Sector
EUROPE - Value of buyouts plunges to five year low
The value of private equity-backed acquisitions across Europe fell to a five-year low in 2008 amidst continuing illiquidity in the debt markets and a worsening macroeconomic climate, dropping by 61% from 2007's record high of more than EUR 184bn to EUR...
EUROPE - Balderton holds $430m first closing of fourth fund
Balderton Capital has held the first close of its new $500m vehicle, Balderton IV, on $430m.
UK - Catapult backs £800,000 Comply-Serve funding
Catapult Venture Menagaers has invested an undisclosed sum into software company Comply-Serve Ltd as part of an £800,000 funding round.
The rise and fall ... of the UK private equity market
unquote" reflects on the ups and downs the domestic market has seen since the newsletter began tracking it in 1992
UK - Seraphim invests a further £1.5m into TestPlant
Seraphim Capital has made a follow-on investment of £1.5m into software company TestPlant.
UK - MMC supports Neoss with £5.5m
MMC Ventures has participated in a £5.5m funding round for healthcare company Neoss Ltd, alongside Delta Partners, Medtronic and several high net worth individuals.
CEE - EBRD considers EUR 40m commitment to 3TS CEE Fund III
The EBRD is studying the possibility of investing up to EUR 40m, but not exceeding 20% of total aggregate commitments, in 3TS CEE Fund III, a regional private equity fund with a target size of EUR 200m.
GREECE - Global Finance sponsors Euroclinic buyout
Global Finance has sponsored a leveraged buyout of Greek healthcare group Euroclinic from the Dutch financial services group Eureko BV for an undisclosed amount.
BELGIUM - Wellington et al. sell Q-Layer to Sun Microsystems
Wellington Partners, Partech and Big Bang Ventures-backed software developer Q-layer has been acquired by US IT firm Sun Microsystem.
FRANCE - CAPE strengthens venture team
Crédit Agricole Private Equity (CAPE) has hired Christian Claussen as senior partner to its venture capital team.
ITALY - Foresight appoints new investment director
Foresight Group has strengthened its Rome-based environmental team with the appointment of Giovanni Terranova as an investment director.
FRANCE - Abénex and L Capital sell Nutrition & Santé
Abénex Capital and L Capital have sold health food producer Nutrition & Santé to Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co, a Japanese drug, food and drinks maker.
FRANCE - Apax-backed Morgan falls into administration
Women's prêt-a-porter clothing brand Morgan, which is backed by Apax Partners, has gone into administration.
UK - EPIC acquires Whittards
Specialist tea and coffee retailer Whittard of Chelsea has been bought by EPIC Private Equity for an undisclosed sum.
The year of the portfolio
The numbers are in for 2008 and the picture is bleak across Europe. Only countries such as Italy or Portugal posed (small) exceptions to the overall trend. Remembering the beginning of 2008, when the effects of the credit crunch had already taken hold...
Forward thinking
Major players in the region give their view on the upcoming year to Francinia Protti-Alvarez
How low can you go?
Preliminary figures released by unquote" colour in a picture we've all had sketched for some time - a rapidly imploding buyout market in the UK and beyond. Across Europe buyouts were down more than 60% to just over EUR71bn in 2008, according to the European...
GERMANY - BayBG supports AUVICA
BayBG Bayerische Beteiligungsgesellschaft has invested an undisclosed sum into internet software provider AUVICA GmbH, acquiring a a minority stake. In addition, BayBG provided a mezzanine package in the form of a silent partnership.
ITALY - BCC acquires minority stake in Euromisure
BCC Private Equity has acquired a 49% stake in industrial thermometry specialists Euromisure Srl, with the founding owners holding the balance of the equity.