News/DACH
DACH - BonVenture closes second fund on EUR 9.39m
BonVenture has closed BonVenture II, its second socially responsible venture capital fund, on EUR 9.39m.
GERMANY - Nova exits nuclitec GmbH
Direct secondaries specialist Nova Capital Management has sold German radioactive products supplier nuclitec GmbH, along with its French and US based sister companies nuclitec sarl and nuclitec Inc, in a trade sale to Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen-und Medizintechnik...
AUSTRIA/GERMANY - Ventizz-backed Cardfactory acquires Visioncard
Ventizz portfolio company CardFactory AG has acquired Tyrol-based Visioncard Kunstoffkarten-Produktions GmbH.
AUSTRIA - Quadriga and Lead Equities in talks over Palmers sale
Rumours suggest that Quadriga Capital and Lead Equities are in talks with an Italian strategic investor to exit lingerie company Palmers.
EUROPE - McCreevy remains vague about PE regulation
According to reports, EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy still has reservations about regulating private equity firms, despite heavy pressure from MEPs and earlier promises made by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.
EUROPE - Yea leaves 3i; Queen takes the reins
Philip Yea is to step down from his position as CEO of 3i with immediate effect, to be replaced by Michael Queen, formerly finance director of the group.
AUSTRIA/CEE - Schoenherr gains eight new partners
Schoenherr has increased its partnership by eight lawyers, lifting the total number of firm-wide partners to 53.
GERMANY - Vestar promotes Boege
Vestar Capital Partners has promoted Daniel Boege to executive director.
GERMANY - TVM Capital promotes principal
TVM Capital has promoted Dr Peter Neubeck to principal.
GERMANY - DPE acquires bakery business
DPE Deutsche Private Equity GmbH has acquired bakery chain Bäckerei Wilhelm Middelberg GmbH for an undisclosed amount.
SWITZERLAND - Ventizz founds management consulting company
German venture investor Ventizz Capital Partners has established a new management consulting unit in Switzerland, Ventizz Management Consulting AG, which will be led by Guido Bollue and will focus exclusively on the firm's portfolio companies.
EUROPE - Final quarter records lowest deal value for a decade
Though it will come as no surprise that private equity investment in Europe dropped considerably in the final quarter of 2008, the scale of the decline just might; with deal value sliding 59% against the preceding three months from around EUR 20bn to...
GLOBAL - CalPERS hires investment chief
US pension fund CalPERS has appointed Joseph Dear, the head of the Washington state fund, as its new chief investment officer following a nine-month search.
GERMANY - S-Refit sells DRONCO stake
S-Refit AG has sold its stake in abrasives company DRONCO AG to the wife of the firm's majority shareholder and CEO for an undisclosed sum.
EUROPE - BioMedPartners holds first close of second fund on CHF95m
BioMedPartners has held a first close of BioMedInvest II on CHF95m.
SWITZERLAND - Cross acquires Schwab Verkehrstechnik AG
Cross has acquired rolling stock technology company Schwab Verkehrstechnik AG from Schwab Holding AG for an undisclosed sum.
GERMANY - Alster Equity Partners and WMS back GEMAC MBO
Alster Equity Partners GmbH (AEP), alongside Wachstumsfonds Mittelstand Sachsen (WMS) and company management, acquired micro electronics company GEMAC Gesellschaft für Mikroelektronikanwendung Chemnitz mbH (GEMAC).
SWITZERLAND - HS LifeSciences launches QureInvest AG fund
HS LifeSciences has launched QureInvest AG fund, which will invest in biotech start-ups.
GERMANY - HTGF supports HiperScan GmbH with EUR 500,000
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) has acquired a minority stake in near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) analytic company HiperScan GmbH for EUR 500,000.
GERMANY - K&L Gates opens in Frankfurt
K & L Gates has established its second office in Germany and the firm's 29th worldwide with the opening of a Frankfurt location, which includes the addition of partners Dr Mathias Schulze Steinen and Dr Frank Thomas.
GLOBAL - Blackstone to invest in South Korea
According to reports, Blackstone Group will open a unit in South Korea in January.
GERMANY - Private equity said to be interested in HeidelbergCement
According to reports, Goldman Sachs, TPG, Bain Capital and PAI partners are among several large buyout firms considering an investment in building materials company HeidelbergCement, which is said to be struggling with its debt after the takeover of British...
EUROPE - Unigestion to raise two funds in 2009
According to reports, Geneva-based Unigestion will raise two new funds in 2009: a secondaries fund targeting EUR 150m, and a sustainable development vehicle with a USD 250m target.
SWITZERLAND/GERMANY - Ventizz boosts St Gallen team
Ventizz Capital Partners has hired Christian Sarwa as investment professional for its St Gallen-based team. This brings the group's combined headcount of its Duesseldorf and St Gallen offices to 13.