News/Deals
IRELAND - Seventure Partners et al invest €6m into BiancaMed
Seventure Partners has led a €6m second round of funding into medical technology company BiancaMed, alongside existing investors DFJ ePlanet Ventures, Enterprise Ireland and ResMed.
GERMANY – BWK’s Rixius AG acquires Hermann Stetter GmbH
BWK GmbH Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft's portfolio company Rixius AG has acquired Viernheim-based Hermann Stetter GmbH, a supplier of plastic and glass packaging.
UK - Valco backs buyout of Allied Carpets Retail
Valco Capital Partners has backed the buyout of Allied Carpets Retail, a company formed from the collapse of flooring retailer Allied Carpets, after the business went into a pre-pack administration and sold 51 of its stores. The new company was set up...
FRANCE - NBGI France closes first acquisition: SPM - Boulangerie Thierry
NBGI Private Equity France has completed its first acquisition, acquiring the bakery business SPM - Boulangerie Thierry for an undisclosed sum. Existing investor also participated in the transaction.
NETHERLANDS - PPM Oost invests in Cropwatch
Participation Oost Nederland (PPM Oost), alongside business group TNO, has invested an undisclosed sum in Cropwatch, a developer of pest control devices for greenhouses.
UK - KCP backs the £24m MBO of TSC Foods
Key Capital Partners (KCP) has backed the management buyout of soup and sauce manufacturer TSC Foods Limited in a £24m deal. KCP invested £6m for a majority stake in the business, while Yorkshire Bank's Corporate & Structured Finance team provided senior...
UK - NVM reaps 3.3x money on £10m Liquidlogic sale
NVM Private Equity has wholly exited its investment in software provider Liquidlogic via a trade sale to IT specialist System C for an initial consideration of £10m. The sale has delivered an initial return of 3.3x money multiple and an IRR of over 25%.
UK - LDC backs £5.6m MBO of Modelzone
LDC has backed the management buyout of Modelzone Holdings, the owner of model retailer Modelzone and Amerang, a wholesale agent for overseas suppliers in the model and hobby industry, valuing the business at £5.6m.
UK - RBVC et al invest $15m into Light Blue Optics
Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH (RBVC) has led a $15m series A extension round for pico projection system supplier Light Blue Optics, alongside existing investors 3i, Earlybird Venture Capital, Capital-E and NESTA.
KKR-backed NXP launches debt swap; reduces debt by $225m
Dutch semiconductor business NXP, backed by KKR, AlpInvest, Apax, Bain, and Silver Lake, has made a debt swap, reducing its overall debt by approximately $225m.
BELGIUM - Apax- and Cinven-backed Truvo looks at debt alternatives
Reports suggest that Apax Partners-backed European directories business Truvo (formerly VNU World Directories) has appointed Houlihan Lokey as financial adviser to help assess options on how to deal with its EUR 1.2bn debt pile, which could include a...
UK - Valco acquires Risk's Borders
Valco Capital Partners, the private equity arm of restructuring specialist Hilco, has backed the management buyout of Risk Capital's ailing bookstore Borders.
SPAIN - Next acquires 50% stake in Dileoffice
According to reports, Next, the private equity arm of the Alicante region, has acquired a 50% stake in office furniture manufacturer and distributor Dileoffice, via a EUR 3.4m capital increase. The balance is retained by the company's founders.
ITALY - PAI drops out of Safilo process
It is understood that PAI Partners has withdrawn its offer to acquire a stake in eyewear manufacturer Safilo.
GERMANY - HeidelbergCapital acquires majority in Accovion
HeidelbergCapital-backed business service provider Accovion GmbH has completed a restructuring that has seen the private equity investor increase its stake to a majority interest.
FRANCE - Barclays PE et al. back FPEE buyout
Barclays Private Equity and Pragma Capital have completed a secondary management buyout of building materials company FPEE Group. Previous backers AtriA Capital Partenaires and Euromezzanine have also re-invested in the new structure.
GERMANY - SC invests in Ladon
SC-Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaft, through Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen, has invested an undisclosed sum into lighting company Ladon GmbH.
FRANCE - AXA PE increases stake in Planisware
AXA Private Equity has increased its equity stake in Planisware, a software company, to just over 30%. The transaction saw LB3A exit its shareholding in the company.
UK - Catapult et al. invest £1m into Probe Scientific
Catapult Venture Managers has led a £1m funding round into medical device company Probe Scientific, alongside NESTA, existing shareholders and directors.
FRANCE - N.I Partners-backed CBM employees go on strike
Employees at NI Partners-backed CBM (Car and Bus Maintenance) have gone on strike demanding the reinstatement of Alain Fauconnet, the company manager recently dismissed by the private equity investor.
UK - LDC-backed British Salt sells gas facility to EDF
LDC-backed salt producer British Salt is reportedly to announce the sale of its gas storage facility to EDF Energy, for a price thought to be in the region of £90m.
SLOVENIA - Mid Europa completes UPC acquisition
Mid Europa Partners has completed the acquisition of 100% of Slovenian cable and broadband operator UPC Slovenia from Liberty Global Inc, first reported in unquote" in May.
FRANCE - Turenne and IDF purchase minority stake in Socio
Turenne Capital and IDF Capital have purchased a 30% stake in e-marketing company Socio as part of an OBO deal. The deal was financed with a debt package provided by Crédit du Nord and la Caisse d'Épargne.
FRANCE - Initiative & Finance backs Sogelink buyout
Initiative & Finance has backed the minority owner-buyout of internet company Sogelink, alongside the two founders Ignace Vantorre and Matthieu Ponson. LCL and Banque Populaire Loire et Lyonnais provided a debt package to support the transaction.