News
UK - EVCA final figures show record investment in 2007
The EVCA has released its final figures for private equiity activity in 2007, with the report showing that a record EUR 73.8bn was invested across Europe, EUR 2.6bn higher than in 2006.
UK - USS commits £383m to US buyout fund
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), the UK's second largest pension fund, is planning to commit ТЃ383m (USD 750m) to the maiden fund from Boston-based private equity fund-of-funds group Constitution Capital Partners.
UK - Coller and DFJ support early stage technology
Coller Capital, through Coller International Partners V, has injected a further USD 50m into DFJ Esprit II to support the portfolio of LSE-listed investment trust Prelude Trust Plc, which was purchased earlier this month for an initial consideration of...
GERMANY - Earlybird invests in Smoodoos.com
Earlybird has invested in just us & friends GmbH, operator of childrens online portal www.smoodoos.com. This makes Earlybird the first institutional investor following an earlier seed financing provided by Business Angels Tino Schöninger and Yulian Patzelt...
SPAIN - Kennet leads EUR 22m funding round for software firm
Kennet Partners has led a EUR 22m series-B financing round for software developer NTRGlobal, alongside Atlas Ventures and existing investors Debaeque and Elaia Partners.
UK - Aberdeen reaps 4x returns from £43m Brookhouse sale
Aberdeen Asset Managers Private Equity has sold specialist aerospace components company Brookhouse Holdings Ltd to Kaman Corporation for ТЃ43m, generating returns of 4x the capital invested.
NORWAY - CapMan and InnovationsKapital fund Crayon
CapMan Technology 2007 fund and InnKap 4 have invested an undisclosed sum in Crayon, an IT consultancy business that is owned by Norwegian parent Artix AS, for a 20% stake in the parent group with equal holdings after the transaction has closed. The current...
UK - Somerset CC pension fund issues £30m tender
Somerset County Council pension fund will issue a ТЃ30m tender for a private equity fund-of-funds manager.
FRANCE - Granville Baird portfolio company makes acquisition
Granville Baird's portfolio company Zarges Tubesca Group has acquired aviation ground equipment company Group Albret. The transaction was financed with a debt-only package.
UK - AFM invests £2.5m in ULive
Alliance Fund Managers (AFM) has invested ТЃ2.5m through the Merseyside Special Investment Fund's Liverpool Seed Fund into ULive Plc, a company that commercialises intellectual property generated by the University of Liverpool.
GERMANY - Lonestar and Ripplewood still bidding for German bank IKB
According to reports, the three bidders still in the race for troubled German bank IKB, which is expected to fetch a purchase price of EUR 500m, include private equity firms Lonestar and Ripplewood. The third suitor is Swedish bank SEB, said to be the...
SPAIN - Riverside appoints director
Riverside has appointed Juan Barnechea as a new director of origination within its Iberian team. In his role he will also liaise with European financial institutions.
NORWAY - FSN Capital III closes on EUR 375m
FSN Capital Partners has closed its third fund, FSN Capital III, on EUR 375m, exceeding its EUR 300m target. The fund was substantially oversubscribed.
SWEDEN - Industrifonden leads SEK 15m investment into ScandiDos
Industrifonden has led a SEK 15m funding round for ScandiDos AB, an Uppsala-based developer of a system for the quality control of cancer treatments.
FRANCE - Weinberg Capital Partners strengthens team
Yann Ballan has been appointed Vice-President at Weinberg Capital Partners and will oversee the acquisition and management of real estate assets.
AUSTRIA - Morgan Stanley and BAST invest in Breitenfeld
Morgan Stanley Private Equity and BAST Investment Group have acquired a 38.5% stake in specialty steel producer Breitenfeld AG from the majority shareholders Fides Privatstiftung and Fortis Privatstiftung, who recently bought back the shares owned by...
UK - SWFs consider investment in Barclays
Several Sovereign Wealth Funds, among them Singapore's Temasek Holdings and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), are considering backing a share issue by Barclays.
NETHERLANDS – Icos and Capricorn invest in Ensartech
Icos Capital and Capricorn Cleantech Fund have invested in Ensartech, a Dutch company specialising in waste conversion technology.
UK - NBGI completes £16m Rock Asphalt acquisition
NBGI Private Equity has acquired roofing provider Rock Asphalt in a ТЃ16m buyout.
UK - Solon hires investment associate
Solon Ventures has hired Shufan Lin as investment associate.
GERMANY - Equita acquires Karl Eugen Fischer Holding from Halder
Equita GmbH & Co Fonds 3 KGaA has purchased a majority participation in Karl Eugen Fischer Holding GmbH, through a secondary buyout from funds managed by Halder Beteiligungsberatung for an undisclosed amount.
SPAIN – Ahorro Corporación sells electronics firm to Siemens
Ahorro Corporación has sold electronics firm Fábrica Electrotecnica Josa (BJC) to Siemens.
ITALY - DLJ Merchant Banking backs Guala MBO
According to reports, DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, the private equity arm of Credit Suisse, will back the management buyout and subsequent delisting of Guala Closures, a maker of spirit and wine bottle tops.
FRANCE - EUR 2bn Converteam deal provides partial exit for BPE
According to reports, Barclays Private Equity (BPE) has completed a partial exit of power conversion engineering company Converteam in what is set to be the largest secondary buyout of the year, with a value of around EUR 2bn, backed by LBO France.