France
Ace invests €8m in Asquini-Sofop Aero
Ace Management has made an €8m investment to back the merger of French aerospace parts manufacturers Asquini and Sofop.
Idinvest backs Forsee Power Solutions
Idinvest Partners has provided growth capital to rechargeable industry-grade battery specialist Forsee Power Solutions.
Ventech leads €3.1m round for Sticky Ads TV
Ventech and previous backer Isai have provided French online advertising agency Sticky Ads TV with €3.1m of growth capital.
CIC Mezzanine closes third fund on €165m
CIC Mezzanine has closed its third vehicle, CIC Mezzanine 3, on €165m – comfortably exceeding its €120m target.
Calao invests in Contrejour
French GP Calao Finance has provided shutters manufacturer Contrejour with fresh equity.
Omega Funds leads $10m round for SpineVision
Omega Funds has led a $10m funding round for French medical devices provider SpineVision, which also included investments from two other new backers.
Bridgepoint buys Flexitallic Group from Eurazeo
Bridgepoint has acquired Paris-based sealing solutions business The Flexitallic Group from Eurazeo PME for €450m.
Electra to reap 15x on Allflex
BC Partners has made a binding offer of $1.3bn to Electra Partners for its French animal tags business Allflex, following an intense auction process that attracted bids from a dozen private equity firms.
French buyouts up 50% YoY in Q1
The French buyout market enjoyed a much welcome uptick at the start of 2013, with both volume and overall value significantly up on Q1 2012 figures.
France unquote" May 2013
“Some key ideas are currently gaining ground,” said Afic chairman Louis Godron at the association’s annual conference in Paris last month, “notably when it comes to the crucial role of competitiveness in the country’s future and the importance of entrepreneurs....
Capital gains tax overhaul welcomed by Afic
French CGT
France's Elior and Nord-Est in refinancings
Charterhouse's catering business Elior has tapped into the high-yield market to raise €350m, while Oaktree has been able to reap a dividend by leveraging its investment in packaging company Nord-Est, according to local reports.
Candover's Alma Consulting in refinancing talks
Alma Consulting, a French corporate cost-reduction advisory business owned by Candover, could be taken over by its mezzanine lenders, according to local reports.
Partech appoints Romain Lavault as general partner
French technology-focused venture capital firm Partech International has appointed Romain Lavault as general partner.
France to cut back on capital gains tax
Following months of complaints by local entrepreneurs, French president François Hollande is due to announce a simplified and more favourable capital gains taxation regime.
Easton Corporate Finance appoints new MD
French M&A advisory firm Easton Corporate Finance has promoted co-founder Thomas Gaucher to managing director.
Ace Management buys Auvergne Aéronautique group
Ace Management has wholly acquired Slicom Aéronautique, Auvergne Aéronautique Slicom and Casablanca Aéronautique from Slicom International, with a view to turn the businesses around.
Eurazeo cashes in on early Danone exit
French listed private equity player Eurazeo will part ways with dairy products giant Danone as €700m's worth of exchangeable Danone bonds, issued in 2009, are set to be converted to equity.
European Capital makes 1.8x on Scaff'holding exit
European Capital has sold its stake in France-based Scaff'holding for €7.2m, realising a 1.8x money multiple on its investment, representing an IRR of circa 13%.
Afic: France needs urgent PR boost
French PE
KKR acquires SMCP Group
KKR has supported the management buyout of luxury apparel retailer SMCP Group, acquiring the firm from French private equity houses L Capital and Florac.
Eurazeo portfolio company sells Molinel
Eurazeo has sold its portfolio company Molinel, a specialist in workwear clothing, to workwear retailer Alisco.
EdRip and Forbion lead funding for Allecra Therapeutics
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRip) and Forbion Capital Partners have invested in a €15m series-A round for Swiss biotech company Allecra Therapeutics.
Private equity owners consider IPO of Numéricable
Private equity giants Cinven and Carlyle, alongside cable operator Altice Group, have asked banks to pitch on an initial public offering of French cable company Numéricable, according to reports.