UK / Ireland
UK - Close Growth Capital exits Goodridge UK
Close Growth Capital (CGC), the provider of combined equity and debt funding, announced today that it had sold its stake in Goodridge UK to the incumbent management team. CGC first invested in Goodridge in 2001 providing a sub £10m funding package. Goodridge...
UK - McCarthy & Stone acquired by HBOS consortium
The builder of private retirement homes and flats, McCarthy & Stone has been acquired by an HBOS consortium named Mother Bidco following the withdrawal of Permira and Barclays Capital's recommended offer. The withdrawal was sparked by Vincent Tchenguiz,...
UK - Primary Capital acquires Haines Watts Business Recovery & Insolvency
Primary Capital is pleased to announce the £27m management buyout of Credere Limited, the vehicle formed to acquire the Haines Watts Business Recovery & Insolvency (HWBRI) practice.
UK - Imperial Innovations appoints new chief investment officer
Imperial Innovations Group Plc, one of the leading technology transfer and commercialisation companies in the UK, has announced the appointment of Russell Cummings to the board of directors as chief investment officer. He joins from Scottish Equity Partners...
UK - Graphite Capital acquires NES Group from Bridgepoint for £86m
Graphite Capital, the leading UK mid-market private equity specialist, is backing the £86m management buyout of the NES Group from its founders and previous backer, Bridgepoint. The exit generated a money multiple of 2x for Bridgepoint.
UK - Blackstone and Premier only remaining bidders for United Biscuits
The final round of the auction for United Biscuits gets underway this week with Blackstone and Premier Foods the only remaining contenders. While Blackstone's bid is fully funded, there is doubt as to whether the Premier consortium can raise the capital...
UK - Catalyst recruits food expert
Catalyst Corporate Finance has further strengthened its consumer and food team with the appointment of Simon Peacock from United Biscuits.
UK - Disposal of Four Seasons Healthcare by Allianz Capital Partners
Allianz Capital Partners has agreed to sell Four Seasons Healthcare, a leading provider of services for older people and specialised care services for adolescents and younger adults, to Delta Commercial Property, an investment vehicle for Three Delta....
UK - Baird Capital Partners Europe further expands team
Baird Capital Partners Europe, the international mid-market private equity firm, today announces the expansion of its team with the appointment of two new professionals, bringing its UK staff to 14. Baird now has 66 professional staff in its global private...
UK - Partial exit for Permira and Bridgepoint as Virgin Active acquires Holmes Place's UK business
Virgin Active, the health and fitness group, has signed an agreement to acquire Holmes Place’s UK business, comprising 47 clubs in the UK with a membership of 190,000. Virgin will have a majority stake of the enlarged Group. The Holmes Place clubs will...
UK - Ingram Forrest Corporate Finance strengthens team
Ingram Forrest Corporate Finance, the independent corporate finance arm of Barber Harrison & Platt, has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of Don Gray as a corporate finance director.
UK - Permira to float Hogg Robinson
It is reported that Hogg Robinson, the business travel and corporate services group backed by Permira, is to announce plans for an IPO this week.
UK – Endless successfully exits GlynWebb
Endless LLP has announced the sale of GlynWebb Ltd to private retail investors for an undisclosed sum. This exit comes just four months after Endless acquired the DIY and home improvement retailer.
UK - ISIS completes MBO of 3i-backed Empire World Trade
Empire World Trade (EWT), owned by 3i, has undergone an MBO backed by ISIS Equity Partners and HSBC Leveraged Finance. ISIS Equity Partners has invested c.£5.2m in the deal.
UK - Quester exits Avidex
MediGene AG, based in Frankfurt, has signed an agreement to acquire the Quester-backed biotechnology company Avidex Ltd. This will be a share-for-share transaction for a value of around EUR 50m.
UK - 3i divests stake in Rovtech
The Dutch oilfield services company, Fugro N.V. has today announced the acquisition of Aberdeen based Rovtech Ltd from 3i for £34.5m. Rovtech Ltd is a provider of remotely operated vehicle services to the oil and gas industries and currently has an annual...
UK - Investec funds acquisition of Telinet by Statevine
Investec Private Bank's growth & acquisition finance division has backed Statevine Ltd in the acquisition of telecommunications provider Telinet from its founders.
UK - Smedvig Capital exits City Invoice Finance
Smedvig Capital has realised its investment in City Invoice Finance following the acquisition of the company by Venture Finance Plc.
UK – Bridgepoint appoints new head of investor services
Bridgepoint has announced the appointment of John Barber as a partner. He will be head of investment services and will take over from Graham Dewhurst at the beginning of 2007. He will also be serving on Bridgepoint’s operating and investment committees.
UK – NVM-backed Arleigh International acquires Midland Chandlers
Following a MBO in 2004 funded by Northern Venture Managers, Arleigh International has successfully acquired Midland Chandlers, creating the UK’s largest provider of holiday home and narrow boat spares and consumables.
UK - Further investment for ZBD
Prelude Trust Plc, managed by Esprit Capital Partners, has made an additional £640,000 investment into ZBD Displays Ltd as part of a £2.86m funding round. This will mean that Prelude will now have a 33% holding in ZBD, and has so far committed £5.6m...
UK – Sigma enters into 25 year university partnership
Following the recent signing of a heads of agreement with the Robert Gordon University (RGU), Sigma Capital Group Plc has entered into a 25-year legal relationship agreement with the university.
UK - Successful exit for Bridges
Bridges Community Ventures has announced the sale of SimplySwitch, a price comparison service for household utilities and financial services, to The Daily Mail and General Trust plc. The transaction was valued at £22m and will be the second successful...
UK – Phasor Solutions Ltd raises £1m in first round of funding
Katalyst Ventures, the private investor group, has made a significant investment into Phasor Solutions Ltd, a developer of flat panel antenna systems, enabling the company to raise £1m for its initial funding round.