News
UK - New Enterprise Associates leads £2m round in advertising company
New Enterprise Associates has led a ТЃ2m funding round in mobile advertising company Rapid Mobile Media. Edinburgh-based Rapid Mobile Media was founded in February 2004 and has launched a white-label platform for mobile advertising.
DENMARK - Axcel acquires 60% of Pandora
Axcel has acquired 60% of Pandora, a Danish jewellery manufacturer, from its two founders, Per and Winnie Enevoldsen, their son and a number of senior staff, for an undisclosed value. The current owners will re-invest along with Axcel and hold the remaining...
SWITZERLAND - Riverside acquires EM Test Group
The Riverside Company has acquired EM Test Group for an undisclosed amount. The investment was made from REF III.
SWEDEN - EQT states offer for Securitas Direct is final
ESML Intressenter, jointly owned by EQT, Säkl, Melker Schörling AB and Investment AB Latour, will not increase any further its offer price for Securitas Direct.
NORWAY - Eqvitec backs KSD Software Norway
Eqvitec Technology Fund III has invested in KSD Software Norway AS, an Oslo-based software company.
FRANCE – Advent International grows team
Advent International has recruited Alice Escoffier as assistant director. Escoffier joined Advent from 3i where she worked for four years in the buyouts team.
UK - Balderton invests in online reservations system
London-based online restaurant reservation systems Livebookings has raised ТЃ6.5 million in a funding round led by Balderton Capital.
CEE - White & Case opens in Bucharest
White & Case has opened an office in Bucharest, headed by Todd Shollenbarger. He formerly led the southeast Europe practice group at Linklaters before moving to private equity firm KD Private Equity as the head of its Bucharest office. He leads a team...
CEE - Clifford Chance opens an office in Kiev
Clifford Chance, the world's largest law firm, will open an office in Kiev later this year.
GREECE - Vivartia strengthens its position in the Greek food market
MIG's food and beverage investment arm, Vivartia, is preparing a bid for the Everest group and Olympic catering, both Athens-listed food service companies. The deal will be done through newly created holding company Alkmini Catering. Vivartia owns 51%...
UK - NVM invests £1.5m in Paladin
NVM private equity has provided a further ТЃ1.5m to fund Paladin Group's acquisition of Phoenix Precision Electric.
SWEDEN - Altor to purchase Papyrus
Altor has agreed to back the buyout of Swedish paper business Payprus from existing parent Stora Enso. Göteborg-based Papyrus retains its management team and will pursue an acquisitive growth strategy following the deal. Handelsbanken is providing debt...
UK - Cognetas and Englefield acquire Morrison Utility Services
Cognetas and Englefield Capital have jointly acquired Morrison Utility Sevices, part of Anglican Water Group, for ТЃ135m in a management buyout.
UK - Third Financial changes name
Third Financial, launched last year by Stewart Foster and Roger Foster to take controlling stakes in companies operating in the financial software and services sector, has changed its name to Third Financial Ventures.
SPAIN – Corsabe invests in biotech player
Spanish private equity firm Corsabe has participated in a capital expansion round in biotechnology company Oryzon, acquiring a 3.5% stake. Ordesa Laboratories also invested for a 3% stake.
SPAIN- Vista and Carlyle prepare Orizonia IPO
Vista Capital and Carlyle, which own 36% and 55% respectively of online travel agency Orizonia, are preparing the company for a flotation.
UK - Bridges invests in vocational training business
Bridges Ventures has invested in New Career Skills, the firm's first dedicated educational investment.
CEE - Marfin Investment acquires 75% of Sunce for EUR 155m
Marfin Investment Group (MIG) has acquired 75% of Croatian tourism and leisure company Sunce for EUR 155m. Sunce and MIG will develop Stubicke Toplice, a health tourism project and public-private-partnership alongside the County of Krapina and Zagorje,...
UK - Zeus appoints new investment director
Zeus Private Equity has appointed Jonny Allatt as investment director in its southern team.
UK – Hawkpoint names new energy and power team
Hawkpoint has appointed a new team to specialise in the energy and power sectors.
CEE - Netcentrum acquires Atlas.sk for EUR 20m
Warburg portfolio company Netcentrum has acquired Slovak web portal Atlas.sk for EUR 20m from EPIC Holding.
UK - Infinity appoints property specialists
Infinity Asset Management has appointed two property specialists to its newly established ТЃ100m property fund.
UK – ISIS leads £11m BIMBO of Nexus
ISIS Equity Partners has led an ТЃ11m buy-in/management buy-out of vehicle rental specialist Nexus Vehicle Management.
GERMANY - Capiton sells Borsig
Capiton AG has sold its stake in Borsig Group to listed Malaysian firm KNM Group for EUR 350m.