United Kingdom
Larger UK buyouts pick up in Q1
Larger buyout activity is picking up pace once again after suffering in late 2011, according to the latest finding of the unquoteт UK Watch, in association with Corbett Keeling.
Arle Capital hires ex-3i director
Arle Capital Partners has hired Roumyana Boshnakova and Senka Jeremic as investment managers.
FF&P Private Equity expands team
Llewellyn John has joined Fleming Family & Partners Private Equity (FF&P) as investment director.
Broadlake acquires Jede UK
Broadlake Capital has acquired Manchester-based coffee company Jede UK from Jede, a subsidiary of Nestle.
YFM takes 30% stake in Zutux
YFM Equity Partners has invested ТЃ950,000 for a 30% stake in British furniture maker Zutux.
H.I.G. Europe appoints new managing director
Mid-cap private equity house H.I.G. Europe has hired ex-HgCapital Carl Harring as managing director in its London office.
Piper backs Loungers
Piper Private Equity has injected ТЃ16m into UK cafУЉ-bar chain operator Loungers in exchange for a significant minority stake.
LDC-backed MB Aerospace buys Thomson Aero
LDC portfolio company MB Aerospace Holdings Limited has acquired the business and certain assets of Thomson Aero Limited from administrators KPMG using capital from its balance sheet.
New legislation threatens VCTs, spares EIS funds
Recent changes to VCT annual investment caps introduced by the chancellor during the UK budget announcement sparked controversy due to the ТЃ5m limit. More serious though is a change in legislation, unexpectedly deferred today, that could incurthe loss...
Searchlight Capital closes first fund at $860m
Searchlight Capital Partners has closed its first fund at $860m.
Maven backs MBO of Cat Tech
Maven Capital Partners has injected ТЃ3m to support the MBO of Lincolnshire-based industrial services provider Cat Tech International from US environmental services firm Clean Harbors Inc.
Big Society Capital launches
Prime Minister David Cameron will announce the launch of Big Society Capital in a speech later today.
NVM backs MBO of Volumatic
NVM Private Equity has injected ТЃ6m to back the MBO of Coventry-based cash handling firm Volumatic Limited from hazard detection company Halma plc.
UK & Ireland unquote" April 2012
This yearтs Budget, delivered on 21 March by chancellor George Osborne, had few surprises, with even Osborne describing it as тfiscally neutralт.
Business Growth Fund: Myth versus reality
The newest kid on the block т made up of lots of the old boys in the industry т is struggling to make friends. People say the Business Growth Fund (BGF) is too big and too threatening. But is the BGFтs reputation warranted? Kimberly Romaine investigates...
OpCapita acquires GAME for £1
OpCapita has acquired GAME Groupтs UK business for a nominal ТЃ1. The turnaround investor has acquired the firmтs 333 remaining stores, and paid a reported ТЃ50m for the company's ТЃ85m debt, but has not bought any of GAMEтs overseas assets.
Grahame Cook is new chairman of Epi-V
Specialist oil and gas investment fund Epi-V has appointed Grahame Cook as its new chairman.
Robert Easton named BVCA chairman
Carlyle's Robert Easton has taken over as chairman of the British Venture Capital Association, replacing Amadeus' Richard Anton.
Accel Partners backs Hailo
Accel Partners has led a $17m series-A funding round for London-based mobile taxi app Hailo.
JAG Shaw appoints new lawyer
Boutique law firm JAG Shaw, which specialises in private equity and venture capital, has hired Susanna Stanfield as a lawyer in its London office.
LDC reaps 3.8x money on Eveden Group exit
LDC has sold its stake in lingerie and swimwear business Eveden Group to Japanese listed trade player Wacoal Holding Corporation.
Distressed debt funds called in for Fitness First
BC Partners has called in distressed debt firms Oaktree Capital and Marathon following Fitness Firstтs failure to meet repayments, according to reports.
ECI appoints new investment manager
UK mid-market GP ECI Partners has appointed Joe Garrood as investment manager in its London office.
CVC to refinance Formula One Group
CVC has launched a process to refinance portfolio company the Formula One Group.