Sector
UK - Foursome becomes Frog; increases funds under management
UK-based early-stage and growth investor Foursome Investments has re-branded as Frog Capital and increased the size of its fund from EUR 60m to EUR 100m - a move almost unheard of in this economic climate.
GERMANY - Candover and Cinven to divest Springer
According to reports, Candover and Cinven have appointed UBS and Goldman Sachs to approach potential buyers for publisher Springer Science and Business Media, in a deal that could fetch up to £2bn.
EUROPE - 3i Infrastructure stays solid
Following the stark pre-close period statement released by 3i Group plc yesterday the firm's infrastructure arm published a contrastingly bright statement today, revealing steady investment activity and strong performance.
Bear Market
For much of the current crisis Russia's fast-growing economy has bucked the downward trends of its Western rivals, but recent events refute the decoupling theory. By Taraneh Ghajar
Southern Europe Sunshine
As Europe licks its fresh wounds Italy and Portugal are making hey, but can the sunshine last in Southern Europe or will the storm clouds from the rest of Europe blow in? By Francinia Protti-Alvarez
GERMANY - Target Partners appoints partner
Target Partners has appointed Olaf Jacobi as a new partner.
SWITZERLAND - Nordic Capital may fetch EUR 10bn for Nycomed
Nordic Capital portfolio company Nycomed, a Swiss drugmaker, has been put on the block and may fetch up to EUR 10bn.
SWITZERLAND - BioMedPartners strengthens management team
Basel-based BioMedPartners has strengthened its management team with the addition of Dr Andreas J Schulze and the promotion of Patrick Burgermeister.
AUSTRIA/NORWAY - GCP-backed Identec acquires TunnelCom
Gamma Capital Partners-backed Identec Solutions AG, an Austria-based supplier of industrial tracking and tracing solutions, has acquired Norway-based TunnelCom, a provider of automatic tagging solutions for the tunnel, mining, oil and gas industries....
DENMARK - Polaris holds first close on EUR 275m
Danish buyout house Polaris Private Equity has held a first of close of its third fund on EUR 275m.
UK - Zeus-backed XLN makes acquisition
Zeus Private Equity has backed portfolio company XLN Telecom, a telecommunications provider, in its acquisition of sector rival OneBillTelecom.
SWEDEN - Creandum promotes Blomquist to principal
Swedish venture capital firm Creandum has promoted Daniel Blomquist from associate to principal.
UK – KCP supports £3.6m Sabotage BIMBO
Key Capital Partners has backed the buy-in management buyout of fashion business Sabotage Ltd, which trades as Fly53, in a deal valued at ТЃ3.6m.
FRANCE - A Plus and 360 invest EUR 3m into YellowKorner
A Plus Finance has joined previous investor 360 Capital Partners in a EUR 3m funding round for YellowKorner, an art-photography retailer.
FRANCE - AXA PE, Partech and Orkos to exit B3G
AXA Private Equity, Partech International and Orkos Capital are set to sell telecommunications company B3G Telecom to Altice for an undisclosed sum.
FRANCE - BNP PE et al. invest EUR 3.5m into Ion Beam
BNP Private Equity, Investis and Vizille Capital Innovation have invested EUR 3.5m into Ion Beam Services (IBS), an ion implantation products company.
USA/UK - Lion Capital provides $80m loan to American Apparel
In a sign of private equity firms adapting to the new environment, London-based Lion Capital has provided AMEX-listed clothing retailer American Apparel with an $80m loan.
BELGIUM - UFG Private Equity invests in BSB International
UFG Private Equity, via its fund FCPI Diadème Innovation III, has invested an undisclosed sum into BSB International (Business Solutions Builders), taking a minority share in the listed company.
FRANCE - CAPE supports Keldélice
Crédit Agricole Private Equity (CAPE) has invested EUR 1.5m into Keldélice, an online fine foods market, in a first round of funding.
UK - Nimbus Partners receives backing
Solon Ventures and Chevron Technology Ventures have invested an undisclosed sum in software company Nimbus Partners.
NORWAY - Borea prepares for de-listing of Software Innovation
Norwegian buyout house Borea, through Borea Opportunity IV AS, has increased its stake in software developer Software Innovation ASA (SOI) to 90.4 % and initiates compulsory squeeze-out.
AUSTRIA - ValueNet-backed Rohe insolvent
According to reports, ValueNet Capital Partners' portfolio company gas station Rohe Group has filed for insolvency.
ICELAND - Baugur files for bankruptcy
Iceland investor Baugur Group files for bankruptcy as the company's petition for extension of the moratorium, an Icelandic legal process for creditor protection, was refused by the District Court of Reykjavik.
SWEDEN - Apax to close Stockholm office
According to press reports, Apax Partners is to close its Stockholm office.