United Kingdom
Phoenix prepares to sell ASCO
Phoenix Equity Partners has hired Lexicon Partners to advise on a possible sale or part sale of ASCO Group.
Joseph Mukungu joins Neuberger Berman
Neuberger Berman has appointed Joseph Mukungu as senior vice president, head of client services for Europe and the Middle East.
Darwin in £50m Attenda SBO
Darwin Private Equity has backed the ТЃ50m management buyout of UK-based hosting services business Attenda from M/C Partners.
Ludgate and Novusmodus invest £2m in Lumicity
Cleantech investors Ludgate Investments and Novusmodus have led a new ТЃ2m funding round for UK-based photovoltaic (PV) solar developer Lumicity.
Consortium invest £8m in KalVista
SV Life Sciences and Novo A/S have provided ТЃ8m in a series-A round for ophthalmology company KalVista Pharmaceuticals.
NVM sells Promanex to Costain for £18.8m
NVM Private Equity has sold UK-based engineering services company Promanex to trade buyer Costain for ТЃ18.8m.
CVC acquires majority stake in Virgin Active
CVC Capital Partners has acquired a 51% stake in fitness chain Virgin Active. The remaining 49% stake will be retained by Virgin Group.
Rumour roundup: Birds Eye, FCI, Orange and more
The summer period has been rife with rumours of major deals in the pipeline. unquote" gives a roundup of the headline-hitting deals expected in the coming months.
Newcomer DTI makes debut UK investment
New York-based DTI Capital has backed the ТЃ4m buyout of London-based WTG, unquoteт has learned.
Olivia Roberts joins Palamon Capital Partners
Palamon Capital Partners has hired Olivia Roberts as associate principal.
Moulton: Industry mergers to create fewer, larger players
A tumultuous few years as well as increased legislation will lead to the consolidation of the industry into a smaller number of larger buyout houses via mergers. Unquoteтs Kimberly Romaine talks to Jon Moulton, Chairman of Better Capital.
Perusa Partners buys Bactec
Private equity house Perusa Partners has acquired explosive ordnance contamination service provider Bactec.
Jefferies appoints James Seagrave
Global securities and investment banking firm Jefferies has appointed James Seagrave as managing director of its Global Financial Sponsors Investment Banking Group.
UK & Ireland unquote" 15 August 2011
Financial buyers, including private equity investors, are leaving themselves exposed to outbidding by strategic trade purchasers, warns corporate finance lawyer Garrett Hayes.
Octopus appoints venture partner manager
George Whitehead has joined Octopus as a venture partner.
Bridgepoint exits Protocol Education
Bridgepoint has sold Protocol Education, part of its portfolio company Protocol Associates, to Graphite Capital.
State Street adds new head of UK, Middle East and Africa
State Street has appointed Susan Raynes as head of its UK, Middle East and Africa institutional business.
LDC invests £12m in WRG
LDC has invested ТЃ12m in Salford-based live events and marketing agency WRG.
UK activity surges in July after slow start
Following a rather lacklustre start to 2011, the UK has seen a sudden spike in private equity investment activity this summer, and professionals will be hopeful this can continue through the rest of the year.
Intel Capital launches Ultrabook Fund
Intel Capital, the private equity arm of computing hardware provider Intel, has announced the launch of its Ultrabook Fund with a $300m target.
Vitruvian's Tinopolis acquires Base Productions
Vitruvian Partners-backed Tinopolis has acquired US-based TV production company Base Productions for a reported $65m.
A third of deals in doubt from September
Recent changes to the Takeover Code would have impacted 32% of UK deals since 2005. But if properly considered, P2Ps will still be do-able. Kimberly Romaine reports.
Business Growth Fund adds execs to board
Four chief executives have been appointed as non-executive board members of the Business Growth Fund (BGF).
Cinven in talks for Guardian Life Insurance
Cinven is set to buy Aegonтs Guardian Life Insurance in a ТЃ250m deal.