News
UK - BLP hires new PE head
International law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has hired Raymond McKeeve to head up its private equity practice.
ITALY - Quantica to invest in Banzai
Quantica SGR is to invest an undisclosed sum into Italian web operator Banzai.
GERMANY - Merck launches strategic venture capital fund
Merck KGaA has launched Merck Serono Ventures, a venture capital fund designed to invest in biotech start-up companies in the company's core therapeutic areas.
UK/NETHERLANDS - A&M hires nine
Turnaround management specialist Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has hired nine advisers for its European financial institutions advisory services team, eight of which will be based in London and one in Amsterdam.
GLOBAL - Freshfields elects 14 new partners
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has elected 14 new partners, with the appointments taking effect from 1 May 2009.
GERMANY - Key leveraged team members leave Dresdner Kleinwort
Kai Gebauer, the managing director and head of leveraged finance for Germany and CEE at Dresdner Kleinwort in Frankfurt, has resigned together with the main part of his team, including vice-presidents Jennifer Kroehl and Paul Kim and associate Aileen...
UK - Zeus-backed XLN makes acquisition
Zeus Private Equity has backed portfolio company XLN Telecom, a telecommunications provider, in its acquisition of sector rival OneBillTelecom.
GERMANY – KKR and Permira to restructure ProSiebenSat1 debt
KKR and Permira are reported to have hired Houlihan Lokey to negotiate a restructuring of almost EUR 2bn of debt in portfolio broadcasting company ProSiebenSat1.
Uk - Kennet appoints new director
Kennet Partners has hired Hillel Zidel as director.
GERMANY – Creathor Venture invests in Tellja
Creathor Venture has invested an undisclosed sum into online marketing portal Tellja GmbH.
SWEDEN - Creandum promotes Blomquist to principal
Swedish venture capital firm Creandum has promoted Daniel Blomquist from associate to principal.
RUSSIA - Aurora backs OSG with $1m
Listed Russian private equity fund Aurora Russia has invested a further $1m into OSG Records Management, a supplier of document storage and data facilities, in the form of a convertible loan.
UK - Alix hires new director
Restructuring firm Alix Partners has hired John Corr as director.
UK - Former 3i exec to launch new venture firm
Former 3i executive Laurence Garrett is reportedly launching a new venture capital firm, Ethean Capital.
UK – KCP supports £3.6m Sabotage BIMBO
Key Capital Partners has backed the buy-in management buyout of fashion business Sabotage Ltd, which trades as Fly53, in a deal valued at £3.6m.
UK – Braveheart invests £150,000 into Traak
Braveheart Investment Group has supported sensor technology business Traak Systems Ltd with a£150,000 investment.
SPAIN - HgCapital builds solar presence
HgCapital's Renewable Power Partners Fund has purchased stakes in three Spanish solar photovoltaic (PV) plants from AIG Financial Products Corp and investment banking firm 360 Corporate. The deal represents an enterprise value of EUR 300m.
SWEDEN - Micron leads $8m funding round for Edgeware
Micron Technologies has a led an $8m series-B financing round for Edgeware, a supplier of server systems for on-demand TV, alongside existing investors Creandum Advisor and Amadeus Capital Partners.
GERMANY – Affentranger Associates invests in InflaRx
Affentranger Associates has invested an undisclosed sum into antibodies company InflaRx GmbH as part of a series-A funding round, alongside bm-t.
UK - Octopus invests £2m into e-Therapeutics
Octopus Ventures has supported AIM-listed drug discovery company e-Therapeutics Plc with a £2m investment.
SWITZERLAND - BV promotes Balmer
BV Holding AG has promoted entrepreneur Ernst Balmer to president of its administrative board.
UK - Guy Hands to step down as CEO of Terra Firma
Terra Firma chief Guy Hands is to give up his role as CEO.
UK - New debt advisory business: Versatus
Former bankers Michael Berry and Jacco Brouwer have launched Versatus, a new debt advisory business.
FRANCE - A Plus and 360 invest EUR 3m into YellowKorner
A Plus Finance has joined previous investor 360 Capital Partners in a EUR 3m funding round for YellowKorner, an art-photography retailer.