News/Region

SPAIN - Nazca makes 53% IRR with sale of tapas chain

Nazca Capital has sold its entire stake in tapas restaurant business Lizarrán Tapas Selectas from Nazca Capital for EUR 22m. The sale has brought an IRR of 53% and a money multiple of 2.3x on the initial investment to the private equity firm. The buyer...

GERMANY - Pace raises EUR 3m

eCapital has led a EUR 3m financing round in high-end engineering software developer Pace GmbH. IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft and Strategic European Technologies also participated in the round.

SPAIN - Insiders speak on Nmás1 exodus

An insider at Nmás1 has told unquote” the reasons behind sudden changes at the top of the Spanish buyout house, which has just seen six members of staff leave in the last couple of weeks – in the middle of the firm’s fundraising.

UK - August Equity makes four internal promotions

August Equity has made four promotions. Sam Watkinson, who joined August Equity in August 2005, has been promoted to director. Watkinson is responsible for managing the deal origination activities across the four sectors which the firm focuses on –...

SPAIN - 3i exits electronic systems business for EUR 33m

After a holding period of eight years, 3i has divested the 33% stake it had in Ikusi, a company active in the design, introduction and management of electronic systems. The exit value is EUR 33m and the buyer is the private equity arm of Corporación...

UK - KKR higher offer prompts opening of Boots' books

KKR has raised its bid for Alliance Boots prompting the UK chemist and retail chain to open its books. The US-private equity firm bidding in league with the deputy chairman of Boots has offered 1,040p per share, a 4% lift on the 1,000p takeover bid it...

UK - Goldman Sachs eyes Kingfisher

Goldman Sachs Private Equity is considering a bid for DIY retailer Kingfisher following the firms announcement that it had cut its debt and revalued its property assets. Its debt now stands at £1.29bn, down from £1.35bn last year, with its property...

UK - Kaupthing/Tchenguiz trump Blackstone La Tasca offer

Kaupthing Pricipal Investments has teamed up with Robert Tchenguiz to launch a rival bid for AIM-listed restaurant chain La Tasca. Earlier this week, Blackstone through its Tragus portfolio company offered £96m for La Tasca. Tragus is the name behind...

NORWAY - emgs IPO at NOK 135 per share

ElectroMagnetic GeoServices (emgs) has priced its IPO at NOK 135 per share, and will start to trade today. The price is at the top of the revised price range of NOK 125-135 per share. There has been strong interest in the market, resulting in the offering...

SWEDEN - Sweden abolishes wealth tax

Sweden has of today abolished wealth tax. Wealth tax has been charged to only 2.5% of the taxpayers, but have been blamed for massive capital flight from the country, estimated to be SEK 1.5bn. The wealth tax has been blamed for Sweden's low level of...

AUSTRIA - Boehler-Uddeholm negative on CVC offer

According to statements in the press, Boehler-Uddeholm’s management has told its key shareholder group led by Austrian Rudolf Fries to turn down a potential offer from CVC Capital Partners. Previously CVC said it had come to an agreement with the group...

  • DACH
UK - AIM sees worst quarter for three years

AIM's blistering pace in attracting new admissions and in achieving record fund-raising levels took a major pause for breath during the first quarter of this year, according to research by Grant Thornton Corporate Finance. In the first three months of...