News/Region
FRANCE - Crédit Agricole Private Equity launches two FCPI innovation funds
Crédit Agricole Private Equity has launched two FCPI innovation funds. The new FCPIs, Crédit Agricole Europe Innovation 2008 and LCL Capital Invest PME, will be offered to Crédit Agricole's high net worth customers in the regional banks and private...
SWEDEN - Accent Equity creates new packaging company
Accent Equity 2008 has backed the MBO of a new packaging company to be named Flextrus for an undisclosed value. The business has been acquired from Australian group, Amcor Flexibilities, which has owned the company unit since 2001.
GERMANY – DEWB and zouk ventures co-lead EUR 11m investment
Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG (DEWB) has co-led a EUR 11m financing round for Nanotron Technologies Ltd alongside British venture firm zouk ventures. DEWB has acquired an 18.1 percent stake in the business. In addition to...
UK - 3i portfolio company buys Allclear Clinic
Ultralase, which was bought by 3i in February, has acquired Belfast-based Allclear clinic, a refractive clinic, from the Quality Healthcare Group.
UK - Zeus buys four hotels for £25m
Zeus Private Equity (ZPE) has bought four hotels to add to its Hallmark Hotel Group for the combined sum of £25m. Senior debt was provided by Allied Irish Bank.
UK - Hotbed invests in new residential health spa
Hotbed has invested £23.8m in a deal to construct and operate a purpose-built residential health spa in Essex with 100 bedrooms and 92 treatment rooms called thelifehouse.
GERMANY - Axa acquires Löwen Play from Waterland
Axa Private Equity has agreed to acquire Löwen Play GmbH from Waterland Private Equity in a transaction rumoured to be worth at least EUR 300m. Löwen Play GmbH is based in Bingen and operates more than 190 amusement arcades as well as a number of machines...
DACH – Heliad Equity Partners to announce Heliad II fund
Heliad Equity Partners will soon announce the launch of Heliad II, which is currently in premarketing. The fund has a target of EUR 130m and will invest in later stage companies in the DACH region. London-based Greenpark Capital will act as a cornerstone...
UK - Hammonds promotes Bray
Hammonds has promoted Robert Bray to partner in the private equity team. Bray has worked in the private equity team since joining Hammonds in 2000.
UK - Pamplona hires Thompson
Paul Thompson has joined Pamplona Capital Management as a partner. He will lead the firm’s push into the British financial services market.
UK - Sovereign acquires World Class Learning Schools
Sovereign Capital has completed the £34m management buyout of educational firm World Class Learning Schools and Systems Ltd (WCLS).
FRANCE – MBO Partenaires takes 50% stake in insurance company
MBO Partenaires has taken a stake of around 50% in property insurance company Lyonnaise de Garantie, backing the buyout of the firm by the company's two managers, Daniel Brèches and Pierre Belin.
UK - Langholm acquires majority stake in Tyrrells Potato Chips
Langholm Capital has acquired crisp company Tyrrells Potato Chips.
UK - Bowmark backs £75m buyout of Healthcare Homes
Bowmark Capital has backed the £75m buyout of elderly residential care provider Healthcare Homes from August Equity.
UK - Gresham acquires Johnson Clothing
Gresham Private Equity has backed the mangement buyout of corporate wear provider Johnson Clothing Ltd (JCL) from Johnson Service Group Plc (JSG). The completion of the deal is subject to shareholder approval.
UK - Endless supports buyout of four companies
Endless Private Equity has supported the management buyout of four trading companies from Amco Corporation Plc for £9.4m. Amalgamated Construction, Amco Drilling, Amco Plastics and Amco Developments have been acquired by new parent company Amco Group...
ITALY – Simmons poaches Lovells partner
Lovells' Italian private equity head Andrea Accornero will leave the firm at the end of the month to join Simmons & Simmons' Milan office.
ITALY – Venture capital fund for start-up SMEs
Simest has signed an agreement with BNL, part of BNP Paribas, to manage a fund targeting SMEs in the start-up phase wishing to internationalize outside the EU.
CEE – AMC closes EUR 261m fund and 10 deals
Mezzanine Management Central Europe has reached a final close of EUR 261m for its latest fund, surpassing its EUR 200m target and even it’s EUR 250m original hard-cap.
UK - HNW's back WorkSmart solutions MBI
A group of high-net-worth individuals has backed the management buy-in of niche compliance software business WorkSmart Solutions. The deal value is thought to be under £10m.
UK - HgCapital sells Boosey & Hawkes
HgCapital has sold classical music publishing and rights group Boosey & Hawkes to Imagem, CP Masters BV and an independent European music publisher for £126m. Imagem Music is the music publishing fund of Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP.
FRANCE – Siparex closes EUR 150m fund
Sigefi Private Equity subsidiary Siparex Group has closed Siparex Middle Market II on EUR 150m. The new fund will make growth capital/LBO investments ranging between EUR 5m to EUR 15m in SMEs with valuations of up to EUR 150 m.
FRANCE – Edmond de Rothschild backs electronic systems solutions company
Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners has invested EUR 1.4m in Innovation Developpment’s holding company ID finance with management investing EUR 2.2m. Senior debt was provided by Banque Populaire and Crédit Agricole Nord-est.
SPAIN – Mercapital readies acquisition of engineering firm
According to reports Mercapital is finalising a majority stake acquisition in Obras Subterraneas (Ossa) which it has valued at over EUR 200m.