Consumer
UK - Administrations double in Q4
Further evidence of the growing impact of the economic downturn on businesses was provided today by new figures published by the Insolvency Service, which reveals that the number of administrations in Q4 2008 across England and Wales doubled in comparison...
EUROPE - Baugur to collapse
Baugur is set to go into administration after its main banker, Landsbanki, ended restructuring talks with the once-prolific Icelandic investor.
RUSSIA - PPF to acquire 51% stake of Eldorado
Czech Republic-based private equity firm PPF Group is said to be in the process of acquiring a 51% stake in Russian electronics retailer Eldorado.
A Darwinian time
Reports on the financial markets and global economy currently feel like a succession of bad news stories, and as 2009 rolls on this trend looks set to continue. This year also marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth. The timing could not...
Don't look down
Reading the finance section in the newspaper these days is like experiencing a day of London weather: chilly, windy morning followed by overcast midday before the rain kicks in during the evening. It is all over the place, as are the banks' shares in...
FRANCE - AGF leads EUR 6.5m investment into 24h00.fr
Returning investor AGF Private Equity has invested EUR 3.5m as part of a EUR 6.5m second round of funding for online retailer 24h00.fr, alongside Seventure Partners.
UK - HIG acquires FNZ Holdings
HIG Europe has acquired financial services company FNZ Holdings Ltd for an undisclosed sum.
UK - Phoenix appoints two to management committee
Phoenix Equity Partners has appointed partners David Burns and Richard Dew to its Management Committee.
UK - Private equity to rescue Wolseley
Reports suggest that several private equity houses are among the potential investors in talks to save quoted building materials retailer Wolseley.
UK - Hilco considers Allied Carpet acquisition
Reports suggest that turnaround specialist Hilco is considering an acquisition of flooring retailer Allied Carpets.
The rise and fall ... of the UK private equity market
unquote" reflects on the ups and downs the domestic market has seen since the newsletter began tracking it in 1992
FRANCE - Abénex and L Capital sell Nutrition & Santé
Abénex Capital and L Capital have sold health food producer Nutrition & Santé to Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co, a Japanese drug, food and drinks maker.
FRANCE - Apax-backed Morgan falls into administration
Women's prêt-a-porter clothing brand Morgan, which is backed by Apax Partners, has gone into administration.
UK - EPIC acquires Whittards
Specialist tea and coffee retailer Whittard of Chelsea has been bought by EPIC Private Equity for an undisclosed sum.
How low can you go?
Preliminary figures released by unquote" colour in a picture we've all had sketched for some time - a rapidly imploding buyout market in the UK and beyond. Across Europe buyouts were down more than 60% to just over EUR71bn in 2008, according to the European...
NETHERLANDS - ACC-backed Baarsma acquires Swiss Rutishauser
AAC Capital Partners-backed Baarsma Wine Group, a wine distribution business, has acquired Swiss wine business Rutishauser Weinkellerei.
UK - NBGI adds Smollensky's to menu
NBGI Private Equity has acquired Smollensky's Bar & Grill, a chain of steak restaurants, to add to its Kornicis portfolio of restaurants.
CEE - Enterprise Investors backs Dystrybucja Polska
Enterprise Investors has acquired a 30% stake in non-addressed mail distributor Dystrybucja Polska (Polish Distribution) in a deal valued at PLN 6m (approx. EUR 1.5m).
NETHERLANDS - IK exits Wehkamp
IK Investment Partners has sold Dutch online shopping site Wehkamp to a group of private investors for an undisclosed sum.
UK - AFM fuels Rowlico expansion with £600,000 investment
Alliance Fund Managers (AFM), through the Merseyside Special Investment Fund (MSIF) Venture Fund, has completed an investment of ТЃ600,000 into fuel distribution business Rowlico Fuels Ltd.