UK / Ireland
UK - Misys 'management walk in' to prevent company being sold off too cheaply
Control of software firm Misys is reported by the Times to have been assumed by three former directors who want to prevent the firm being sold off too cheaply to private equity or trade buyers. Under plans by the directors, the £1bn firm will be broken...
UK - Caudwell's mobile phone empire snapped up by private equity
The mobile phone empire of John Caudwell is to be acquired by three private equity groups according to a report in the Sunday Times.
UK - McCarthy & Stone to recommend Permira's offer
The nearly £1bn joint offer from Permira and Barclays Capital for McCarthy & Stone is today expected to be recommended by the board of the company, according to the Times.
UK - Taylor Nelson Sofres receiving private equity interest
The international market research firm Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) is said to have attracted private equity interest. The company has encountered the dissatisfaction of its institutional investors after it revealed revenues in the US had fallen and were...
UK - Blackstone and KKR target Argos and Homebase
GUS, the parent company of Argos and Homebase retailers (ARG)and Experian, the business information provider, which is intent on a demerger of the two divisions in October, is reported to have received private equity offers for both arms of the company....
UK - Quester to open US office
Quester has announced the appointment of Rudy Burger as director of US business development. Burger will open an office for Quester at 2420 Sand Hill Road San Francisco. He will work with Quester portfolio companies to develop and implement their strategies...
UK - European Capital recruits two new directors to buyout team
European Capital today announces the addition of Alex Morey, director, and Julian Masters, investment director, to its UK buyout team in its London office. In addition, Athesan Guna and Ivan Stoyanov join the team as associates. With these recent appointments,...
UK - Scott Tod to be taken over by Rutland Partners
Scott Tod, the struggling cash machine specialist is to be delisted by Rutland Partners in a deal which values the loss making company at £7.4m.
UK - Dow Schofield Watts appoints seventh partner
Dow Schofield Watts LLP has announced the appointment of Craig Richardson as its seventh partner. Richardson trained as a chartered accountant with KPMG and subsequently spent 10 years with KPMG Corporate Finance. During the last three years Richardson...
UK - Aberdeen Asset Managers backs MBO of Homelux Nenplas
The UK's leading tile accessory and plastic extrusion manufacturer, Homelux Nenplas, has been the subject of a management buyout led by Aberdeen Asset Managers. The business was sold by US-based Newell Rubebrmaid. Yorkshire Bank supported the transaction.
UK - Busy times for Sovereign Capital
In the space of three days, Sovereign Capital Partners has completed an exit and an acquisition finance deal. The exit deal from SENAD Group, a specialist educational provider in Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Wales, generated an IRR of 110% and represents...
UK - Blackstone to reunite Center Parcs
Blackstone is to purchase Center Parcs property in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany worth EUR 630m in a bid to revitalise the company according to the Financial Times today. The Dutch-founded company was establised in 1967 with the UK division having...
UK - Permira and DLJ make shortlist for All3Media
Permira and the private equity arm of Credit Suisse, DLJ are on the shortlist to acquire the company behind Hollyoaks and the Richard & Judy show.
UK - Citigroup recruits Laurent de Rosière to its private equity team
Citigroup’s Private Equity Placements Group has strengthened its team with the appointment of Laurent de Rosière from Acanthus Advisers, a London-based private equity advisory firm, where he was a Principal from 2003.
UK - Inflexion enlarges portfolio company Healthcare Knowledge International
Inflexion Private Equity has led the acquisition of Cardiff Research Consortium Ltd, a healthcare consultancy business, on behalf of its portfolio company Healthcare Knowledge International, consisting of CHKS Ltd, its UK division and Iasist in Spain.
UK - Gresham backs MBO of Giles Insurance Brokers
Gresham has announced that it has backed Chris Giles and the management in the management buyout of Giles Insurance Brokers Ltd, one of the UK’s fastest growing commercial insurance brokers, in a deal valued at £45m.
UK - Terra Firma to team up with GIC and Macquarie for Thames Water?
The Financial Times suggests that Terra Firma may be joining forces with the investment vehicle of the Singaporean government, GIC, in order to bid for Thames Water. Macquarie Bank is also reported to be involved in preliminary talks to form a consortium.
UK - Further consolidation of the health market?
Holmes Place, controlled by Permira and Bridgepoint Capital, could be acquired by Virgin Active if a new merger plan is to go ahead. According to the Financial Times, the Virgin Group would then float the enlarged company which would be the UK's second...
UK - Gresham Private Equity backs MBO if Just Trays
Gresham Private Equity has today announced its backing in the MBO of Just Trays, the UK’s leading manufacturer of shower trays. It has an estimated 20% share in the UK shower tray market and plans to increase its market share by introducing further...
UK - Benson Elliot Capital appoints new partner in the firm
Benson Elliot Capital Management, which was recently launched by former Doughty Hanson Real Estate head, Marc Mogull, has announced the appointment of Philip Irons as a new partner in the firm. He will be given primary responsibility for overseeing private...
UK - Lion Capital to acquire La Senza
Lion Capital LLP has signed an agreement to acquire La Senza Ltd by the end of next week. La Senza is a UK and European leader in specialty retail of women’s lingerie and nightwear.
UK - Goldman Sachs head of European private equity step down
The Financial Times reports today that Richard Sharp, head of European private equity at Goldman Sachs, is to step down at the end of the year.
UK - Premier Foods looks likely contender for Campbell's Soup business
As the results of the auction for the UK and Irish businesses of Campbell's Soup are awaited, Premier Foods has revealed bouyant trading in its convenience food range.
UK - Ernst & Young appoints four new partners to private equity team
Ernst & Young has boosted its private equity team with the appointment of four new partners according to Accountancy Age. John van Rossen has joined the firm from KPMG and Michel Driessen as formerly at Fijitsu Siemens. The latter will lead E&Y's operational...