News
GLOBAL – CIC provides Apax with liquidity boost
Sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corporation (CIC), may invest up to EUR 800m in Apax' EUR 11.2bn fund. The move is not intended to boost the vehicle's size, which last year became Europe's largest private equity fund. Instead it is believed to...
BELGIUM - Gimv sells stake in Clear2Pay to US-based Aquiline
As part of a EUR 50m funding round for Clear2Pay led by US-based Aquiline, Belgian private equity and venture investor Gimv has divested its stake in the online payment solutions company to the US-based private equity firm.
FRANCE - PAI Partners revives latest buyout fund
Following month-long negotiations, PAI Partners has received LP approval to halve its latest EUR5bn fund to just under EUR3bn, restarting the investment process.
FRANCE - PAI Partners revives latest buyout fund
Following month-long negotiations, PAI Partners has received LP approval to halve its latest EUR5bn fund to just under EUR3bn, restarting the investment process.
ITALY - 360 Capital, Balderton-backed Yoox IPO raises EUR 27m
360 Capital Partners and Balderton Capital-backed online fashion retailer Yoox has completed a EUR27m IPO on the Star segment of the Milanese stock exchange, a deal that will see the company's private equity owners divest part of their stakes in the business....
GERMANY - Crédit Agricole et al. invest in Upside Shopping
Crédit Agricole (CA) Private Equity has participated in an undisclosed financing round for internet business Upside Shopping, alongside seed investors Rocket Internet GmbH and existing backers.
BELGIUM - LSP, Sofinnova-backed Movetis completes EUR85m IPO
Life Sciences Partners and Sofinnova Partners-backed pharma business Movetis has raised its EUR 85m target for its flotation on Euronext Brussels, making it the largest IPO in the life sciences sector on this bourse.
EUROPE - Candover to "substantially" reduce fund
Following nearly 12 months of difficulties that stemmed from its parent's liquidity issues at the beginning of the year, Candover has today announced it will "substantially reduce" the size of its 2008 Fund, which had targeted EUR 5bn and reached a first...
GERMANY - Nord Holding sells Perrin to Kitz
Nold Holding has exited its investment in special armature company Perrin in a trade sale to listed Japanese company Kitz Corporation.
GERMANY/US - BPE's Eschenbach acquires Tura
Barclays Private Equity-backed eyewear manufacturer Eschenbach Group has acquired American eyewear company Tura.
CEE - EI appoints five to board of directors
Poland-based investor group Enterprise Investors has made five promotions to its board of directors: Rafal Bator, Stanislaw Knaflewski, Agnieszka Kowalska, Sebastian Król and Jacek WoŸniak.
UK - Carbon Trust et al. invest £2.7m in Whitfield Solar
Carbon Trust Investments and a private syndicate of new investors have co-led an investment of close to ТЃ3m in solar energy technology company Whitfield Solar, alongside existing investors the Cascade Fund and Kilsby Ltd.
UK/ITALY - Permira's BirdsEye and Lion's Findus interested in Findus Italy
According to reports, Permira-backed Birds Eye Iglo and Lion Capital's Findus Group are among the interested bidders for Unilever's frozen food unit Findus Italy.
EUROPE - EVCA report shows sharp rise in turnaround deals
While investment activity in 2009 has slowed significantly, new research published by the EVCA today shows that the downturn has provided a sharp rise in turnaround opportunities, which were up 40% in the first nine months of this year against the same...
BALTICS - Pohjola appoints Baltic head
Finnish banking group Pohjola has appointed Jorma Alanne as head of its Baltic divison, replacing Markku Vehmas.
GLOBAL - LPs sound warning over private equity performance
A new report has provided a damning assessment of LP confidence in private equity as an asset class, revealing dissatisfaction over performance and new demands in relation to due diligence and reporting. By Ashley Wassall
UK- August Equity completes Hat Trick exit
August Equity has exited its 45% stake in portfolio company Hat Trick, the television production company responsible for programmes such as 'Have I Got News For You' and 'Whose Line Is It Anyway', via a management buy-back led by co-founder Jimmy Mulville....
NETHERLANDS - Crédit Agricole PE invests EUR 1.7m in arGEN-X
Crédit Agricole Private Equity has invested close to EUR 2m in biopharmaceutical firm arGEN-X in a second close of the firm's series-A funding round, taking the total raised to EUR 12.5m.
SPAIN - PE-backed Amadeus seeks to amend debt prior to listing
Reports suggest that BC Partners- and Cinven-backed travel agency Amadeus is in negotiations with its lenders to amend the terms on its EUR 5bn debt pile prior to its planned flotation.
EUROPE - Mourant acquired by State Street to create PE servicing giant
European fund administrator Mourant International Finance Administration has been acquired by financial services giant State Street Corporation for an undisclosed sum.
GERMANY - Informa pulls out of Springer race
Reports indicate that trade buyer Informa has pulled out of the race for Candover- and Cinven-backed educational publisher Springer Science & Business Media, citing a too short time span to complete the deal.
FRANCE - SocGen PE arm spins out; re-brands Syntegra
The investment team of SG Capital Europe, the private equity arm of Société Générale's asset management subsidiary SGAM, has led a spin-out of the business from its parent and re-branded it Syntegra Capital.
FRANCE - Finadvance to purchase RAC France
Finadvance is set to back the MBO of the French arm of RAC, the roadside assistance company, from UK-based insurance giant Aviva.
UK/US - Marathon holds $400m first close on US toxic asset fund
London-based Marathon Asset Management has held a $400m first close of its public-private toxic asset fund, an initiative engineered by the US government to buy up troubled assets from banks that has so far seen $5bn raised by eight seperate fund managers....