Sector
FRANCE – LBO France backs Tiama’s acquisition of SGCC
LBO France has backed a secondary LMBO deal in which its portfolio company Tiama Group acquired SGCC Group. The deal saw Atria Capital Partners exit its 90% share in SGCC. SGCC’s entire management team led by Luc Boulant joined Tiama’s management...
SPAIN – Mercapital still involved in pharmaceuticals auction
Mercapital is believed to be the only private equity operator still bidding for the Spanish branch of US Bentley Pharmaceuticals. The auction process began some six months ago.
SWITZERLAND - Zurmont Madison Private Equity acquires SMB SA
Zurmont Madison Private Equity L.P. has acquired the metallurgy specialist SMB SA as part of a succession solution for an undisclosed sum. In the course of the change of ownership, Raymond-Jean Lacoste will join the company as of mid-March as the new...
UK - Montagu bid for Biffa safe after Terra Firma and Suez pull out
Montagu Private Equity's recommended offer for Biffa, the waste disposal group, is to go ahead uncontested after Terra Firma, which was thought to be preparing a counterbid alongside French utility group Suez, backed away from the deal. The Montagu-consortium...
GERMANY – Index Ventures & Wellington Partners invest $80m in Adconion
Index Ventures led a series-C round of funding for online advertising networks business Adconion Media Group, and was joined by existing investor Wellington Partners, with the total sum amounting to $80m.
FRANCE - Pragma Capital closes second fund on EUR 345m
Pragma Capital has closed its second fund Pragma II on EUR 345m. The fund exceeded its target by EUR 45m. It will seek to invest between EUR 10m and 35m in companies with a value of between EUR 50m and EUR 250m.
UK - Close Ventures invests £1.5m in Opta Sportsdata
Close Ventures has invested £1.5m into Opta Sportsdata Ltd (trading as Opta), a European provider of sports data and analysis to media companies. The investment will be used to help grow sales in the existing business in the UK and the rest of Europe.
UK - Graphite acquires Kurt Geiger from BPE for £95m
Graphite Capital has acquired shoe retailer Kurt Geiger from Barclays Private Equity (BPE) for £95m. BPE had owned Kurt Geiger since Summer 2005 when it paid £46m for the business. Lloyds TSB and Royal Bank of Scotland provided a debt package to support...
UK - Graphite portfolio company AMS buys Capital Consulting
Graphite Capital-backed Alexander Mann Solutions (AMS) is buying Capital Consulting, consolidating AMS’ leading position in the European market for recruitment process outsourcing (RPO). AMS is the largest independent provider of RPO solutions to blue-chip...
RUSSIA - ASI injects $200,000 in LogneX
Ambient Sound Investments has invested $200,000 in LogneX, a Russian software development company, bringing its stake to 30%.
GERMANY - Waterland sells sds business services for EUR 46m
Waterland Private Equity Investments has sold sds business services GmbH to Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) Inc for EUR 46m, with ACS also assuming liabilities to purchase sds.
SPAIN - Abraxa launches two renewable energy funds
Abraxa Integrated Financial Solutions has been granted authorisation by the Spanish stock exchange regulator CNMV to launch two funds - Abraxa Capital Privado II and Abraxa Capital Privado III.
FRANCE – Sofinnova Partners leads EUR 2.5m financing of Neosens
Sofinnova Partners has led Capricorn Cleantech Fund and GALIA Gestion as well as former investors ICSO Private Equity and IRDI in a EUR 2.5m financing round for Neosens.
GERMANY – DEWB to sell stake in 4flow for EUR 6.5m
Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel- Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG has sold its 44.4% shareholding in 4flow AG, Berlin, to the company's management for EUR 6.5m. The purchase price will be paid in several tranches.
FRANCE - Marc Devillard joins Crédit Agricole PE
Marc Devillard has joined Crédit Agricole Private Equity's Venture Capital team as investment director for the software and internet sectors.
PORTUGAL - Inter-Risco reaps 7.7x multiple on TvTel exit
Inter-Risco has reaped a 7.7x multiple and 30% IRR on its sale of broadcasting company TvTel to Portugal Telecom Media in a deal valued at approximately EUR 120m.
GERMANY - Paine & Partners to acquire Stabilus from Montagu Private Equity
Montagu Private Equity plans to divest Stabilus, a manufacturer of gas springs, to funds managed by Paine & Partners, LLC. The transaction is expected to close in April 2008. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
UK - London Seed Capital backs Magpie with £500,000
London Seed Capital has provided Magpie Ltd, the company behind social media analytics tool Brandwatch, with funding totalling £500,000. Led by London Seed Capital, the round includes a select group of business angels.
UK - August Equity portfolio company makes £19m disposal
August Equity portfolio company Planit Holdings has disposed of its computer aided design (CAD) arm Fusion to 20-20 Technologies Inc for £19m. Fusion specialises in CAD solutions for the retail industry. The sale of Fusion is in line with the original...
UK - Creative Ventures and Finance South West back online video platform
Creative Ventures Group, YFM-managed Finance South West Growth Fund and private investors have led a series-B round of funding for Coull, a provider of interactive online video publishing platforms. With this investment, Coull has launches two products...
Bowmark Capital Survey
UK lower mid-market defies the gloom
UK/FRANCE - AlixPartners appoints Helena Samaha as general counsel
AlixPartners, the global restructuring, consulting, and financial advisory firm, has announced the appointment of Helena Samaha as general counsel-Europe. She will be based in the firm’s Paris office.
ITALY - Cape acquires software company Xtel for EUR 5m
Cape Natixis acquired software company Xtel in a management buyout deal valued at approximately EUR 4.9m.