News
RUSSIA - Renaissance Group closes US $660m fund
Renaissance Group has closed its first fund, Renaissance Private Equity Fund I LP, with a total of US $660m in commitments. The new fund is dedicated to investment in Russia and Central and Eastern Europe. It had a target of US$ 500m.
UK - Addleshaw beefs up funds practice
Law firm Addleshaw Goddard has made two appointments to its London funds team.
FINLAND - EQT recruits new partner and Finland head
Thomas Ramsay has been appointed partner in the equity business line and head of EQT Partners in Finland.
CEE – Penta to acquire Semya for US$ 200m
According to sources, Penta Investments is to acquire Russian supermarket chain Semya for US $200m.
UK - David Ward joins South Yorkshire Investment Fund
David Ward has been appointed as investment manager at South Yorkshire Investment Fund (SYIF).
SWEDEN - Northzone leads EUR 15m round in Norstel
Northzone Ventures, Eqvitec and Creandum have participated in a EUR 15m funding round in Norstel, a Swedish cleantech business. Other investors included the Sixth AP Fund.
EUROPE - Bain Capital closes EUR 3.5bn buyout fund
Bain Capital has closed its third European buyout fund with a total of EUR 3.5bn in commitments.
LUXEMBOURG – GIC SI invests US$1.5bn in Sintonia SA
GIC Special Investments (GIC SI), the private equity investment arm of GIC, has acquired 3% of Sintonia SA for US$1.5bn. The vendor is Milan-based Benetton-owned company Sintonia SpA.
UK - Terra Firma eyes Novera Energy
Terra Firma backed landfill-gas company Infinis has made an offer for Novera Energy. 3i infrastructure made an approach for the company last month.
UK - Bestport makes futher investment in Mfuse
Bestport Ventures has invested a further ТЃ850.000 in mobile-enabling provider Mfuse as part of a ТЃ2.55 funding round. New investors include Mark Blandford, founder of Sportingbet, who will be joining Mfuse's board.
GREECE – Marfin sells 20% of OTE in a EUR 2.5bn transaction
Marfin Investment Group has sold its 20% stake in Greek telephone company OTE to Deutsche Telekom in a deal valued at approximately EUR 2.5bn.
UK - SPARK and Beringea invest $8m in insango!
SPARK Ventures and Beringea have invested $4m and $2.5m respectively in internet travel provider insango! alongside $1.5m from existing shareholders.
SPAIN - Advent-back Euroloc re-brands
Advent-backed machinery renting company Euroloc has changed its name to Hune in a move aimed at better integrating the group’s activities after the acquisition of platform companies Nacanco, Umesa and Grúas Homs.
SWEDEN - ESML Interessenter completes Securitas Direct offer
ESML Interessenter has completed the SEK 10.1bn deal for Securitas Direct. The investor obtained 80.1% of the capital and 86% of the voting rights in the company. The acceptance period has been extended to March 28 for those shareholders who have not...
SPAIN – Caja Madrid backs fashion group
Capital Riesgo Madrid the private equity arm of Caja Madrid has acquired a 37% stake in fashion group AB Diseño y Moda as part of a deal valued at EUR 8m. The group consists of three brands: Elio Berhanyer, Miguel Palacio and Javier Larrainzar.
UK - SEB Venture invests $12m in ShoZu
SEB Venture Capital has led a $12m series C round of financing in mobile social media services provider ShoZu Inc. Previous investors Atlas Venture, Crescendo Ventures and TTP Ventures also participated.
FRANCE – Crédit Argicole strengthens team
Crédit Argicole Private Equity has strengthened its team by recruiting Frantz Paulus as investment director in their co-investment team.
UK - SEB Venture leads $10 B-round of Zinwave
SEB Venture Capital has led a $10 second round of funding for wireless technology development company Zinwave. Existing investors Atlas Venture and Scottish Equity partners also provided further funding.
CEE – ASI invests EUR 400,000 in Versita
Ambient Sound Investments (ASI) has invested EUR 400,000 for a 20% stake in Versita, a Polish online publisher. It is the first venture investment in Poland for ASI.
NETHERLANDS - Amadeus et al. invest EUR8m in Liquavista
In a series-B round funding, existing investors Amadeus, GIMV and New Venture Partners have injected EUR 8m in fabless display manufacturing company Liquavista. In November 2006, the company secured EUR 12m from the same group of investors.
UK - Sunstone invests EUR 2.4m in CloudeMade
Sunstone Capital has invested EUR 2.4m in a series A round of funding for CloudMade. Sunstone joins the founders as well as existing private shareholders and serial entrepreneurs.
ITALY – Consob approves Polynt P2P
The Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (Consob) has approved the voluntary tender offer by InvestIndustrial-backed Polimeri Speciali for Polynt.
UK - Sovereign wins auction for WCLS
Sovereign Capital has won the auction to buy educational firm World Class Learning Schools (WCLS) for approximately $75m, according to press reports.
UK - Inflexion backs buyout of Pims
Inflexion Private Equity has led the management buyout of waste water support services company Pims Group. It acquired the company from Gresham Private Equity who made a 3.4x return from the exit.