News
GLOBAL - KKR hires new MENA head
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) has appointed Makram Azar as managing director and head of Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
ITALY - 21 Investimenti closes second fund on EUR 280m
21 Investimenti, the private equity investment arm of the Benetton family, has closed its second fund, 21 Investimenti II, on EUR 280m, exceeding the initial target by 40%.
FRANCE - Private equity returns remain high
Figures recently released by AFIC reveal that the performance of French private equity funds continued its upward trend in 2007.
UK - Electra hires new IR partner
Electra has appointed Monique Dumas as investor relations and corporate communications partner.
FRANCE - Finadvance Capital acquires Decitre
Finadvance Capital has acquired a 57% stake in bookstore brand Decitre. The founding family will retain a 37% stake, with the remaining 6% being held by Espin Participations.
NORDIC - Argentum wins SVCA award
Government-owned investment company Argentum received the Nordic Private Equity Achievement Award at the SVCA conference in Stockholm.
SPAIN - Qualitas acquires 20% stake in Tuenti
Market rumour suggests that Qualitas Equity Partners has acquired a 20% stake in social networking site Tuenti.
SPAIN - Sabadell and Caja Navarra back lighting manufacturer
Sabadell’s, through its fund Aurica XXI, and Corporación Caja Navarra have signed an agreement to acquire a 30% stake in lighting specialist J Feliu de la Penya, reports suggest.
GERMANY – HANNOVER Finanz back Geti Wilba MBO
HANNOVER Finanz has backed the MBO of frozen foods company Geti Wilba GmbH & Co KG from Nestlé Deutschland AG for an undisclosed sum.
SPAIN - Scope invests EUR 6.5m in Artificial Solutions
According to reports, Swedish fund Scope has invested EUR 6.5m in a series A financing round for software developer Artificial Solutions, taking a 24% stake in the business.
UK - Vision converts to LLP and hires two
Vision Capital has formally adopted partnership status and has hired Lorenzo Russo and Daryl Cohen.
UK - Baird-backed Choices acquires Domicillary Care
Baird Capital-backed Choices Holdings Ltd, a provider of supported living and residential care services, has acquired Domicillary Care Ltd (DCG), a care provider based in Scotland.
SWEDEN - Chalmers Innvoation launches SEK 110m venture fund
Chalmers Innovation has launched a new venture fund, Chalmers Innovation Capital, with capital commitments of SEK 110m.
GERMANY - Granville Baird moves from Steinhöft to HafenCity
After ten years at its Steinhöft headquarters in Hamburg, Granville Baird is moving to new offices in the city's HafenCity business park effective Monday 22nd September.
DENMARK - Vækstfonden injects DKK 10m into SHARK
Government-backed Vækstfonden has invested DKK 10m into SHARK Solutions A/S, a windshield cleansing business.
GERMANY - TVM Capital sells DIREVO Biotech
TVM Capital has sold portfolio company DIREVO Biotech AG to Bayer HealthCare in an all cash deal valued at EUR 210m. DIREVO Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of DIREVO Biotech AG, is not subject to this transaction and has been...
UK - TVM and Endeavour invest USD 14m into CommProve
TVM Capital and Endeavour have led a USD 14m funding round for CommProve, a vendor of advanced solutions for the real-time monitoring of wireless networks, alongside existing backer TLcom Capital.
SPAIN - Mercapital acquires 50% of Bodybell
Mercapital has acquired a 50% stake in fragrance specialist Bodybell as part of a EUR 58m capital increase. The remaining 50% will be held by incumbent shareholder N+1.
FRANCE - Demeter 2 reaches first closing on EUR 125m
Paris-based European growth capital firm Demeter Partners has reached the first closing of its second fund, Demeter 2, on EUR 125m.
SPAIN - Platina backs solar projects
Platina has invested EUR 128m in two photovoltaic projects in Andalusia: Cantillana and El Coronil II. The financing comes from Platina’s Mistral Energy II renewables fund through its subsidiary Anemoi, which will manage both projects.
UK - Paragon rejects £373m private equity bid
Embattled buy-to-let morgage lender Paragon has rejected a ТЃ373m takeover bid put forward by an unnamed private equity group and abandoned talks with other potential acquirers.
GERMANY - HgCapital generates 3.7x return from Addison sale
HgCapital has sold Addison Software, a provider of solutions to accountancy practices and SMEs, to international multimedia company Wolters Kluwer, reaping a 3.7x return on the capital invested and a 55% IRR.
GERMANY - PEF donates EUR 180,000 to HHM
The Private Equity Foundation (PEF), a venture philantrophy fund, has made its first donation of EUR 180,000 to the Hamburger Hauptschulmodell (HHM), an employment and training initiative aimed at secondary modern schools in Hamburg. PEF members will...
SPAIN - Close Brothers acquires Atlas Capital
Corporate finance firm Close Brothers has acquired the remaining 55% stake in Atlas Capital Investment Bankers from the management for an undisclosed sum. The business will be re-branded Atlas Capital Close Brothers.