News
UK - Balderton-backed LOVEFiLM acquires Amazon Europe DVD rental business
LOVEFiLM International Ltd, a DVD rental business backed by Index Ventures, Balderton Capital and DFJ Esprit, is to acquire Amazon Europe's DVD rental business in the UK and Germany. As part of this transaction, Amazon Europe will also make a cash investment...
UK - Octopus realises 2.3x from Gyro exit
Octopus Investments has sold its stake in Gyro, a B2B marketing services business. The exit has generated a return of 2.3x and an IRR of 57.7% on its investment. The exit has been facilitated by an investment of over ТЃ50m from a US private equity house....
UK - LDC boosts Bristol presence with new office and appointment
LDC has boosted its presence in the South West by opening a new office in Bristol and appointing Paul Oldham to its investment team. Oldham joins from Grant Thornton Corporate Finance where he built and led the firmтs eight-strong South West and South...
UK - August Equity portfolio company makes acquisition
August Equity portfolio company Lifeways Community Care Ltd, has acquired Kentwood Ltd, a provider of care and support to adults in residential, domiciliary and supported living environments, for an undisclosed price. Kentwood is a care provider operating...
UK - SPARK's Kobalt Music Group signs agreement with Balderton
SPARK Ventures Plc portfolio company Kobalt Music Group Ltd, an independent music publisher has signed an agreement with Balderton Capital whereby Balderton will invest new equity in Kobalt. This transaction will result in a 60% uplift in the valuation...
UK - IPES establishes Jersey office
The International Private Equity Services Group (IPES) has established a presence with the opening of a new office in Jersey under the name of IPES (Jersey) Ltd. The IPES Group was founded ten years ago in Guernsey and provides specialist fund administration...
UK - New music EIS fund seeks to raise £10m
Power Amp Music is seeking to raise ТЃ10m as an approved investment fund under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). The new vehicle, Power Amp Music Fund, will invest in a diversified portfolio of UK music talent, capitalising on the rapidly changing...
GERMANY - AUCTUS Management acquires 80% of Hobatex GmbH
Funds managed by AUCTUS Management & Co. KG have acquired 80% of the shares of specialised wood applications company Hobatex GmbH for an undisclosed sum. Hobatex is an international trader and service provider for specialised wood applications. Major...
NORWAY - CapMan builds new Nordic logistics group
CapMan has acquired approximately 65% of Swedish Globex AB and Norwegian Cargo Partners and STS Group, in a move to build a new Nordic logistics group, for an undisclosed value.
ITALY - Advent builds up Venere.com's portfolio
Advent-backed online reservation company Venere.com acquired Italian online hotel and accommodation booking agency Worldby.com.
SWEDEN – EQT increases bid for Securitas Direct
ESML Intressenter AB, jointly owned by EQT (c64%), Säkl (c8%), Melker Schörling AB (MSAB) and Investment AB Latour (c17%), have increased their bid for Securitas Direct from SEK 26 to SEK 27.5 per share, increasing the total value of the bid to SEK 10.1bn...
FINLAND - Nokia to divest Automotive Business to Equity Partners et al.
According to reports, Nokia is in the process of negotiating the sale its automotive business to the former head of Nokia’s enhancement unit and the automotive business and Equity Partners GmbH.
UK - MMC backs PharmAssess with £500,000
MMC Ventures has invested ТЃ500,000 in PharmAssess, an independent auditor which provides audit reports to the pharmaceutical industry.
UK - August strengthens investment team
August Equity has appointed David Lonsdale to its investment team. Lonsdale joins August Equity from British Sky Broadcasting Plc, where he worked in the corporate finance division. During his time at BSkyB, he was responsible for UK transactions across...
FRANCE – Avenir Enterprises accompanies MBI of Pageard Maronneau
Avenir Enterprises completed an MBI of Pageard Maronneau with two exterior managers. The deal saw the founders’ son who privately held Pageards Maronneau exit his stake in the company while Avenir took 36% and the external managers took 64% of the shares....
UK - SPARK Ventures leads seed round for mydeco.com
SPARK Ventures has led the financing of mydeco.com in what is reported to be one of the largest internet seed rounds in Europe. SPARK is the lead and largest investor in mydeco.com, an interior design website developed by the team behind lastminute.com,...
UK - LGV sells Classic Hospitals Group to Cinven-backed Spire for £145m
LGV Capital has agreed to sell Classic Hospitals Group, the UKтs sixth largest private acute hospital operator, to Spire Healthcare (formerly BUPA Hospitals), which is controlled by funds managed by Cinven, for ТЃ145m. Classic Hospitals owns and operates...
UK - BOSIF acquires Verna Group from LGV
Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance (BOSIF) has backed the secondary management buyout of healthcare manufacturing business Verna Group Holdings Ltd from LGV. The value of the deal is undisclosed. BOSIF takes a minority stake in the newco. Bolton-based...
FRANCE – Platina Finance exits two windfarm companies
Platina Finance Limited has announced the exit of its Mistral Windfarm I fund from Mistral en Beauce and Ferme Eolienne La Remise des Bruyeres. The two companies which own windfarms and generate 36mw between them were acquired by Poweo and Dutch Infrastructure...
GERMANY – Ventizz invests EUR 48m in Ersol Thin Film GmbH
Ventizz has acquired a minority stake in German solar cell maker Ersol's thin film unit for EUR 48m. Ventizz Capital Fund III LP has bought a stake of nearly 50% in Ersol Thin Film GmbH through a cash capital increase. In addition to this, Ventizz will...
GERMANY - H.I.G Europe hires Jens Alsleben as managing director
H.I.G Europe, the European arm of H.I.G Capital, has hired Jens Alsleben as managing director of H.I.G European Capital Partners GmbH, based in Hamburg. This brings the German H.I.G. team to 9 investment professionals covering the whole spectrum of investments,...
ITALY - Morgan Stanley acquires 16% stake in Agorà Investimenti
Morgan Stanley Infrastructure and Finanziaria Internazionale have signed an agreement to acquire a 16.4% stake in Agorà Investimenti.
FRANCE - Turenne Capital leads EUR 6.2m LBO of Dedienne Santé
Turenne Capital has led the EUR 6.2m LBO of Dedienne Santé via funds under its management and Turenne Investssement, the latter investing EUR 2.95m. The deal saw Turenne purchase a majority share of the medical equipment company ahead of Banques Populaire...
FRANCE - Tiempo completes EUR 1.1m first round financing
In a first round of financing Emertec Gestion and Schneder Electric Ventures have invested EUR 1.1m in Tiempo.