Lion Capital
Deal in Focus: Findus issues €200m PIK note for dividend payout
Latest refinancing is Findus's third debt-servicing deal in two years
Findus prepares dividend payout through PIK notes
Note is Findus's third debt-servicing deal in two years
UK retail: who will be celebrating this Christmas?
As private equity continues to dominate the UK consumer sector, who is set to see soaring sales during the festive flurry? Alice Murray reports
PE hungry for Burton’s Biscuits
Private equity houses including Apax Partners, Warburg Pincus and Clayton Dubilier & Rice are circling food company Burton’s Biscuits.
Providence picks up Exponent’s Ambassador
Providence Equity Partners has emerged as the successful bidder for Exponent Private Equity’s Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG).
Bain, BC Partners et al. mull bid for Stokke
Bain Capital, BC Partners, Lion Capital and others are understood to be bidding for Stokke, a Norwegian manufacturer of children's furniture and accessories.
Exponent’s Ambassador attracts private equity suitors
Exponent Private Equity-backed Ambassador Theatre Group is reportedly on the block and has attracted high-profile suitors including BC Partners, Blackstone and Carlyle.
Trophy investments: Fashion and gadgets
Trophy investments
Private equity misses out on Lucozade, Ribena sale
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has agreed to sell popular drinks brands Lucozade and Ribena, which had attracted interest from buyout houses including Blackstone and Lion Capital, to Japanese trade player Suntory for £1.35bn.
Sector focus: Saddling up for food production
Sector focus: Food
Lion secures €900m amend-and-extend for HEMA
Lion Capital has completed a €900m amend-and-extend for Dutch retailer HEMA's senior second-lien mezzanine and PIK facilities.
Ex-Premier Foods boss to advise KKR on Lucozade and Ribena bid
KKR is understood to have brought in Michael Clarke, the former CEO of Premier Foods, to advise on its £1.5bn bid for Lucozade and Ribena from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
Lion's Picard issues €480m floating rate note
Picard Surgelés, a French portfolio company of Lion Capital, has issued a €480m floating rate note to refinance part of its debt.
Blackstone and Lion eye Lucozade and Ribena
Blackstone and Lion Capital are to join forces and make a formal bid exceeding £1bn for Lucozade and Ribena, owned by GlaxoSmithKline, according to reports.
Lion cleared to sell Ad van Geloven stake to Avedon
Lion Capital has received clearance from the European Commission to sell a stake in Dutch frozen snack company Ad van Geloven to Avedon Capital Partners.
UK consumer sector exits at record levels
The number of UK consumer goods assets divested by private equity firms is at its highest level in 10 years despite the continued desolation suffered by the consumer market.
Blackstone, Carlyle targeted by Stop G8 protests
Anti-capitalism protest group Stop G8 has publicised the London addresses of several private equity firms – including Blackstone, Carlyle and Lion Capital – ahead of the G8 Summit in June.
Private equity's biggest scandals
Public image
Lion Capital buys GHD from Montagu
Lion Capital has acquired UK-based professional hair styling brand GHD from Montagu Private Equity for an estimated £300m.
Lion's £1.2bn partial sale of Weetabix completes
Bright Food's purchase of a 60% stake in Weetabix from Lion Capital is the largest overseas transaction ever by a Chinese company in the food and beverage sector.
Lion, CapVest and Pamplona circle United Biscuits
Lion Capital, CapVest, Pamplona Capital and Germany’s Intersnack are in the running to acquire the savoury snacks arm of United Biscuits, according to reports.
Apax France reinvests in Afflelou, secures 14.1% stake
Apax France has reinvested in French eyewear retailer Alain Afflelou, four months after exiting the business in an SBO backed by Lion Capital.
Trade winds blowing
Trade winds blowing
SBOs set to rebound
The recent quaternary buyout of French eyewear retailer Alain Afflelou by Lion Capital for an estimated €780m shows that the "pass-the-parcel" trend in private equity has not yet abated.