Sweden
Nordic PE investment fell in Q3
Private equity funds invested around €1.1bn in the Nordics in the third quarter, €750m less than in Q2, according to the Argentum Q3 2012 Report. The figures paint Q3 as the trough for the region this year.
Ratos sells Contex to Procuritas for $41.5m
Ratos’s portfolio company Contex Group has signed an agreement to sell Danish Contex AS to the private equity fund Procuritas Capital Investor V LP for a total of $41.5m.
Nordic Capital refinances Orc with €60m bond issue
Orc Group, a Swedish financial technology and services provider owned by Nordic Capital, has placed a five-year €60m senior secured high-yield bond.
Norrlandsfonden refinances Mackmyra
Norrlandsfonden has extended its convertible debt facility for Swedish whisky distillery Mackmyra Svensk Whisky AB for another five-year period.
UK mega-buyouts worth more than €10bn this year
In defiance of problems on the continent, the UK has seen a surge in mega-buyouts this year, topped off with the recent acquisition of Annington Homes for £3.2bn.
SVCA report reveals dive in venture activity
Sweden venture capital activity is at its lowest level since 2007, according to the SVCA’s latest quarterly report.
KIC InnoEnergy and Sting join forces
Sting (Stockholm Innovation and Growth) is teaming up with KIC InnoEnergy Sweden to offer development support to Stockholm-based start-ups within the renewable energy sector.
Nordic Capital sells Neonet
Nordic Capital has sold its majority stake in electronic trading service Neonet to Hay Tor Capital, KAS Bank and Neonet management.
Are infrastructure deals the key to the Nordic market?
In the quest for high-quality deals that are convincing enough for banks to back and make investors excited about the coming fundraising round, Nordic players have looked towards infrastructure.
Capio buys healthcare division of PE-backed Ambea
Capio – a portfolio company of Apax and Nordic Capital – has acquired Carema Healthcare from Carema, the Swedish healthcare division of private equity-owned Ambea.
Sweden continues to lead Nordics
Sweden outpaced its Scandinavian neighbours in the 12 months leading up to November. A SVCA study shows that industry optimism returned just in time for year-end.
Perusa buys Opcon division for SEK 218m
Perusa has acquired the engine efficiency division of Opcon, a Swedish energy and environmental technology group, for SEK 218m.
Nordic unquote” November 2012
In the quest for high-quality deals that are convincing enough for banks to back and make investors excited about the coming fundraising round, Nordic players have looked towards infrastructure.
Swedish authorities continue to press for tax change
Sweden's tax authorities are vehemently pushing for a change in the taxation of proceeds for private equity fund managers.
Almi Invest et al. back PromoBucket spin-off
Almi Invest and 1:a Västmanlandsfonden have backed the spin-off of Swedish software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider PromoBucket from advertising agency Navii.
EQT Credit II hits €376m
Swedish private equity house EQT has raised €376m for its second credit opportunities fund, according to reports.
KKR and Permira to sell Nordic business for up to €1.5bn
Two private equity firms and a trade player are in talks with German PE-backed broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Media regarding the acquisition of its Nordic unit – a deal that could fetch up to €1.5bn, according to reports.
Wellington et al. in seed round for HowDo
Wellington Partners has led a seed investment round in Sweden-based HowDo, a knowledge-based social platform.
Ratos sells broadband operator Stofa for DKK 1.9bn
Ratos has agreed to sell Danish broadband and telephony operator Stofa to trade buyer SE for DKK 1.9bn (€255m) after a two-year holding period.
Nordic unquote” October 2012
While new deals in the Nordic region have been hard to come by, even after the end of the summer period, exit activity has picked up the pace.
Sunstone et al. back Freespee
Sunstone Capital and existing investor Inventure have invested €3.3m in Swedish mobile advertising services company Freespee.
Nordic unquote” September 2012
The Nordic region has performed relatively better this half than the previous one, according to fresh figures from unquote” data.
Industrifonden backs Anyfi Networks
Industrifonden has invested SEK 9m in Swedish Wi-Fi technology developer Anyfi Networks, alongside the current owners' SEK 1m investment.
Nordic unquote” July/August 2012
The Nordic region has performed relatively better this half than the previous one, according to fresh figures from unquote” data.