News
UK - August portfolio company acquires Beech Care and Nursing
August Equity-backed Enara Group has acquired Beech Care and Nursing Agency Ltd, a provider of healthcare related services, for an undisclosed sum.
UK - Lex approached private equity for buyout
According to reports, the management of car leasing company Lex is looking for private equity houses to back a management buyout from Lloyds Banking Group.
UK/US - Head of Citi PE leaves
The head of Citi Private Equity, John Barber, is leaving the firm after 14 years.
ITALY - Law firms form CBA Studio Legale e Tributario
The two law firms Camozzi & Bonissoni Verrenti & Associati and Studio Associato LCA have merged to form CBA Studio Legale e Tributario.
UK - Atlas Venture closes eighth fund at $283m
Atlas Venture has closed its eighth fund at $283m. Atlas Venture VIII will be invested in early-stage technology and life science start-ups in US and Europe.
SWEDEN - Altor and Bure bid for Carnegie
According to reports, Nordic buyout houses Altor Equity Partners and Bure Equity are in negotiations to acquire Carnegie, the investment bank which has been under the ownership of the Swedish Government since November last year.
GERMANY - Nova exits nuclitec GmbH
Direct secondaries specialist Nova Capital Management has sold German radioactive products supplier nuclitec GmbH, along with its French and US based sister companies nuclitec sarl and nuclitec Inc, in a trade sale to Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen-und Medizintechnik...
AUSTRIA/GERMANY - Ventizz-backed Cardfactory acquires Visioncard
Ventizz portfolio company CardFactory AG has acquired Tyrol-based Visioncard Kunstoffkarten-Produktions GmbH.
NETHERLANDS - BNP PE leads EUR 5m Anteryon funding
BNP Paribas Private Equity has led a EUR 5m second round of financing for Anteryon International, providing EUR 3.5m of the total alongside the original investors.
AUSTRIA - Quadriga and Lead Equities in talks over Palmers sale
Rumours suggest that Quadriga Capital and Lead Equities are in talks with an Italian strategic investor to exit lingerie company Palmers.
FINLAND - Ferd Venture leads EUR 5m Eniram funding
Ferd Venture has invested EUR 2.7m as part of a EUR 5m investment round for Eniram Ltd, a provider of maritime technology solutions, alongside Finnish Industry Investment and existing investor Conor Venture Partners.
EUROPE - McCreevy remains vague about PE regulation
According to reports, EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy still has reservations about regulating private equity firms, despite heavy pressure from MEPs and earlier promises made by European Commission President JosУЉ Manuel Barroso.
NETHERLANDS - 3i-backed VNU risks creditor take over
It is understood that 3i Group Plc is facing a possible creditor takeover at VNU Business Media Europe, the b2b publisher it acquired at the height of the buyout boom.
UK - One NorthEast creates £125m fund
The Regional Development Agency One NorthEast has created a ТЃ125m to support the development of businesses in the north east of England.
UK – Denham Capital presents unsolicited offer to Polo
Market rumour suggests that Denham Capital Management LP has approached coal mining firm Polo Resources Ltd regarding a potential acquisition, with the offer said to fail to reflect the value of the companies assets.
FRANCE - AGF leads EUR 6.5m investment into 24h00.fr
Returning investor AGF Private Equity has invested EUR 3.5m as part of a EUR 6.5m second round of funding for online retailer 24h00.fr, alongside Seventure Partners.
EUROPE - Yea leaves 3i; Queen takes the reins
Philip Yea is to step down from his position as CEO of 3i with immediate effect, to be replaced by Michael Queen, formerly finance director of the group.
SWEDEN - Capricorn and SEB Venture invest EUR 3.3m into Xylophane
Capricorn Venture Partners, via Capricorn Cleantech Fund, and SEB Venture Capital have invested EUR 3.3m into renewable packaging material company Xylophane AB. The two firms join existing investor KTH Chalmers Capital, which has been involved with the...
UK - Prices steady, deals down
According to the latest Private Company Price Index (PCPI), produced by accountancy firm BDO Stoy Hayward, sales of privately owned mid-market companies in the UK declined in Q4 2008 but prices remained stable.
UK - Albion makes first investment
Albion Ventures, formerly Close Ventures, has invested ТЃ2.5m as part of a ТЃ6.1m funding round into medical device company Forth Photonics, alongside Scottish Enterprise and current backer NBGI Ventures.
UK - RBS finds new chairman
Royal Bank of Scotland has appointed Sir Philip Hampton, chairman of supermarket chain Sainsbury's, as deputy chairman.
NORWAY - Government supports Argentum with NOK 2bn
Government-backed Norwegian LP Argentum has received NOK 2bn from in additional equity from the Norwegian government.
NORWAY - Skagerak raises NOK 50m
Skagerak Seed Capital II has raised NOK 50m for investments in Norwegian start-ups.
AUSTRIA/CEE - Schoenherr gains eight new partners
Schoenherr has increased its partnership by eight lawyers, lifting the total number of firm-wide partners to 53.