Goldman Sachs, is to join Apax as the chair of its global technology and telecommunications advisory board. He left the investment bank, where he was credited with shaping the telecoms industry in the dotcom era, two years ago.