France
LBO France exits Sonovision in trade sale
LBO France has reaped a 2.1x money multiple on the sale of Sonovision Group, a Paris-based provider of logistics and document engineering services for the space industry, to French industrial firm Ortec Group.
Innovacom invests €1m in PredicSis
French firm Innovacom has injected €1m of early-stage funding into PredicSis, a Brittany-based big data predictive analysis start-up.
Siparex raises €200m for MidMarket III fund
French GP Siparex has held a final close for its MidMarket III vehicle on €200m, exceeding its €150m target. Greg Gille reports
Charterhouse's Webhelp picks up SNT
Charterhouse-backed Webhelp Group, a French provider of customer management solutions, has acquired Dutch customer contact services provider SNT.
Alven invests €1.5m in Wisembly
Alven Capital has made an investment of €1.5m in Wisembly, a French provider of mobile software for meetings and conference calls.
VC-backed Crossject to list on NYSE Alternext
French medical device company Crossject, backed by a consortium of local venture capital firms, is hoping to raise up to €12.9m in its IPO on the NYSE Alternext Paris.
VC-backed Blablacar.com buys Podorozhniki
Accel Partners- and Isai-backed Comuto, the operator of French carpooling site Blablacar.com, has acquired Ukraine-based Podorozhniki as part of its services launch in Ukraine and Russia.
BPI launches €133m nuclear energy-focused fund
BPI France has officially launched its new fund, Fonds de Développement des Enterprises Nucléaires (FDEN), with €133m in capital.
EdRip's Cetal in OBO
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRip) has taken part in the owner buyout of its portfolio company Cetal, a French manufacturer of heating elements.
Argos Soditic promotes two in Paris office
Mid-market GP Argos Soditic has promoted Frédéric Quéru and Raphaël Bazin to investment manager positions in its Paris office.
Montagu acquires Rexam divisions for $805m
Montagu Private Equity has acquired the healthcare devices and prescription retail divisions of UK consumer packaging company Rexam for $805m in cash.
Cautious optimism in France as government unveils pro-business policies
New research by trade body Afic reveals improving sentiment among local GPs in the second half of last year – a positive trend likely to be further boosted by the government’s newfound social democrat leanings. Greg Gille reports
Ciclad buys Slat from Initiative & Finance
Ciclad has acquired French producer of electrical power supplies Slat in a secondary buyout from Initiative & Finance.
NCI acquires Thermes de Bagnoles de l'Ornes in SBO
NCI Gestion has acquired French spa operator Thermes de Bagnoles de l’Ornes (B’O Resort) from Acto Capital, marking the company’s tertiary buyout.
EdRip backs Groupe Gris
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRip) has invested in Groupe Gris, a French manufacturer of mechanical components, alongside historic backer ILP Sadepar.
TCR in SET Environnement MBO
TCR Capital has invested in the management buyout of SET Environnement, a French business specialising in asbestos removal.
SBOs hit new peak in 2013
Secondary buyouts rose to new levels of prominence in the European market last year, accounting for 40% of all buyouts and 55% of aggregate buyout value. Greg Gille reports
Partech et al. back Vodkaster
Partech Ventures, Elaia Partners and 3T Capital have injected €1.2m into Vodkaster, a French social media site for cinema.
Omnes divests Emalec in management buy-back
Omnes Capital has sold its stake in Emalec Développement, a French multi-site maintenance specialist, to the company’s management, which now has full control of the business.
France's Access holds €190m first close for FoF
French funds-of-funds manager Access Capital Partners has held a first close on тЌ190m for its latest vehicle, Access Capital Fund VI Growth Buy-out Europe (ACF VI).
Chequers acquires ISS division
Mid-cap GP Chequers Capital has acquired ISS Espaces Verts, the French landscaping division of EQT portfolio company ISS.
PAI reaches halfway line with €1.4bn first close
French private equity house PAI partners is understood to be halfway towards the hard-cap of its latest vehicle, PAI Europe VI.
XAnge and Isai back Evaneos
XAnge Private Equity and Isai have invested €4.4m in French travel firm Evaneos.
EdRip hires new life sciences partner
Edmond de Rotschild Investment Partners (EdRip) has hired Dr Naveed Siddiqi as a partner in charge of the firm's Biodiscovery venture capital funds.