News
EUROPE - Mezz cashes in on new markets
One manтs loss is another manтs gain and nowhere is this clearer than in the subordinated debt market right now. Anecdotal evidence suggests the layer is set for its headiest days yet, with mezzanine now accounting for up to 2x EBITDA on average in a...
FRANCE – Avenir Finance leads EUR 700,000 investment into Pole Star
Avenir Finance Gestion has led a EUR 700,000 early-stage investment into software company Pole Star. Avenir provided EUR 500,000, with the balance being contributed by a number of business angels.
DENMARK – OpenView injects $4.2m into Zmags
Zmags, a Danish online publications specialist, has closed a series-B funding round of $4.2m with commitments from OpenView Venture Partners, bringing total investments in the company to $7m.
FINLAND – Creandum leads EUR 3.5m funding for Xtract
Creandum has led a EUR 3.5m investment, alongside existing investor Eqvitec, into Xtract, a social advertising intelligence company.
NETHERLANDS - NIBC and Fortis sell Sandd
NIBC Capital Partners and Fortis Private Equity have sold their minority stake in Sandd to investment fund Trimoteur, the existing majority shareholder from which they purchased their collective interest in 2005.
SWEDEN – Altor acquires Åkers Group
Altor Fund II has acquired Åkers Group, a Swedish roll manufacturer to the steel and aluminium industry, from STC Interfinans for an undisclosed sum. The vendor will retain a significant minority stake in the business.
UK - Four Seasons struggles under debt burden
Four Seasons, the nursing and care home group owned by Three Delta, an investment vehicle of the Qatari Investment Authority, is scouring the market for new debt financing ahead of a deadline for repayment of ТЃ1.24bn worth of senior debt, due on the...
DENMARK – Danske PEP IV holds first close on EUR 521m
Danske Private Equity has held a first close of its new fund-of-funds vehicle, Danske Private Equity Partners IV (Danske PEP VI), on EUR 521m.
FRANCE - 2 Minutes raises EUR 1m funding
Alliance Entreprendre and Galia Gestion have invested EUR 1.05m in a first round of financing for animation studio 2 Minutes.
FRANCE - 21 Centrale Partners divests Averys
21 Centrale Partners has sold storage systems company Averys to LBO France in a secondary buyout transaction for an undisclosed sum.
SPAIN – Iame launches Brand Capital
Iame Capital Riesgo has launched Brand Capital Made in Spain (BCS), a EUR 500m fund designed to invest in the Spanish fashion, jewellery, and leather sectors.
UK - Low Carbon Seed Fund invests £175,000 into Evince
The Low Carbon Seed Fund has invested ТЃ175,000 into Evince Technology Ltd, a company that has developed a semiconductor device designed to reduces CO2 emissions, as part of a ТЃ500,000 funding round.
UK - Duke Street appoints Drummond Hall
Duke Street Capital has appointed Drummond Hall to its team of operating partners.
ITALY – Apax and TA Associates to acquire minority stake in Weather Holding
Market rumour suggests that Apax and TA Associates could be ready to pay EUR 900m for a 10%-15% stake in Egyptian magnate Naguib Sawiris' Weather Investments Holding.
SPAIN – Sasor acquires 60% of renewable energy player
Prestige Group, through its private equity arm Sasor, and Grupo Inland have acquired 60% and 40% respectively of engineering firm Abrasolo, in a deal valued at EUR 15m.
PORTUGAL – Explorer to acquire recycling company
According to a note from Portuguese antitrust authorities, Explorer Investments is readying to acquire recycling firm Constantino Fernandes Oliveira & Filhos.
SWEDEN - Nordic Capital makes appointment
Mark Bulmer has left his position in the acquisition finance unit of SEB to join Nordic Capital as head of banking, a newly created role within the firm.