Media
FRANCE/GERMANY - Gores-backed Sagen buys Gigaset assets
Sagem Communications, backed by US investor Gores Group, has acquired the broadband and WiMAX business of Gigaset Communications GmbH, a subsidiary of industrial holding Arques AG and Siemens AG.
NETHERLANDS - 3i and H.I.G provide EUR 17.2m new equity for VNU Media
3i-backed VNU Media has finally reached an agreement with its lender over its EUR 100m debt. The firm has been in talks with banks since January this year.
ITALY - Bridgepoint appoints director
Bridgepoint has appointed Matteo Perale as a director in its Milan office, where he will operate within the media, technology and financial services teams.
UK- Apax-backed Emap to cut 35 jobs
Apax-backed Emap is reportedly to cut 35 jobs in its magazines division, Emap Inform, as part of a restructuring of the unit, which is home to titles including Retail Week and Broadcast.
FRANCE - BNP PE and XAnge in EUR 2.6m Wedia investment
BNP Paribas Private Equity and XAnge Private Equity have invested EUR 2.6m into software company Wedia.
UK - NVM-backed CloserStill acquires two exhibition businesses
NVM Private Equity-backed events company CloserStill has acquired Pioneer Global Media and Principal Media for an undisclosed sum.
UK - Apax-backed Emap loses senior executive
Publishing group Emap, backed by buyout house Apax Partners, has lost one of its senior managers: co-chief executive of Emap Data and Insight, Neil Bradford.
UK - Finance Wales leads £500,000 Datmedia
Government-backed Finance Wales has invested ТЃ400,000 as part of a ТЃ500,000 investment into media company Datmedia Ltd, alongside business angel network xenos.
UK - Index et al. to exit Lovefilm
According to reports, Lovefilm's private equity backers, including Index Ventures, Arts Alliance Media, Balderton Capital and DFJ Esprit, are looking to sell their stake in the home entertainment company.
UK - Apax writes down investment in Emap
Buyout house Apax has reportedly written down to zero its investment in Emap, a business-to-business publisher with titles including Retail Week and Broadcast.
FRANCE - TIME strengthens team
TIME Private Equity has recruited Jean Stéphane Bonneton as an associate and member of the Board.
CEE - PPF and Generali launch EUR 615m fund
According to reports, Czech investment group PPF and Italian insurer Generali have joined forces to launch PPf Partners, a new EUR 615m private equity fund targeting Central and Eastern Europe.
Ram-shackled
Following the hostile response to the EU Commission's proposed Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive by private equity trade bodies, unquote" invited five prominent lawyers to share their views on the impact the new legislation could have on...
Supporting the structure
The noise of restructuring is finally making itself heard. In Italy, media reports have put some private equity-backed firms in the spotlight as they face distressed debt issues. Yacht-maker Ferretti, formerly backed by Candover and Permira, is the latest...
GERMANY - Buyout houses bid for Springer
Six bidders have entered the second round of bidding to acquire a EUR 500m stake in Cinven and Candover-backed publisher Springer Science and Business Media, with four comprising major buyout houses.
UK - August Equity boosts investment team
August Equity has hired Mehul Patel and Ranji Goodwin to its investment team.