News/Deals
Bencis to take Xeikon private
Bencis Capital Partners has made a mandatory public offer to acquire all issued shares of Xeikon for €5.85 per share, giving the company an enterprise value of €168m.
Babson Capital provides mezz for Teachers’ Busy Bees
Babson Capital Europe has provided a mezzanine facility to support the £220m acquisition of UK nursery chain Busy Bees by Teachers’ Private Capital last week.
Private equity may bite into MPM pet foods
UK pet food firm MPM Products has hired PwC to explore funding options for the business.
3i acquires Allianz's Scandlines stake
3i Group has agreed to acquire co-investor Allianz Capital Partners’ stake in ferry operator Scandlines.
UK plc to overlook Europe
UK plc is to look further overseas, to destinations including the US, India, Brazil and China, for new acquisitions, diminishing a key exit route for European private equity-backed businesses.
Terra Firma to refinance Tank & Rast's €2.1bn debt
Terra Firma is currently considering a refinancing of motorway service operator Tank & Rast's €2.1bn debt load.
6Wunderkinder raises $30m from Earlybird et al.
Earlybird, Sequoia Capital and Atomico have backed to-do list managing app 6Wunderkinder with $30m, according to reports.
General Atlantic to sell Amedes for up to $1bn
General Atlantic has put German laboratory services provider Amedes up for sale, according to reports.
OEP's Constantia Flexibles confirms IPO
Austrian packaging manufacturer Constantia Flexibles, backed by One Equity Partners (OEP), has confirmed plans to float before year-end.
Private equity firm circling Hes Beheer
Dutch stevedoring and inland shipping group Hes Beheer has stated that it is currently in talks with a private equity firm, or the portfolio company of a private equity firm, regarding a potential take-private deal.
Wendel-backed Stahl to take over Clariant subsidiary
Chemicals producer Stahl, backed by listed investment holding Wendel, has entered talks to acquire the leather services business of Clariant for CHF 85m.
Dunedin's CitySprint acquires Dash-it
Dunedin-backed CitySprint, a UK distribution company, has acquired Southampton-based courier firm Dash-it.
Just Retirement targets £1bn+ market cap
Permira-backed Just Retirement is hoping to achieve a market capitalisation of between £1-1.25bn after it began its investor road show yesterday.
Saga expected to raise £3bn in IPO
Saga, part of Acromas, backed by CVC, Charterhouse and Permira, has hired STJ Advisors in advance of an expected £3bn public offering.
G4S rejects £1.55bn offer for subsidiary from Charterhouse
The board of G4S has rejected a "highly opportunistic" £1.55bn offer from Charterhouse for its cash solutions unit.
Cinven looking to offload Gondola
Cinven is appointing advisers to review its options for restaurant group Gondola Holdings, the parent company of PizzaExpress, Ask and Zizzi.
KKR’s ATU receives $25m and nears debt restructuring
KKR’s problem child Auto-Teile Unger (ATU) has entered an agreement with creditors in order to reduce its debt and receive a $25m liquidity injection.
PE-backed Primacom to take over rival for €600m
Cable network Primacom, backed by private equity firms Alcentra and Avenue Capital, has placed an estimated €600m bid for rival cable network Tele Columbus.
PE-backed TDF attracts €3.5-3.6bn offers
The private equity backers of broadcast tower operator Télédiffusion de France (TDF) are considering bids in the region of €3.5bn for the sale of the firm’s French unit, Reuters has reported.
PE-backed Infinis and Merlin to float
Merlin Entertainments, backed by Blackstone Group and CVC Capital Partners, and Terra Firma’s Infinis Energy have both announced plans to float on the London Stock Exchange.
Permira in advanced talks to buy Dr Martens
Permira has entered advanced talks regarding the acquisition of British boots maker Dr Martens.
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.
Project A Ventures receives €30m from Springer
German incubator Project A Ventures has raised €30m from media company Axel Springer after less than two years on the road.
Siemens subsidiary to be bought for $800m
Siemens has entered talks to sell off its water technology subsidiary Siemens Wassertechnik to AEA Investors for $800m, according to Reuters.