News
UK – VCTs defy cynics to raise £153m last year
Despite concerns the UK's venture capital trust managers would this year raise only £50-100m due to adverse economic conditions, the industry attracted an impressive £153m in the 2008/2009 tax year.
FRANCE - Crédit Agricole PE and Scientipôle Capital in EUR 1m round for SaaS firm
Crédit Agricole Private Equity and Scientipôle Capital have invested EUR 1m into software as a service company (SaaS) firm Scan & Target in a series-A round.
GERMANY – DVC leads EUR 8m round in KeyNeurotek Pharmaceuticals AG
DVC Deutsche Venture Capital has led a EUR 8.2m Series-C round of funding for KeyNeurotek Pharmaceuticals AG.
FRANCE – 21 Partners launches EUR 500m fund
According to sources, Franco-Italian private equity firm 21 Partners has launched a EUR 500m fund.
ITALY – PAI-backed Saeco could be sold to Philips
Market rumours suggest that PAI Partners' portfolio company Saeco, manufacturer of coffee machines, could be sold to Dutch giant Philips.
UK- Octopus, Aberdeen chosen to manage govt-backed CFE funds
Octopus Investments and Aberdeen Asset Managers have been chosen to each manage a £30m government-backed Capital for Enterprise fund (CFE).
GERMANY – Linklaters promotes two new partners and counsels
Linklaters has promoted two new partners and counsels in its German offices.
GERMANY – Perusa acquires Karlie Heimtierbedarf GmbH
Perusa Partners has, together with the management, wholly acquired pet products company Karlie Heimtierbedarf GmbH. Perusa made the investment via Perusa Partners I.
CEE - CapMan Russia fund closes at EUR 118m
Capman has closed its latest fund, the Capman Russia fund, at EUR 118m, missing its EUR 150m target.
UK- Dunedin-backed WFEL secures £18m contract with US Dept of Defence
WFEL Limited, the defence engineering group backed by private equity house Dunedin, has secured an £18m contract with the US Department of Defense to supply it with military bridging systems.
FRANCE - Althera and Sopromec acquire Clairvoie
Althera Capital and Sopromec have acquired specialty food retailer Clairvoie in a secondary buyout, alongside the company's manager Bruno Madelaine.
FRANCE – NI Partners sells Lina’s
NI Partners, part of Natixis Private Equity, has sold its portfolio company sandwich shop chain Lina's to Cogexco, a family holding specialised in the restaurant sector.
UK- Octopus Ventures further invests £900,000 in Phasor Solutions
Octupus Ventures has invested a further £900,000 in satellite communication company Phasor Solutions, as part of a £1.5m funding round.
ITALY - PE-backed Weather Investments to restructure debt
It is understood that telecom holding Weather Investments is looking to restructure a tranche of its debt.
BELGIUM - Gimv backs Demonstrate
Gimv has acquired an option to a part of the shares of marketing business Demonstrate.