UK / Ireland
UK - Private equity bids for GUS divisions
GUS has decided to stick with its plan of demerging its marketing and information services arm from its retail division despite private equity bids for the whole group, according to the Times today. The bid for the whole group would value it at £11.7bn.
UK - Northern Venture Managers invests in property management services
Northern Venture Managers (NVM) has provided Touchstone Asset Management with development capital to acquire Castle Estates and Calbarrie (together the Castle group). This combination will create a leading property management services provider in an exciting...
UK - HgCapital sells Castlebeck for £255m
HgCapital today announced the sale of Castlebeck to Castle Holdings Ltd, a Jersey-registered company associated with Barchester Healthcare group, the leading quality private healthcare provider for £255m.
UK - Doughty Hanson to sell off remaining stake in RHM
After floating RHM last year, Doughty Hanson is to realise its remaining 26.6% stake in the business.
UK - Candover to take DX Services private
The business to business mail services provider DX Services is to be delisted following an offer made by a vehicle owned by Candover Partners.
UK - ABN AMRO Capital acquires Volution from Montagu Private Equity
ABN AMRO Capital has agreed to acquire Volution Holdings Ltd from Montagu Private Equity with the transaction expected to complete in August 2006.
UK - Private equity set to acquire Hard Rock Cafe
According to reports in the Financial Times today, the Rank Group is conducting a review of its Hard Rock Cafe business with the help of Merrill Lynch.
UK - BDO Stoy Hayward appoints new partner to private equity team
BDO Stoy Hayward is continuing to strengthen its private equity service specialism with the appointment of a new partner, Mark O’Leary. He joins from Baker Tilly where he developed and led their Private Equity Transaction Support service.
UK - Citigroup Corporate & Investment Banking team makes new appointment.
Citigroup has today announced the appointment of Laurent de Rosière into their Private Equity Placements Group as vice president. He will be joining from Acanthus Advisers where he was principal from 2003. He will be amongst a number of recent recruits.
UK - Morrison a possible target for Texas Pacific, CVC and Permira
The Observer reported yesterday that private equity groups are weighing up an offer for supermarket group WM Morrison.
UK - Dunedin backs £21m MBO of etc.venues
Dunedin Capital Partners announces that it has backed the £21m management buyout of ETC Venues Ltd, one of London’s leading independent providers of meeting, training and event space. Dunedin is initially providing £6m of funding with a further £4m...
UK - Trish Geery joins Benson Elliot as new partner.
Benson Elliot Capital Management has today announced that it has appointed Trish Geery, as a partner in the firm. She will be joining from the Dubai Investment Group (DIG) where she has been managing director and head of global real estate since 2004....
UK - Gresham backs MBO of Swift Technical Group
Gresham has backed the management buyout of Swift Technical Group, the market leader in global recruitment and relocation focused on the oil and gas sector.
UK - Permira fended off as AGH Venice ups bid for De Vere
AGH Venice, the bidding vehicle formed by Marylebone Warwick Balfour Hotel directors and HBOS's Uberior Ventures has increased its offer for UK hotelier and health club operator De Vere Group.
UK - Barclays Ventures backs MBO of portable accommodation hirers
Barclays Ventures has backed a £11m management buyout of Rollalong Hire from the Newman family. In the year to 31 December 2006 Rollalong Hire is expected to achieve an EBITDA of £2.5m. The deal was entirely funded by Barclays Ventures and having secured...
UK - Healthcare due diligence specialists join KPMG
Three experienced commercial due diligence specialists have joined KPMG to strengthen its healthcare advisory service to the private sector. The appointments mean that KPMG’s traditional offering will now be complemented with a team offering commercial...
UK - PwC appoints new head of corporate finance
PricewaterhouseCoopers has named Neil Sutton as its new head of corporate finance. A partner since 1993, he will start in his new role from 1 July 2006. Sutton has most recently led the consumer sector focus in the UK. In the last four years, he has almost...
UK - Barclays Ventures makes 3.6x on sale of Enigma Holidays to ISIS
The sale of Enigma Holidays Ltd to ISIS represents an exit for Barclays Ventures. The £22m deal generated a money multiple of 3.6x for Barclays Ventures.
UK - Setanta wins PGA golf tour coverage from BSkyB
The Irish broadcaster Setanta Sports has won the contract to screen the PGA golf tour for the next six years, displacing Sky. Earlier this year it paid EUR 571m for the rights to screen the Premiership from 2007, the PGA deal was significantly less costly,...
UK - ISIS backs secondary MBO of Enigma Holidays Group
ISIS Equity Partners has backed the secondary management buy-out of Enigma Holidays Group Ltd, which trades as Esprit Ski and Total Ski. Together they are the UK’s leading specialist ski operator, providing both family skiing as well as a range of quality...
UK - Permira to make late entry bid for De Vere Group?
According to the Times today Permira is to make a late entry into the bidding for De Vere Group, the operator of the Village Hotels & Leisure Clubs brand and the Greens health club. The board of the group has already recommended an offer from Richard...
UK - Catalyst expands its research team
Catalyst Corporate Finance has expanded its knowledge team with the recruitment of two specialist researchers. The first new recruit is Paul Chapman, head of research, who brings over 15 years of research experience into the team, including roles with...
UK - LDC buys telecoms tester in £30m deal
LDC has backed the management buyout of Microlease, the European market leader for the rental and leasing of electronic test and measurement equipment. Microlease provides a wide range of general purpose test equipment such as oscilloscopes and data acquisition...