Sector

AUSTRIA - Blackstone to target Telekom Austria

According to press reports the Blackstone Group is in discussions with the Austrian government over a possible participation in Telekom Austria. Reports from investment bankers at UBS Bank also confirm that financial investors are likely to consider the...

GERMANY - Palamon takes controlling stake in cadooz

Palamon Capital Partners has acquired a controlling stake in cadooz AG. The company is a provider of gift certificates for corporate customers in Germany. The financial investor has committed EUR 15m in capital within the framework of the transaction.

AUSTRIA - gcp portfolio company branches out

RFID-based tracking and tracing specialist Identec Solutions, a gamma capital partners portfolio investment, has acquired Baumer Ident GmbH. Baumer is a global manufacturer of industrial auto-ID systems and is currently headquartered in Weinheim Switzerland.

UK - Lion Capital to acquire La Senza

Lion Capital LLP has signed an agreement to acquire La Senza Ltd by the end of next week. La Senza is a UK and European leader in specialty retail of women’s lingerie and nightwear.

UK - Private equity bids for GUS divisions

GUS has decided to stick with its plan of demerging its marketing and information services arm from its retail division despite private equity bids for the whole group, according to the Times today. The bid for the whole group would value it at £11.7bn.

UK - HgCapital sells Castlebeck for £255m

HgCapital today announced the sale of Castlebeck to Castle Holdings Ltd, a Jersey-registered company associated with Barchester Healthcare group, the leading quality private healthcare provider for £255m.

SWEDEN - Altor acquires PIAB

Altor Fund II has signed an agreement to acquire the Swedish vacuum technology company, PIAB Invest AB from the Tell family. Altor are aiming to significantly expand the company within the next few years as they will now have the required capital and...

SPAIN - Espiga Capital exits Stock Uno

Espiga Capital, along with other shareholders, has recently sold its entire shareholding in Stock Uno to Ibersuizas in a BIMBO worth approximately EUR 30m. The transaction represents returns to Espiga of 2.5x its original investment, equivalent to an...

LITHUANIA - CapMan exits Drobe

CapMan has sold its holding in Lithuanian Drobe Wool Company to Plaza Corporation, a Lithuanian industrial development company.The CapMan funds Finnventure IV and Finnventure V originally invested in Drobe in 2000 along with the European Bank for Reconstruction...

NL- Apax Partners courts Endemol

Apax Partners is thought to be considering a possible EUR 1bn for Dutch quoted company Endemol. The private equity firm, which failed to purchase ITV earlier this year, could set up a consortium to buy Telefonica’s stake in Endemol.

UK - Healthcare due diligence specialists join KPMG

Three experienced commercial due diligence specialists have joined KPMG to strengthen its healthcare advisory service to the private sector. The appointments mean that KPMG’s traditional offering will now be complemented with a team offering commercial...

FINLAND - CapMan and Helmet exit Kultajousi

CapMan and Helmet Capital, the joint owners of the jewellery retailer Kultajousi Oy, have sold their entire holding in Kultajousi’s parent company Goldhold Oy. CapMan funds’ 40% holding and Helmet Capital funds’ 11% holding have been sold to the...

UK - Catalyst expands its research team

Catalyst Corporate Finance has expanded its knowledge team with the recruitment of two specialist researchers. The first new recruit is Paul Chapman, head of research, who brings over 15 years of research experience into the team, including roles with...

FINLAND - Beneq closes first funding round on EUR 1m

Beneq has secured funding from Holtron and a group of private investors, with a venture capital investment of EUR 1m. Beneq is planning to use this funding to speed up its international growth and strengthen the organisation, with a substantial proportion...