Sector
UK - LDC back buyout of MB Aerospace
LDC has backed the management buyout of engineering contractor MB Aerospace Holdings. LDC will own a majority stake in the newco, which has been formed from MB Aerospace and MB Faber, two of the main subsidiaries of 109 year-old generalist engineering...
FINLAND - Eqvitec exits Secgo Software
Eqvitec Technology Fund I has sold its 18% holding in Secgo Software, a Finnish information security and mobility management software company, to Birdstep Technology ASA for EUR 9.2m. Eqvitec invested in Secgo in the company's spin-off from Secgo Group...
UK - Rhone Capital exits Early Learning Centre after acquisition by Mothercare
Chelsea Stores, the owner of the Early Learning Centre children's toys retailer, has been acquired by Mothercare for £85m in cash and shares. The deal represents an exit for Rhone Capital, a private equity player which participated in the consortium...
GERMANY - Wellington Partners invests in Adconion
In a first round of funding, Wellington Partners has invested an undisclosed amount in Munich-based online advertising network company Adconion Media Group. The company was formerly known as Euroclick but recently rebranded as it is expanding beyond Europe.
UK - Aberdeen backs the £6m BIMBO of MSIS
Aberdeen Asset Managers Growth Capital has backed the BIMBO of industrial cleaning company MS Industrial Services Ltd. Aberdeen has invested £2.5m as part of the £6m deal. Aberdeen intends to grow the company from an industrial cleaning and waste disposal...
GERMANY - evidanza receives EUR 2.4m financing
In a second round of financing a consortium consisting of BayBG Bayerische Beteiligungsgesellschaft, S-Refit and KfW have invested EUR 2.4m in software developer evidanza GmbH. BayBG provided part of the funding in form of a 'stille Beteiligung'.
US/UK - SEP leads $17m investment in Heartscape Technologies
Scottish Equity Partners has led a $17m investment in healthcare pioneer Heartscape Technologies, which has launched an innovative device for the early and accurate diagnosis of heart attacks in patients in casualty. SEP led second round funding as part...
NL - Gilde to acquire Bakkersland Banket
Gilde Equity Management Benelux looks set to acquire Bakkersland Banket BV, a confectioner, from Bakkersland Groep BV. Bakkersland Banket provides pastry products for the Dutch food retail and foodservice markets, as well as for the exportmarket and is...
UK - KKR consortium controls quarter of Boots shares
KKR looks to be a step closer to securing the Boots deal today. After recent share purchases the KKR consortium now controls around a quarter of the share capital of Alliance Boots, the FTSE 100 chemist and retailer. Previously KKR's bid was supported...
SPAIN - Investindustrial and Gala Capital buy Panda Software
After over a year of negotiations, buyout firms Investindustrial and Gala Capital have purchased a majority stake of 75% in antivirus developer Panda Software. The remaining stake will be held by founder Mikel Urizarbarrena.
NORWAY - Eqvitec Technology Fund III invests in TraceTracker Innovation ASA
Eqvitec Technology Fund II has invested in TraceTracker Innovation, a Norwegian software provider of electronic traceability solutions for the food industry.
GERMANY - DZ Equity Partner exits KUMAgroup
DZ Equity Partner has sold its stake in German IT solutions provider KUMAgroup to WaBeKu GmbH. The transaction value has not been disclosed. The financial investor had acquired the stake at the end of 1998 from the company’s founders.
NL - Aletra to acquire DA Retailgroep
Aletra Capital Partners has reportedly agreed to acquire DA, a retailer of cosmetics and beauty products.
UK- ECI sells Anix IT
ECI Partners has sold Anix IT, a reseller of storage hardware and software solutions to Xploite plc for £10.45m.
FRANCE - Apax-led syndicate sells Cartesis to Business Objects
Apax Partners, Advent Ventures Partners, Caisse des Dépots et Placements du Québec and Partech International have sold their interests in finance and performance management software developer Cartesis, to business intelligence solutions provider Business...
UK - Creative Capital Fund backs performance company with EUR 2.53m
The Creative Capital Fund has led a EUR 2.53m fund-raising for The Creative Experience Company Ltd. The investment was led by Leisure and Media VCT Plc, which is managed by North Atlantic Value LLP, part of the J O Hambro Capital Management Group. The...
UK - Boots bidding war on
A bidding war has broken out for Alliance Boots, the FTSE 100 retail and pharmaceutical group. After KKR upped its offer for Alliance Boots to £10.90 per share in an attempt to see off a rival £10.85 per share bid from Terra Firma, Terra Firma trumpted...
FRANCE - EdRIP backs BestofMedia with hybrid deal
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRIP) invested EUR 2m in equity in an a-typical acquisition financing deal, allowing online IT publisher BestofMedia to Tom’s Hardware Guide.
UK - Macquarie strengthens grip on UK communications sector with £1.9bn Airwave purchase
Macquarie is to acquire Airwave, the telecom network used by UK emergency services, from O2 in a £1.9bn deal. O2 is a subsidiary of Spanish telecom group Telefonica. The purchase by Macquarie was made through its Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund...
UK - Octopus backs novelty confectionary business with £5m of expansion capital
Octopus Investments has backed Sweet Cred Ltd, a branded children’s novelty confectionery business, with £5m expansion capital financing. Octopus was introduced to the deal by Acanthus, a London-based corporate finance firm. Based in Sidcup, Kent,...
GERMANY - DZ Equity Partner sells Morgen & Morgen
DZ Equity Partner has exited its stake in Morgen & Morgen-Gruppe to the management. The transaction value has not been disclosed and CEO Joachim Geiberger will wholly acquire the company.
UK - Lion Capital appoints Mary Minnick as partner
Lion Capital has announced that Mary Minnick will be joining the firm as a partner in May. Minnick comes from The Coca-Cola Company where she has been for 23 years, having had world-wide responsibilities in general management, strategy, innovation, marketing,...
NL - Cordys completes EUR 60m equity financing round
Cordys Holding BV, a provider of industry-leading business process management suite (BPMS) enterprise software, has announced the successful completion of a $ 80m (cEUR 60m) financing round. Argonaut Private Equity led the round with an investment of...
FRANCE - A Plus, CDC and Banexi Ventures invest EUR 5m in Brandalley
Online discount clothes retailer Brandalley has raised a EUR 5m second round of funding from A Plus Finance, CDC Entreprises (investing on behalf of state initiative France Investissement) and first round backer Banexi Ventures.