Sector
UK - LDC buys telecoms tester in £30m deal
LDC has backed the management buyout of Microlease, the European market leader for the rental and leasing of electronic test and measurement equipment. Microlease provides a wide range of general purpose test equipment such as oscilloscopes and data acquisition...
UK - Jefferies expands technology research team
Jefferies International Ltd, a subsidiary of US-based Jefferies Group Inc, today announced the appointment of Milan Radia as a Senior Equity Research Analyst, extending the firm’s global coverage of the software and IT services industries. Milan Radia...
UK - New soft drink manufacturer receives £69m from FF&P
Fleming Family & Partners (FF&P) is backing a start-up soft drinks manufacturer that has ambitions to become a leader in the Euorpean non-alcoholic beverages market, according to the Financial Times. FF&P is the private equity vehicle of the Fleming family,...
FRANCE - Fonds Partenaires sells Fahrenheit to EDF
French private equity firm Fonds Partenaires has realised its investement in gas-powered boilers maintenance company Fahrenheit.
FRANCE - Direct Energie receives additional funding
Crédit Agricole Private Equity (CAPE), CITA Gestion and NBGI Ventures have renewed their commitments in the third round financing of Direct Energie. As a result of the transaction, industrial Group Louis Dreyfus takes a two third equity stake, financial...
UK - Launch of private equity marketing consultancy
Emma Payne has launched a marketing consultancy, EVP Marketing, providing services to private equity firms, their portfolio companies and their service providers. Having worked in all three areas, Emma spotted a huge opportunity for outsourced marketing...
UK - AIG strengthens European private equity team
AIG Global Investment Group (AIGGIG) has announced the appointment of Rhonda Ryan as a vice president and head of its private equity funds group’s London team.
NETHERLANDS - Apax has Endemol in its sights
The Times today reports that Apax Partners is looking into making a bid for Endemol, the producer of Big Brother. The company is currently listed on Euronext, Amsterdam and bids are expected to be in the region of £1bn.
UK - Catalyst makes London appointment
Catalyst Corporate Finance has strengthened its London office with the recruitment of Richard Holden, from RSM Robson Rhodes.
UK - Exponent Private Equity buys Trainline in £163m deal
Exponent Private Equity has announced the acquisition of Trainline, the leading online and call-centre rail retailer and information provider in the UK for £163m.
NORWAY - Altor acquires 70% of Scandpower
Altor has acquired 70% of Scandpower Petroleum Technology Holding ASA (SPT). The current owners, led by HitecVision Private Equity, will have a 30% ownership in the company on a pro-rata basis.
UK - LDC backs the Apollo Group
LDC has backed the management buyout of Apollo Group Holdings, one of the UK’s fastest growing providers of property refurbishment services to local authorities, for an undisclosed sum. The investment has enabled the Waltham Abbey-based firm to buy...
UK - CriticalBlue raises $3.7m second round funding
CriticalBlue, a provider of tools for accelerating software in embedded microprocessor applications has announced the closure of its B round financing. The funding round was led by Herald Ventures and was fully supported by existing investors Pentech...
DENMARK - Nordic Biotech and Bioscience Managers complete $25m portfolio deal
Bioscience Managers Limited (BML), a London-based venture capital firm, has acquired shareholdings in a number of clinical stage portfolio companies from the Nordic Biotech K/S fund. The value of the deal is $25m.
UK - Permira, Carlyle and Blackstone court iSoft
The struggling healthcare software company, iSoft, is thought to be latest company to be weighed up by private equity with Permira, Carlyle and Blackstone all reported to be interested according to the Observer.
GERMANY - Triton acquires stake in Dematic
Triton, together with the company's management, has taken over shares previously held by Siemens AG in Dematic GmbH & Co. KG. The parties have agreed not to disclose details of the transaction. Dematic employs around 4,000 people and achieved revenues...
PORTUGAL - Money set for Portugal Telecom buyout
According to reports on the Portuguese press, a consortium of private equity funds including Blackstone, Cinven, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Permira and Providence Equity have secured EUR 4.9 b of their own funds available should they decide to go ahead...
UK - Anil Hansjee joins GP Bullhound
Anil Hansjee, previously at IDG Ventures, has joined technology investment banking firm GP Bullhound. He has over 15 years experience in the technology industry and has worked as an IT engineer, in IT corporate finance and, most recently, as a principal...
NETHERLANDS - Vendex KKB continues operations under the name Maxeda
Vendex KKB, the Dutch retail concern which was delisted in August 2004 by a KKR-led consortium, has changed its name to Maxeda. This decision is understood to be motivated by a desire to sound more international, in order to stimulate growth outside of...
UK - The Capital Fund invests in mobile games innovator
Telcogames Ltd, a global publisher, developer and distributor of mobile games, has raised initial expansion funding from The Capital Fund to strengthen its publishing activities in smartphone gaming.
UK - Southern Cross to delay IPO
The Financial Times reports today that Southern Cross Healthcare is the latest company to decide to delay its floatation due to the recent retreats in the stock markets.
Luxembourg - Taylor Wessing advises IGEFI on Summit Partners equity investment
Taylor Wessing has advised IGEFI Group, a provider of software solutions to the investment funds industry, on its equity investment from Summit Partners.
UK - MFI auction reaches second round
The second-round auction of MFI Retail will begin on Friday according to the Financial Times. Further details of the sale of the struggling furniture business have now emerged.
GERMANY - Carlyle Group invests in Global Media
The Carlyle Group has obtained a significant minority stake in Global Media GmbH, a web marketing company. The firm delivers a range of online services including search engine optimisation, key word advertising and online media planning.