Sector
BELGIUM - Gimv sells stake in Clear2Pay to US-based Aquiline
As part of a EUR 50m funding round for Clear2Pay led by US-based Aquiline, Belgian private equity and venture investor Gimv has divested its stake in the online payment solutions company to the US-based private equity firm.
CEE - EI appoints five to board of directors
Poland-based investor group Enterprise Investors has made five promotions to its board of directors: Rafal Bator, Stanislaw Knaflewski, Agnieszka Kowalska, Sebastian Król and Jacek WoŸniak.
SPAIN - PE-backed Amadeus seeks to amend debt prior to listing
Reports suggest that BC Partners- and Cinven-backed travel agency Amadeus is in negotiations with its lenders to amend the terms on its EUR 5bn debt pile prior to its planned flotation.
UK - Dawn Capital invests in series A round for Manic Monkey
Dawn Capital has invested an undisclosed amount into 3D animation specialist Manic Monkey in a series-A round of financing.
GERMANY - HTFG and MAZ invest in MobileBits
High-Tech Gründerfonds and Maz level one have invested an undisclosed sum in software company MobileBits.
Floating to the top
The IPO flurry may herald a new dawn in the market - or it could be the result of pressure from LPs for future fundraisings. Deborah Sterescu investigates
SWITZERLAND – Private equity-backed Sunrise sold to France Telecom
Danish telecom giant TDC, owned by KKR, Apax, Blackstone, Permira and Providence, has sold 75% of its Swiss mobile telecommunication subsidiary Sunrise Communications AG to France Telecom for EUR 1.5bn.
GERMANY - S-Refit AG sells akt Informationssysteme back to founders
S-Refit AG has sold its shares in software company akt Informationssysteme to the company's founders.
EUROPE - Wilson succeeds Russell as EVCA chairman
Apax partner Richard Wilson has been named the new chairman of the European Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (EVCA), succeeding Jonathan Russell of 3i.
SWEDEN - Chalmers back NemaLabs with further SEK 5m
Chalmers Innovation Seed Fund is backing software business Nema Labs with SEK 5m in a funding round raising a total of SEK 10m for the company's internationalisation. Other investors included Volvo Technology Transfer and Innovationsbron.
UK - Atlas et al invest $20m into picoChip
Atlas Venture, Highland Capital Partners, Pond Venture Partners and Scottish Equity Partners have invested $20m into wireless infrastructure company picoChip, alongside Rothschild, AT&T, Intel and Samsung, in a Series E funding round.
UK - ISIS Equity reaps 4x money on ScriptSwitch sale
ISIS Equity Partners has wholly exited its investment in drug comparison software company ScriptSwitch via a trade sale to US-based healthcare operator UnitedHealth in a deal that values the business at £50m, generating a return of four times money.
UK - NorthStar leads £800,000 Cogenta funding
NorthStar Equity Investors (NSEI) has led an £800,000 investment into software company Cogenta Systems, alongside Hotspur Capital Partners.
FINLAND - CapMan Technology recruits partner
Finland-based Nordic private equity house CapMan has appointed Peo Nilsson as partner within its technology team.
DENMARK - KKR et al. prepare for TDC sale
KKR, Blackstone, Permira, Apax and Providence Equity Partners, the private equity owners of Danish telecoms group TDC, are reportedly meeting with banks this week to choose an adviser as they look to sell part of their stake in the business, which is...
GERMANY - BayBG invests in WeWebU
BayBG Bayerische Beteiligungsgesellschaft has completed an undisclosed investment in WeWebU Software in the framework of a silent partnership.
GREECE - PPF considers Wind bid
Czech private equity firm PPF Partners is rumoured to be considering a last minute offer to acquire indebted telecommunication business Wind Hellas, alongside Italian insurance firm Generali.
SWEDEN - STING Capital backs FileRide with SEK 2m
Swedish venture investor STING Capital has backed social networking software company FileRide with SEK 2m.
UK - DN Capital backs MBO of Datanomic; 3i exits
Media and technology investor DN Capital has backed the management buyout of software company Datanomic Ltd, acquiring 3i's shares and loans in the business.
GERMANY – HTGF invests in enexion GmbH
High-Tech Gründerfonds has participated in a first round of funding for software company enexion GmbH.
FRANCE - Crédit Agricole PE and Soridec back Aquafadas with EUR 1.2m
Crédit Agricole Private Equity and Soridec have provided Aquafadas, a software company, with an investment of just over EUR 1m.
UK - Atlas exits Koodos
Atlas Venture has exited online discount fashion retailer Koodos Ltd through a trade sale to software development company e-trader.
Venture Travails
The Southern European venture industry lags behind the rest of Europe. More government/EU incentives to attract private funding may help, but in the meantime, the strongest companies seek private, international backing to succeed. Francinia Protti-Alvarez...