Sector
LATVIA - TeliaSonera challenges Blackstone’s Lattelecom bid
According to press reports, TeliaSonera yesterday challenged Blackstone’s bid for Lattelecom, the Latvian telecommunications company. Blackstone offered to acquire the business in September 2007 for $575m, but the new Latvian government (appointed after...
UK - HSBC Private Equity backs the buyout of Transmission & Distribution Group
HSBC Private Equity has supported the buyout of Transmission & Distribution Group (TDG). TDG specialises in providing condition monitoring systems for electrical utilities and heavy industry. TDG is the parent company of Diagnostic Monitoring Systems...
SPAIN - Magnum acquires EUR 200m logistics firm
Magnum Industrial has signed the agreement for the acquisition of an 80% stake in infrastructures logistics firm Pretersa-Prenavisa.
ITALY - Weather investments may see private equity investment
Telecom holding Weather Investments, controlled by Egyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris, could see the entry of a private equity player in the weeks to come.
UK - Balderton-backed LOVEFiLM acquires Amazon Europe DVD rental business
LOVEFiLM International Ltd, a DVD rental business backed by Index Ventures, Balderton Capital and DFJ Esprit, is to acquire Amazon Europe's DVD rental business in the UK and Germany. As part of this transaction, Amazon Europe will also make a cash investment...
GERMANY - AUCTUS Management acquires 80% of Hobatex GmbH
Funds managed by AUCTUS Management & Co. KG have acquired 80% of the shares of specialised wood applications company Hobatex GmbH for an undisclosed sum. Hobatex is an international trader and service provider for specialised wood applications. Major...
UK - August strengthens investment team
August Equity has appointed David Lonsdale to its investment team. Lonsdale joins August Equity from British Sky Broadcasting Plc, where he worked in the corporate finance division. During his time at BSkyB, he was responsible for UK transactions across...
UK - LGV sells Classic Hospitals Group to Cinven-backed Spire for £145m
LGV Capital has agreed to sell Classic Hospitals Group, the UK’s sixth largest private acute hospital operator, to Spire Healthcare (formerly BUPA Hospitals), which is controlled by funds managed by Cinven, for £145m. Classic Hospitals owns and operates...
UK - BOSIF acquires Verna Group from LGV
Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance (BOSIF) has backed the secondary management buyout of healthcare manufacturing business Verna Group Holdings Ltd from LGV. The value of the deal is undisclosed. BOSIF takes a minority stake in the newco. Bolton-based...
DENMARK - Polaris acquires Tøjeksperten for DKK 900m
Polaris Private Equity has acquired Tøjeksperten, a Danish mens clothing retailer for DKK 900m.
European LPs: optimism, naivety or realism?
Despite the recent credit crisis, there appears to be relative optimism among European LPs compared with their North American and Asian counterparts. Would the immaturity and naivety of the European private equity industry be the cause of this so called...
Great exit-pectations
The market has aligned opinions of LPs and GPs: both have dampened exit expectations for 2008