Sector
SPAIN - Buy and build continues with acquisition of Foprar
Qualitas Equity Partners and Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie Private Equity (LODH) have together acquired 100% of Foprar, a manufacturer of tubes and frames for civil works projects. This follows the acquisition in March of 100% of Pronave Yecla SL,...
NORWAY - Norvestor's Life buys 40% of Life Scandinavia
Life Health Nordic AB (Life AB) has bought over 40% of Life Scandinavia, a voluntary retail chain. Life Scandinavia’s largest owner is CEO Hallgeir Åndal, who has been appointed new CEO of Life AB.
NORWAY - PE groups prepare bids for Orkla Media
Candover, Apax Partners and Providence Equity Partners plan to bid for Norwegian Orkla Media, according to press reports. It is understood that the potential buyout could be worth over £700m.
AUSTRIA - The Carlyle Group acquires UC4 Software
Financial investors PONTIS Venture Partners and Capexit have exited their joint 21% stake in UC4 Software GmbH. The electronic job scheduling specialist was sold to The Carlyle Group in a joint replacement capital and MBO transaction. The founding manager,...
GERMANY - Auctus Management acquires PharmaZell GmbH
Auctus Management has acquired Raubling-based PharmaZell GmbH from the Lubrizol Group.
SWEDEN - Mobeon receives $13m from BrainHeart Capital and AP6
Mobeon, the mobile messaging software specialist, has secured approximately $13m from BrainHeart Capital and AP6.
NORWAY - HgCapital announces intention to take Visma private
Engel Holding AS, owned by funds managed by HgCapital, has decided to make a recommended public voluntary cash offer for all outstanding shares in Norwegian Visma ASA. The offer price, which is NOK 135 per share, values Visma at NOK 4.32bn.
NETHERLANDS - 3i to exit Refresco
A consortium led by FL Group hf. has signed an agreement to acquire Refresco Holding B.V. (Refresco), the Dutch private label soft drink manufacturer from the investment fund 3i Plc for a total consideration (enterprise value) of EUR 461m.
UK - LMS to spin off venture division
London Merchant Securities (LMS), the property group, is set to become a real estate investment trust (Reit) once it has spun-off its venture capital arm as a new Aim-listed company called Leo Capital.
UK - Tom Wrenn joins ECI Partners
ECI Partners has announced the appointment of Tom Wrenn as investment executive.
GERMANY - Skadden, Arps names new partner
International law firm Skadden, Arps has named Dr Lutz Zimmer as partner at its Munich practice. Zimmer joined Skadden as counsel in 2004 and has extensive experience in the fields of private equity and venture capital.
UK - Ingenious Ventures exits Lionhead Studios
Ingenious Ventures, the private equity arm of Ingenious Media, has realised its investment in Lionhead Studios, a leading video game developer, through a sale to Microsoft Game Studios.
UK - Primary backs FoneStarz in £4m development funding
Primary Capital has backed mobile content specialist FoneStarz Media Group Ltd with £4m of development funding and taken a 50% stake in the company.
UK - North West Equity Fund invests in Malagasy
North West Equity Fund has led a £150,000 round of funding for Malagasy Ltd. Debt was provided by HSBC and Rosebud Fund.
FRANCE - Sagard acquires laundry group from Astorg
Sagard has backed the secondary buyout of Régie Linge Développement (RLD) from Astorg Partners. The private equity house has gained an 80% shareholding in France’s third largest professional linen hire, while the management team holds the balance....
UK - Hg announces new appointments
HgCapital has announced five new appointments and the establishment of a services sector team to be lead by Robin Lincoln.
GERMANY - 3i floats Magix
3i has successfully backed the floatation of international multimedia software provider MAGIX AG. The company listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on 6 April. The offering was 13.2 times oversubscribed and left 3i with an 11.2% stake in the company...
GERMANY - DZ Equity Partner acquires aluminium and titanium specialist
DZ Equity Partner GmbH, together with company management, has acquired 100% of TITAL Titan-Aluminium-Feinguss GmbH. The value of the transaction, which was agreed on 1 April, is undisclosed. The vendors, a group of private investors, were advised by Hübner,...
UK - The Capital Fund supplies Maison Brillant with £475,000
Maison Brillant has secured £475,000 in expansion financing from The Capital Fund. The company plans to use the funding to extend its production capacity and is set to open a French bakery cafe in London-based Harvey Nichols Food Hall.
BELGIUM / SWEDEN - Rabo Participaties portfolio company backs PlymoVent
Rabo Participaties portfolio company Clean Air Group BV has invested in Sweden-based PlymoVent. The company is a specialist in industrial fume extraction and filtration technology. The value of the transaction is undisclosed.
NORDICS - Briodgepoint appoints chairman of Nordic business
Bridgepoint has appointed Mikael Lövgren as chairman of its Nordic business Bridgepoint Capital AB.
UK - Ingenious Media Active Capital Ltd announces its flotation on AIM
Ingenious Media Active Capital Ltd has announced its successful fundraising of 150 million ordinary share at a price of £1 each to raise £150m before expenses. Admission of the ordinary shares to trading on AIM is expected to occur on 11 April 2006...
UK - Phoenix appoints David Hamid as chairman of Nationwide Autocentres
Phoenix Equity Partners has announced that David Hamid has been appointed chairman of Nationwide Autocentres. Nationwide, the UK’s leading independent MOT and car servicing specialist, was acquired by Phoenix in February 2006.
ITALY - Investindustrial acquires 65% of Stroili Oro
Investindustrial has led the acquisition of 65% of Stroili Oro, Italy’s leading jewellery retail chain. L-Capital (LVMH Group) and Ergon Capital, former shareholders of Stroili Oro, will retain a 35% shareholding. Following the acquisition, a minority...