News
NETHERLANDS - Unilever et al invest EUR 1.5m in BAC
A consortium of existing investors led by Unilever Ventures and FF&P Private Equity have invested EUR 1.5m in BAC, a company specialising in affinity purification of biological materials.
SWITZERLAND - Capvis and HgCapital join forces on KVT
Capvis and HgCapital have agreed a co-investment in industrial parts company Koenig Verbindungstechnik AG (KVT).
GERMANY – Munich Venture Partners leads Communology investment
Munich Venture Partners has led a second round of funding for software company Communology, alongside existing investors S-VC and Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau and the company's founders.
GERMANY – High-Tech Gründerfonds supports SCHAD
High-Tech Gründerfonds has invested an undisclosed sum into SCHAD GmbH, a provider of mobile systems for observing and operating machine and plant controls, in a first round of institutional financing.
GERMANY - Clifford Chance bolsters Düsseldorf team
Clifford Chance has strengthened its tax and banking team in Düsseldorf with the appointment of Dr Marc P Scheunemann and Manfred Ziwey.
SPAIN - Private equity reports 37% drop
According to figures released by ASCRI, private equity investment during the first semester of 2008 totalled EUR 1.27bn, a 37% drop from the same period last year.
SPAIN - Thesan appoints four new executives
Turnaround specialist Thesan Capital has appointed four new executives, including three former Lehman Brothers employees.
ITALY - Figures suggest investment activity remains strong
Italian private equity does not appear to have slowed following last year’s record high figures, with the first semester of 2008 seeing investments totalling EUR 2bn recorded, according to preliminary statistics released by AIFI.
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...