News
NETHERLANDS - Forbion and Inventages back AM-Pharma with EUR 7m
Existing investors Forbion Capital Partners and Inventages Venture Capital have backed AM-Pharma, a Dutch biopharmaceutical company, with a EUR 7m investment. The funding represents the first close of a series-C financing round targeting EUR 30m.
UK - Arcapita eyeing Freightliner
Arcapita is reportedly conducting due diligence investigations of rail haulage specialist Freightliner. The company has been 76% owned by 3i and Electra Capital Partners since 1996.
UK - Palamon portfolio company to float
Financial services business Towry Law, which is partially owned by Palamon Capital Partners, is reported to be planning to float in 2008.
UK - Aberdeen invests in Training for Travel Limited
Aberdeen Asset Managers Growth Capital has led an investment into Training for Travel Ltd, a provider of government funded training services to travel companies.
GERMANY - Capital Dynamics co-investment team reaps 20x returns from TGE float
Capital Dynamics' co-investment team has exited a substantial portion of its stake in TGE Marine AG, a provider of engineering solutions to the offshore gas industry, through a listing on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market, which raised around £67m...
PORTUGAL - EIF launches dedicated Portugal fund-of-funds
The European Investment Fund, alongside leading Portuguese financial institutions and the Portuguese State, has launched the Portugal Venture Capital Initiative, a EUR 111.3m dedicated fund-of-funds and co-investment programme focused on Portuguese funds...
UK - Princess joins iPEIT
iPEIT, the group of London-listed private equity investment vehicles that was formed in 2006 to increase understanding of the listed private equity sector, has expanded its membership to eleven with the inclusion of Princess Private Equity Holding Limited,...
CEE - East Capital launches real estate fund
East Capital Private Equity has launched the East Capital Russian Property Fund, a EUR 200m real estate fund designed to invest in commercial and residential properties in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
UK - MSIF invests £3m into Vitaflo
Merseyside Special Investment Fund's (MSIF) Venture Fund has invested ТЃ3m as part of a funding package to refinance nutritional products company Vitaflo.
FINLAND/RUSSIA - CapMan buys Russian private equity firm
CapMan has acquired Russian private equity firm Norum and will take over ownership of Norum Russia Fund III, which is currently in the fundraising process. The intial purchase price is EUR 3.4m, which will increase as the fund size increases.
ITALY - Cape increases its stake in Castaldi
Cape Natexis has acquired the 22.5% stake held by the founding family of lighting fixtures company Castaldi, in which it is already a majority shareholder.
UK - Electra holds final closing of £100m fund
Electra Partners has closed a new ТЃ100m fund designed to invest alongside its principal listed vehicle, Electra Private Equity Plc, in private equity investment opportunities mainly in the UK and Western Europe.
UK - Smedvig supports Ocean Outdoor with £5.5m
Smedvig Capital has invested ТЃ5.5m into Ocean Outdoor, a manager of large scale advertising sites.
FRANCE - Close Brothers hires new managing director
Close Brothers has hired Gwénaël de Sagazan as managing director in its French office.
UK - Balderton appoints new partner
Balderton Capital has appointed Dharmash Mistry as a new partner.
ITALY – Ferax acquires Lazzaroni
Ferax Merchant has acquired approximately 90% of biscuit manufacturer D Lazzaroni & C in a deal valued at EUR 25m. The remaining stake will be held by the family vendors.
UK – Halliburton goes head to head with Candover for Expro
According to reports, US oil-field services giant Halliburton has launched an all-cash offer for listed British rival Expro International valued at ТЃ1.7bn, surpassing the ТЃ1.61bn bid presented by a consortium led by Candover last month.
GERMANY – JC Flowers launches public tender offer for Hypo Real Estate
JC Flowers has launched a EUR 1.1bn public tender offer for German Hypo Real Estate, representing 24.9% of the company’s capital, which will remain open until 23 June.
SPAIN – Clave Mayor-backed Red Karaoke announces new appointments
Clave Mayor-backed online music platform Red Karaoke has announced the appointment of Justin D. Abbott and Fernando Ara as part of the company’s plan to launch the service in the US.
SPAIN - ASCRI celebrates frist Spanish private equity awards
ASCRI celebrated its first Spanish Private Equity awards on 22 May, open to all firms operating in the country that completed exits during 2007.
UK - UPF seals first deal
MTI Partners' recently launched fund UMIP Premier Fund (UPF), targeting University of Manchester spin-outs, has invested ТЃ1m into Myconostica, a medical diagnostics company, as part of a ТЃ5.4m funding round.
ITALY – Alto Partners acquires plumbing firm
Alto Partners has acquired 100% of Rubinetterie Toscane Ponsi a company specialising in the manufacture of tabs and mixers through its fund Alto Capital II.
RUSSIA - Lion Capital to acquire Russian Alcohol
Lion Capital is to acquire a majority stake in Russian Alcohol Group. Goldman Sachs and Central European Distribution Corporation, a vodka producer in Poland and Russia, will also co-invest in the company.
GERMANY - Hogan loses two partners
According to reports, Hogan & Hartson's Munich office will lose two partners at the end of the month.