News/Region
FRANCE - Sagard acquires pharmaceuticals distributor
Sagard has taken a majority stake in Depolabo, the leading French distributor of pharmaceuticals, alongside its management. Previous investor Steinbeck Holding retains a minority stake in the company.
NL- Valcon acquires more than 97% of VNU shares
Valcon Acquisition BV has announced that it has received more than 97% of the share capital of VNU, allowing it to proceed with a squeeze out procedure to acquire all remaining shares and delist the information and media company from Euronext Amsterdam.
FRANCE - Bids for PagesJaunes to close on 18 June
The deadline for bidders to declare their interest in France Telecom's directory business PagesJaunes is the 18 June.
UK - Costcutter backed by Kaupthing
Kaupthing Principal Investments has completed an investment in Costcutter, the convenience food retailer, in a transaction that values the group at approximately £100m. Kaupthing has taken a 20% stake in Costcutter as a result of the deal.
UK - Blackstone delays IPO of Cineworld
Blackstone is to postpone the floatation of Cineworld due to stock market volatility. It purchased the 820 screen cinema giant from UGC in 2004. The decision to list Cineworld, which was expected to be worth £400m on the market, was made on 10 May since...
NL- ABP to increase allocation to private equity
ABP, the Dutch pensionfund which currently allocates almost 12% of its EUR 195bn under management to private equity, is reportedly intending to increase its exposure to the asset class.
FRANCE - AXA Private Equity and Jaccar invest in ship builder
AXA Private Equity and Jaccar have each taken a 40% stake in Piriou, while the company's management retain the balance.
FRANCE - Vulcanic changes hands
AXA Private Equity has sold its interest in Vulcanic Group, a European electrothermics and instrument transformer manufacturer, to 21 Centrale Partners and the company's management for EUR 82.5m
FRANCE - Stone Point Capital backs AXA RE's spinout
AXA has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to cede AXA RE, its mid-sized reinsurer, to a syndicate of investors led by US private equity firm, Stone Point Capital.
SPAIN - Monitor Capital buys 95% of the restaurant chain Pinocchio
The private equity firm Monitor Capital has acquired 95% of the shares of the Spanish food chain Pinocchio, which operates ten restaurants and pizzerias in Montecarlo, Madrid and Valencia.
FRANCE - AGF Private Equity recruits VoIP specialist
Matthieu Baret joins AGF Private Equity's venture team, where he will specialise in telecoms, IT and electronics investments.
UK - F&C expands Edinburgh-based private equity
F&C Asset Management has further strengthened its private equity funds team with the appointment of Richard Nairn as associate director, private equity funds. Nairn joins the Edinburgh-based F&C team from Intelli Corporate Finance, a corporate advisory...
UK - Matrix backs Pasta King
Matrix Private Equity Partners has financed the MBO of Pasta King alongside management and HSBC (Exeter) which provided senior debt and a invoice discounting facility.
SPAIN - Cuatrecasas launched its own London office
The law firm, which has just opened an office in the heart of the City of London, is now closer to the decision center of many of its clients.
NETHERLANDS - Halder acquires Hebu in secondary buyout
According to press reports, Halder has acquired a 77,5% stake in hydraulic systems and components business Hebu from Gilde Investment Management and ABN AMRO Capital.
NORWAY - Ferd buys retail chain Nille
Ferd Private Equity Fund II has acquired 70% of the shares in Nille AS and Per Aarskog AS. Mons and Mathias Aarskog will continue to own 30% of the new holding company.
UK - Intermediate Capital Group profits from buoyant private equity market
The listed mezzanine finance provider, Intermediate Capital Group, has seen its pre-tax profit rise by 72% from £95m to £190m.
UK - Candover appoints Simon Marc to its European team
Candover has announced a further addition to its European team with the appointment of Simon Marc as an investment manager.
FINLAND - Digi TV Plus secures EUR 38m funding
Digi TV Plus has received EUR 38m in a funding round led by Baker Capital and including Provider Venture Partners. The company has previously secured seed financing from Provider Venture Partners.
UK - Ingenious backs Independiente with new album deal
Ingenious, the largest independent source of A&R investment in the UK, has announced that it has made its second investment from its music fund, Ingenious Music VCT Plc, by backing Martina Topley-Bird’s second album. Martina Topley-Bird’s first album,...
FRANCE - Pechel to invest in Rasec
Pechel is set to invest in Rasec through its fund Pechel Industrie. Previous investors 3i and ABN Amro Capital will not be renewing their commitment on this round of financing.
NETHERLANDS - Gilde to exit Peijnenburg
Gilde Participaties has announced that it is negotiating the sale of Koninklijke Peijnenburg BV to Lotus Bakeries BV. Koninklijke Peijnenburg is market leader in the Netherlands in the market for gingerbread products.
GERMANY - Capvis acquires 52% in listed kitchenwares producer
Capvis Equity Partners has acquired a 52% stake in DAX-listed WMF AG. The company is a supplier of kitchen- and tableware. Capvis paid EUR 19.05 per share for stakes held by Deutsche Bank AG, Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG and Württembergische...
FRANCE - NEPE becomes UFG Private Equity
Crédit Mutuel Nord Europe is bringing its subsidiaries together to form Groupe UFG.