News/Nordics
DENMARK - VC-backed Santaris Pharma enters collaboration agreement
Venture-backed Santaris Pharma A/S has entered into a collaboration with Enzon Pharmaceuticals Inc in a deal potentially worth over $200m. The companies will co-develop and commercialise a series of innovative RNA antagonists and the drugs will be based...
FINLAND - CapMan exits from Matka-Vekka
Funds managed by CapMan have sold Finland’s private travel agency chain Matkatoimisto Oy Matka-Vekka to Icelandic Heimsferdir EHF. The value of the deal has not been disclosed. CapMan funds Finnventure IV and Finnmezzanine II acquired ownership of Matka-Vekka...
SWEDEN - Procuritas sells NSG Logistics to John Nurminen
Procuritas Capital Partners II has sold NSG Logistics to John Nurminen Oy. John Nurminen Oy has acquired the share capital of NSG Logistics, which means that the company will become the owner of AB SkandiaTransport, SkandiaTransport A/S and Göteborgs...
SWEDEN - EQT and Investor increase holding in Gambro to 99.3%
Indap, indirectly jointly-owned by Investor AB and EQT IV, has increased its holding in medical technology company Gambro to 99.3% in the final offer acceptance period. The settlement for Gambro shares duly tendered by July 19 2006 is expected to commence...
DENMARK - CVC Capital Partners sells DT Group
CVC Capital Partners has announced the signing of an agreement to sell DT Group (formerly Danske Traelast) to Wolseley. Wolseley has bought the leading distributor of building materials for an equity value of EUR 1,498m.
SWEDEN - Procuritas buys North Trade
Procuritas Capital Investor III has acquired a majority shareholding in meat products importer North Trade AB. Going forward, North Trade plans to launch new products and expand geographically.
NORWAY - Norvestor’s Life Europe buys more shares in Life Scandinavia
Norvestor Equity’s Life Europe AB has increased its shareholding in Norwegian health food retailer Life Scandinavia AS to 89%. The seller of the stake is Validius, which will continue to own 11% of the shares. Following the transaction, Norvestor owns...
NORWAY - Norvestor's SCAN Geophysical completes NOK 315m private placement
SCAN Geophysical ASA has completed a private placement of approximately NOK 315m. The offering included 24,230,000 new shares with a share price of NOK 13. SCAN will now be listed on the OTC list, and the pricing implies a market capitalisation of the...
FINLAND - Movida Group makes a EUR 6m investment in Habbo
Movida Group, which is a joint venture by SoftBank BB corp. and Asian Groove, has agreed to make a EUR 6m investment in 3i-backed Habbo Hotel, a leading online teen community operated by Sulake Corporation. The investment will be executed through Movida...
SWEDEN - Industrifonden to open Gothenburg office
Industrifonden will open a new office in Gothenburg in August to increase its presence on the West coast of Sweden. Thomas Carlström, one of the group's most experienced investment managers, will work there four days a week.
SWEDEN - Altor acquires PIAB
Altor Fund II has signed an agreement to acquire the Swedish vacuum technology company, PIAB Invest AB from the Tell family. Altor are aiming to significantly expand the company within the next few years as they will now have the required capital and...
SWEDEN – Glintir acquires Fischer Partners
Glintir has today announced the acquisition of all shares in the Swedish brokerage firm Fischer Partners from Invik & Co AB. This will enable Glintir to establish a solid platform in the Nordic securities brokerage sector as Fischer Partners has shown...
SWEDEN - Fiskars Corporation to purchase Silva Group
Fiskars Corporation has signed an agreement to acquire the Sweden-based Silva Group which will include its US-based subsidiary The Brunton Company. The two leading providers of outdoor activity-related products will operate under the Fiskar brands, including...
ICELAND - Anders H. Rønningen leaves Advokatfirmaet Selmer
From 1st October 2006, Anders H. Rønningen, 34, will join Glintir Securities Corporate as new director to develop a strong corporate unit. He will be coming from the Norwegian law firm Selmer, where, since 2002, he developed the business area strategy...
SWEDEN - Q-Park acquires Carpark from Bridgepoint
Q-Park, the European cap parking company, has acquired the Swedish parking firm CP Group AB (also called Carpark) from Bridgepoint for an undisclosed sum. Carpark, founded in 1959 is a leading car park operator in the Nordic region, this acquisition will...
DENMARK - Powermill Service Group announces two acquisitions in Denmark
Powermill Service Group, repairer of home electronics and owned by Segulah, has acquired two service businesses, Danske Teknik Centre and Merlin. Both the companies are based in Denmark and were acquired separately.
SWEDEN - ABN AMRO plans buy-and-build strategy as Loparex acquires Douglas-Hanson
ABN AMRO Capital has announced that its portfolio company Loparex will acquire Douglas-Hanson, a leading supplier of film and paper-based release liners.
FINLAND - Manne Airaksinen to join Roschier Holmberg
Leading Finnish corporate law expert Manne Airaksinen is set to join Roschier Holmberg’s corporate advisory and disputes practice group this September. He is best known for his role in drafting the new Finnish Companies Act and will strengthen the corporate...
FINLAND - CapMan and Helmet exit Kultajousi
CapMan and Helmet Capital, the joint owners of the jewellery retailer Kultajousi Oy, have sold their entire holding in Kultajousi’s parent company Goldhold Oy. CapMan funds’ 40% holding and Helmet Capital funds’ 11% holding have been sold to the...
NORWAY - NORWAY-FSV V acquires 14 unlisted holdings from Aggregate Media I KB & II NORDIC KB
FSV V has acquired a portfolio of 14 unlisted holdings from Aggregate Media I KB & NORDIC KB, in line with its strategy to become leading portfolio acquirer in the Nordic region.
FINLAND - Kari Ståhlberg joins Finnish Industry Investment
Finnish Industry Investment has announced the appointment of Kari Ståhlberg, MSc, CEFA, to its capital investment team as investment manager.
FINLAND - Borenius & Kemppinen makes new appointment to board of directors
Borenius & Kemppinen has appointed partner, Nina Wilkman as chair of its board of directors.
FINLAND - Beneq closes first funding round on EUR 1m
Beneq has secured funding from Holtron and a group of private investors, with a venture capital investment of EUR 1m. Beneq is planning to use this funding to speed up its international growth and strengthen the organisation, with a substantial proportion...
NORWAY - HitecVision announces three new transactions
HitecVision has announced three new transactions: a new investment, a major add-on and a company sale.