News
ITALY - Quantica’s second fund closes on EUR 65m
Italian venture firm Quantica has closed its second fund, Principia II, on EUR 65m, surpassing its target of EUR 20-40m.
FRANCE/NETHERLANDS - Crédit Argicole PE sets up three partnerships
Crédit Argicole Private Equity has set up partnerships with Soridec, BioGeneration Ventures and Objectif Gazelles to support developing companies.
UK/FRANCE - Carlyle makes promotions
The Carlyle Group has promoted 24 of its staff worldwide, among them four in London and one in Paris.
SWITZERLAND - Nordic Capital may fetch EUR 10bn for Nycomed
Nordic Capital portfolio company Nycomed, a Swiss drugmaker, has been put on the block and may fetch up to EUR 10bn.
UK - Shore Capital hires CEO
Shore Capital Group has hired Alex Abadie as CEO of Shore Capital Ltd, its asset management business.
UK/IRELAND - CSAM appoints UK and Ireland head
Cerdit Suisse Asset management has appointed Colin Taylor as head of its UK and Ireland activities based in London.
FRANCE - Natixis shows providence with Provident
According to reports, Natixis Private Equity has decided to wind down its subsidiary Provident, which focuses on restructuring opportunities.
FRANCE - Former Apax portfolio company rescued by Beaumanoir
Clothing company Beaumanoir has received legal approval for its bid to acquire womens prêt-a-porter fashion brand Morgan, which was formerly backed by Apax Partners but went into administration over the Christmas period.
NETHERLANDS - Robeco to launch cleantech fund
It is understood that Dutch private bank Robeco has teamed up with Chinese company TEDA International Corp to launch Robeco TEDA Sustainable Private Equity Fund, a new vehicle focusing on cleantech and related products.
UK - Imperial and EF support £330,000 SSA funding
Imperial Innovations and EF Investments, alongside the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), have invested £330,000 into medical devices company Smart Surgical Applicances (SSA).
SWITZERLAND - BioMedPartners strengthens management team
Basel-based BioMedPartners has strengthened its management team with the addition of Dr Andreas J Schulze and the promotion of Patrick Burgermeister.
CEE - Linklaters appoints new head of EEMENA
International law firm Linklaters has appointed Stuart Salt as the new head of Emerging Europe, Middle East and North Africa (EEMENA).
FRANCE - Crédit Agricole PE backs Exosun with EUR 4.5m
Crédit Agricole Private Equity, through the Crédit Agricole PE Capenergie fund, has backed renewable energy business Exosun with an investment of EUR 4.5m.
GERMANY - Leonardo files EUR 5m lawsuit against management company
Leonardo Venture is suing its former management company, Leonardo Venture Capital GmbH, for damages totalling around EUR 5m on the grounds of alleged dereliction of duty.
AUSTRIA/NORWAY - GCP-backed Identec acquires TunnelCom
Gamma Capital Partners-backed Identec Solutions AG, an Austria-based supplier of industrial tracking and tracing solutions, has acquired Norway-based TunnelCom, a provider of automatic tagging solutions for the tunnel, mining, oil and gas industries.
UK - Kennet supports GoViral
Kennet Partners has supported video advertising company GoViral with a EUR 6.5m investment.
UK - Hermes hires head of European sales
Hermes has appointed Simon Ewan as director and head of European sales.
CZECH REPUBLIC - Odien interested in CSA
According to reports, Turkish/Czech private equity firm Odien is one of four parties that is thought to have presented a takeover bid for Czech Airlines, with press speculation putting the potential deal value at around CZK 5bn (approximately EUR 183m).
DENMARK - Polaris holds first close on EUR 275m
Danish buyout house Polaris Private Equity has held a first of close of its third fund on EUR 275m.
DENMARK – Vækstfonden et al. invest DKK 11m into games developer
Government-backed Vækstfonden backed an DKK 11m investment into Playdead, a Danish business that develops the online game Limbo, together with CAT Science and FAHU.
UK - PIM appoints new CEO
Portfolio management specialist Principal Investment Management has appointed Hugh Titcomb as new CEO.
UK - Albion to move offices
Albion Ventures (formerly Close Ventures) is to move offices at the end of March 2009.
UK/ASIA - SJ Berwin goes East
SJ Berwin has announced plans to open a new office in Hong Kong covering China and East Asia, which will be headed up by new managing partner Daniel Liew.
LUXEMBOURG - Alter Domus expands Asian presence
Luxembourg-based Alter Domus, a provider of outsourced fund administration services, has acquired Asian rival Skye Fund Services.