Sector
Buyout focus - Southern European 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
GLOBAL - Google launches $100m venture fund
Search engine Google has set up Google Ventures, a $100m venture capital fund designed to invest in early-stage companies.
ITALY - Freshfields names new managing partner
International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed Marzio Longo as managing partner of the firms Italian operations.
BELGIUM - Gimv invests in Bananas BC
Belgian private equity house Gimv has made an undisclosed investment into marketing business Bananas BC.
UK - Baugur to offload Debenhams stake
Islandic investor Baugur Group has mandated HSBC to sell its 13% stake in retailer Debenhams through a placing priced at 40-45 pence per share.
FRANCE - AXA PE takes 25% stake in Goto Software
AXA Private Equity has acquired 25% of software producer Goto Software.
FRANCE - AXA PE et al. exit B3G in EUR 40m deal
AXA Private Equity, BNP Paribas subsidiary Orkos Capital and Partech International have wholly exited their respective interests in B3G Telecom, an IP Centrex specialist, in a EUR 40m sale to Completel, a corporate telecommunications service business...
RUSSIA - Russia Partners raises $800m
According to reports, Russia Partners is set to close its third fund, Russia Partners III, on $800m.
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 £3.6m.
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.