News
EUROPE - EVPA hires MD
The European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) has hired Beate TrУМck as managing director.
ITALY - Permira-backed SEAT PG to raise EUR 200m
Listed publishing firm SEAT Pagine Gialle, which is backed by a private equity consortium comprising BC Partners, Permira, CVC Capital Partners and Investitori Associati, has launched a rights issue to raise EUR 200m.
ITALY - Freshfields names new managing partner
International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed Marzio Longo as managing partner of the firms Italian operations.
BELGIUM - Gimv invests in Bananas BC
Belgian private equity house Gimv has made an undisclosed investment into marketing business Bananas BC.
EUROPE - Price joins Candover as general counsel
Philip Price, formerly with hedge fund SRM Global, has joined Candover Investments as general counsel.
UK - Baugur to offload Debenhams stake
Islandic investor Baugur Group has mandated HSBC to sell its 13% stake in retailer Debenhams through a placing priced at 40-45 pence per share.
UK - Versatus hires two
New debt advisory firm Versatus has appointed Tara Moore as director and Andrew Stevenson as associate.
FRANCE - PAI-backed Yoplait buys Dairy Crest's share of venture
PAI partners portfolio company Yoplait has acquired Dairy Crest's 49% stake in their joint venture Yoplait Dairy Crest for £63.5m.
SWEDEN - Segulah-backed Nordform to merge with Peab subsidiary
Segulah's portfolio company Nordform, a supplier of pre-fabricated concrete products for infrastructure, is to merge with S:t Eriks, a subsidiary of the construction company Peab. Following the transaction, Segulah will be the majority owner of the new...
UK - Mercia et al raise £1m for Warwick Effect Polymers
The Mercia Technology Seed Fund, Catapult Venture Managers and Oxford Technology have participated in a ТЃ1m funding round alongside private investors and management for polymer chemistry company Warwick Effect Polymers Ltd (WEP).
FRANCE - Blackstone opens Paris office
The Blackstone Group has opened an office in Paris, and appointed Jean-Michel Steg senior managing director.
FRANCE - AXA PE takes 25% stake in Goto Software
AXA Private Equity has acquired 25% of software producer Goto Software.
UK - Bridgepoint takes over £550m Hermes direct investment portfolio
Bridgepoint has been appointed to become the manager of Hermes Fund Managers' direct investment portfolio, which comprises two funds totalling ТЃ550m: Hermes Private Equity Partners II and Hermes Private Equity Partners III.
EUROPE - Silverfleet's Paramount trouble a blip
Silverfleet Capital has called in debt advisers for its portfolio company Paramount Holdings, a UK-based restaurant group which saw its pre-tax loss increase to ТЃ27m in the year to June 2008, up from ТЃ12m the previous year.
NORWAY - HitecVision sells Technor to Simtronics
HitecVision has sold portfolio technology company Technor AS to listed sector rival Simtronics for a total consideration of NOK 186.9m payable partly in cash and partly in Simtronics shares. Following the transaction, HitecVision will become Simtronics...
FINLAND - Health Cap and LSP back EUR 5.7m Nexstim investment
Existing investors Health Cap and Life Sciences Partner (LSP) have, together The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (TEKES), invested close to EUR 6m into medical device company Nexstim Oy.
UK - TTP Group buys back 3i stake
Technology company TTP Group has bought back the stake held by 3i for an undisclosed sum.
FRANCE - Lafonta resigns as head of Wendel
Jean-Bernard Lafonta has stepped down as CEO of Wendel to be replaced by Frédéric Lemoine.
FRANCE - AXA PE et al. exit B3G in EUR 40m deal
AXA Private Equity, BNP Paribas subsidiary Orkos Capital and Partech International have wholly exited their respective interests in B3G Telecom, an IP Centrex specialist, in a EUR 40m sale to Completel, a corporate telecommunications service business...
RUSSIA - Russia Partners raises $800m
According to reports, Russia Partners is set to close its third fund, Russia Partners III, on $800m.
SPAIN - Platina backs EUR 134m solar investment
Renewable energy investor Platina has backed Madrid-based portfolio company Anemoi Renovables in a EUR 134m investment into three major Spanish solar energy projects.
UK - Mourant hires director
Mourant International Finance Administration has appointed Francois Chesnay as director in its corporate services team.
UK - Havers named BVCA chairman
Baird Capital Partners' Simon Havers has been named as the 27th chairman of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA).
UK - Foursome becomes Frog; increases funds under management
UK-based early-stage and growth investor Foursome Investments has re-branded as Frog Capital and increased the size of its fund from EUR 60m to EUR 100m - a move almost unheard of in this economic climate.