France
Aster Capital to reduce fund target
French corporate-backed venture capital firm Aster is said to be aiming for a €105m final close for its second fund, down from an initial €120m target.
SoftBank Capital leads €30m round for Criteo
SoftBank Capital has led a €30m series-D funding round for French display advertising firm Criteo.
Amundi takes 7.5% stake in French GP NextStage
French asset manager Amundi has bought a 7.5% stake in small-cap specialist NextStage from financial holding Artémis.
FSI Régions backs Axonal OBO
FSI Régions has taken a minority stake in the owner buyout of French clinical research business Axonal.
Demeter 3 Amorçage reaches €43m first close
France-based Demeter Partners has raised €43m for its new cleantech-focused venture fund, Demeter 3 Amorçage.
LBO France completes Diam SBO
LBO France has finalised the acquisition of French point-of-purchase display manufacturer Diam International from HIG Capital.
French activity picks up post-summer
French PE
French PE players miss out on Gefco
French automotive constructor PSA Peugeot Citroen will sell its subsidiary Gefco, tipped as a potential LBO candidate, to Russian rail company RZD.
EdRIP takes stake in Alouette OBO
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRIP) has taken a minority stake in the owner buyout of French radio station Alouette.
FSI Régions invests in Altec MBI
FSI Régions and venture capital firm MPcroissance have backed the management buy-in of French agricultural equipment manufacturer Altec.
French PE-backed Ludendo buys Hamleys
Ludendo, a French toy store chain backed by NiXEN Partners and other French private equity players, has acquired iconic UK-based toys retailer Hamleys in a deal believed to be worth £60m.
Initiative & Finance acquires Fil Rouge in BIMBO
Initiative & Finance (I&F) has taken a majority stake in the buy-in management buyout of French marketing group Fil Rouge.
French capital gains tax reform spells trouble for PE
The French government is pushing forward with an in-depth tax reform, as announced by new President François Hollande during the Spring election, which will see capital gains taxed at the same rate as income tax – a move likely to worry local fund...
HIG acquires Rio Tinto's speciality alumina business
HIG Capital has completed the acquisition of the speciality alumina business of listed company Rio Tinto.
Ciclad takes majority stake in Inovelec SBO
Small- and mid-cap focused GP Ciclad has acquired French electronic equipment manufacturer Groupe Inovelec alongside the group's founders and managers.
AXA PE and Capzanine arrange mezz for Village Center buyout
AXA Private Equity and Capzanine have arranged a €37m mezzanine facility for the buyout of French outdoor accommodation company Village Center by 21 Centrale Partners.
Intel et al. in €10m round for Sigfox
Intel Capital has joined existing investors Elaia Partners, Partech Ventures International and iXO Private Equity in a €10m funding round for French technology company Sigfox.
France unquote” July/August 2012
The matter is serious enough to be considered a top priority for French private equity association AFIC in the coming months: what can be done to boost French fundraising efforts in a particularly challenging market?
IK takes over AXA PE's Unipex
IK Investment Partners has acquired a majority stake in French speciality chemicals business Unipex Group from AXA Private Equity.
EdRIP backs Groupe DEFI spin-off
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRIP) has taken a minority stake in the management buyout of French advertisement technology specialist Groupe DEFI.
Idinvest holds first close at €100m
Idinvest Partners has held a first close for Idinvest Secondary Fund at €100m.
Cathay Capital wins €150m Franco-Chinese mandate
French state-backed Caisse des Dépots et Consignations and the China Development Bank have co-funded a €150m investment fund to be managed by Franco-Chinese GP Cathay Capital.
FSI Régions backs Travel & Co bolt-on
Travel & Co, a French tour operator backed by FSI Régions, has acquired New Zealand travel specialist Nouvelle Zélande Voyages.
Lyceum's Access Group acquires Prelytis for €4m
British business software provider Access Group, backed by Lyceum Capital, has bought French business intelligence provider Prelytis for €4m.