Sector
NORWAY - Radiocrafts receives growth capital from Verdane Capital
Radiocrafts AS, a leading supplier of wireless radio frequency (RF) modules to the professional market for communication in the license-free frequency bands, has received growth capital from Verdane Capital. The new funding is part of the strategy to...
UK – Apax and Permira seek New Look suitor
Apax Partners and Permira are reportedly expecting up to ТЃ2bn for the sale of portfolio company New Look, a UK fashion retailer. The private equity backers have mandated Merrill Lynch to explore options for the company, which they jointly hold two thirds...
NL - Bridgepoint to acquire Wolters Kluwer education division
Wolters Kluwer, the Dutch publishing group, is understood to have agreed the sale of its education division to Bridgepoint Capital in a deal worth more than EUR 750m.
ITALY – AIFI to release 2006 results on Monday
The Italian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AIFI) is to release its 2006 results during its annual conference in Milan.
AUSTRIA - Holding at gamma capital partners changes its name
gamma capital partners has announced that the name of its GES gcp Enterprise Software Group GmbH has changed to Infoniqa Holding GmbH. The Infoniqa Holding GmbH is the managing and leading entity of the Infoniqa group.
UK - Consortium to bid for Trader Media Group
CVC, Apax and Blackstone are believed to have submitted a bid for a minority shareholding in Trader Media Group, the newspapers, magazine and online unit of Guardian Media Group, whose flagship titles include The Guardian and the Observer. The flagship...
UK - Alchemy facing legal battle with worker's union
The Transport and General Worker's Union (T&G) has submitted a claim against Alchemy Partners over treatment of staff at plastics firm Storeys Industrial Products in Essex. The T&G claims that Alchemy failed to hold a consultation process on the redundancies...
UK - ProVen portfolio company to merge with Channel 4 learning
Beringea-managed ProVen VCT's portfolio company Espresso Group has agreed with Channel 4 to merge Channel 4 Learning into its portfolio of businesses. The transaction is subject to Espresso shareholder approval and is expected to complete before Easter....
UK - Carlyle to delist retail outlet developer
Carlyle has made a recommended offer for retail outlet developer Freeport. The London Stock Exchange-listed company is valued at ТЃ155.3m and has been recommended by the board and agreed by a group of shareholders who between them own a 49% stake in the...
GERMANY - Equita acquires Stromag group
Equita Management GmbH has acquired the Stromag Group in a management buyout for an undisclosed amount. This represents the fifth investment for the Equita Fonds 3 that closed in November 2005.
CEE – Royalton generates 3.6x money multiple on sale of Ella Bank
Dedicated Central and Eastern European investor Royalton Capital Investors has sold its entire stake in Ella Bank to generate a return of 3.6x money invested and an IRR of 39%. The Hungarian retail bank was sold by Royalton and EDHI to AXA Holdings Belgium....
UK - Exponent backs buyout of marine services provider V.Holdings
Exponent Private Equity has supported the management buyout of V.Holdings, a marine services provider and international provider of energy outsourcing solutions. Close Brothers Private Equity, an investor since 2003, has reinvested some of the proceeds...
FRANCE - Consortium wins Saur exclusivity
A syndicate led by state-backed CDC and including industrial company Séché Environnement and AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) has won exclusivity in an auction for water business Saur. According to reports in the French press, the price obtained by vendor...
UK - CBPE exits UTI
Close Brothers Private Equity has announced the sale of United Transport International Limited to InterBulk Investments plc for ТЃ80m. The transaction is CBPE's third realisation in 5 months, its previous one being the EUR 311m sale of Moody International...
UK - Synergis leads investment into heart disease diagnosis company
Synergis Technologies has led a funding round for Petrra Ltd.
SWITZERLAND - NEXThink received CHF 6m
Auriga Partners alongside Venture Incubator have invested CHF 6m in Swiss software developer NEXThink.
UK - Tudor Investment Corporation backs software start-up with £3m
Tudor Investment Corporation has invested ТЃ3m in Trampoline Systems, a London-based enterprise software start-up. Trampoline is the first European Enterprise 2.0 software developer to receive major investor backing. The investment enables Trampoline...
UK - B&Q in the sights of private equity
The home improvement chain B&Q may be the next large listed asset lined up for a private equity bid, according to market sources. Owner Kingfisher saw its shares rise 5% this morning, one of the few gainers on the FTSE 100, along with Sainsbury's, which...
UK - Sovereign Capital creates enlarged social housing maintenance company
Sovereign Capital has acquired Hudson Engineering Services Ltd. Hudson, a provider of gas, fabric and electrical maintenance services to homes owned by local authorities and the Ministry of Defence, will be merged with two other portfolio companies in...
NORWAY - Northzone Ventures and Selvaag invest NOK 7.5m each in T-VIPS
Northzone Ventures and Selvaag invest NOK 7.5m each in a second round of funding in technology company T-VIPS to accelerate its R&D programme, enhance sales and marketing initiatives and expand the company's international operations. T-VIPS' international...
UK - Montagu exits Cory in £588m deal to ABN AMRO Infrastructure
Montagu Private Equity has sold waste management company Cory Environmental Holdings to a consortium led by ABN AMRO Infrastructure Capital for ТЃ588m. The sale through acquisition vehicle Viking Consortium Holdings Ltd enables Montagu to exit following...
UK - KKR's initial bid for Boots rejected
KKR's ТЃ10-per-share bid for chemist and retailer Alliance Boots, in association with the company's executive deputy chairman Stefano Pessina, has been rejected.
UK - 3i strengthens media team through appointment of Wolfgang Kitza
3i has strengthened its media sector team with the appointment of Wolfgang Kitza as venture partner with 3iтs global venture capital team. In his new role, Kitza will bring experience and contacts to help 3i increase its investment opportunities in the...
FINLAND - CapMan invests in Mirasys
CapMan has invested in software company Finnish Mirasys Ltd in return for a maximum of 42% of the fully diluted shares in the company.