France unquote
French activity: Out of the trough?
Shored up by an uptick in mid-market buyout activity, French dealflow has shown encouraging signs of recovery in May. But subdued activity in the first months of 2012 and a lack of visibility on macro-economic trends should take their toll on year-end...
Siparex launches MidMarket III vehicle
French generalist GP Siparex has launched a new fund, Siparex MidMarket III, days after closing its MidCap II vehicle on €130m.
FSI Régions backs Solareo with €3m
FSI Régions has injected €3m into solar energy consultancy Solareo in exchange for a minority stake.
France unquote" June 2012
Sizeable French LBOs resembled the proverbial buses in May: you wait for one for an eternity, and then two appear at once.
VCs exit Esterel in €42m trade sale
CDC Innovation, Galileo Partners and Intel Capital have exited French software company Esterel in a €42m trade sale to US-based Ansys.
VC-backed Meninvest raises €5.6m
Orkos Capital, 123Venture and Partech International have provided French e-commerce group Meninvest with a €5.6m funding round.
Seventure leads $4.7m series-C round in ProTip
Seventure and existing investors have injected $4.7m in French medical devices company ProTip.
CDC Entreprises et al. in €6.3m round for Link Care Services
CDC Entreprises, Siparex and iSource have provided French healthcare services provider Link Care Services (LCS) with a €6.3m funding round.
McDermott bolsters Paris team
Law firm McDermott Will & Emery has appointed three new partners and four new associates in its Paris office.
Omnes et al. inject $4m into ividence
Omnes Capital and existing investor A Plus Finance have provided French email ad platform ividence with a $4m series-B round of funding.
Siparex closes MidCap II fund on €130m
Siparex has held a €130m final close for the Siparex MidCap II vehicle.
JP Morgan to inject up to €158m into Technicolor
Troubled French digital video specialist Technicolor has backed the offer of JP Morgan to inject up to €158m in exchange for a 29.96% stake.
France: acquisition finance off to good start in 2012
The overall value of French PE-backed acquisition finance deals completed in the first months of this year has already exceeded 2011 year-end figures. Recent research also highlights that French businesses remain hungry for build-up opportunities.
Seventure injects €2m into Netino
Seventure Partners has invested €2m in French online content moderation platform Netino.
Idinvest et al. back Sensee with €17.5m
Idinvest Partners, Partech International, Orkos Capital and several business angels have provided French online optician Sensee with a €17.5m funding round.
Fondations Capital grabs 60% of Sepur
Fondations Capital has acquired a 60% stake in French waste collector Sepur from its founder, in a deal that values the business at €124m.
Bain Capital sells FCI division for €765m
Bain Capital Europe has sold the motorised vehicles division of FCI, an automotive and electronics connector company, to NYSE-listed Delphi for €765m on a cash and debt-free basis.
French LBOs top European performance tables, says AFIC
LBOs generated higher returns in France than in all other European countries in 2011, although their performance declined year-on-year, according to a recent study by private equity association AFIC.
FSI Régions and Alliance Entreprendre invest in Fabulous Garden
FSI Régions and Alliance Entreprendre have injected €1m into French outdoor furnishings company Fabulous Garden.
FSI Régions backs Arcancil Paris MBO
FSI Régions has invested €500,000 in the management buyout of Arcancil Paris.
France unquote" May 2012
As reported in the last issue of unquote” analysis, French deal-doers had reason to cheer in 2011.
Eurazeo's Europcar turns to high-yield for refinancing
French car rental company Europcar, a portfolio company of listed private equity group Eurazeo, has raised €324m on the high-yield market to refinance its debt.
GE Capital bolsters French acquisition finance team
Leverage provider GE Capital has promoted Camille Frizon de Lamotte to head of sponsor coverage for the French mid-market.
Interview: Omnes Capital’s Fabien Prévost
GP Interview: Fabien Prévost