News
GERMANY – Virgin Green Fund leads EUR 61m series-B in Odersun
Virgin Group-baked Virgin Green Fund has led a series-B financing round for Odersun AG, a company which designs and manufactures flexible solar products using a proprietary thin-film technology. Further investors included Doughty Hanson Technology Ventures,...
FRANCE – Astorg Partners appoints director
Frédéric Sebbag, a graduate of both Ecole National des Pontes et Chaussées and the Sorbonne, has been appointed director in the Astorg team.
FRANCE – Barclays Private Equity back EUR 60m buyout of Martek Power
Barclays Private Equity (BPE) has backed the management buyout of Martek Power. The deal sees BPE invest alongside the founder and management to take a 60% stake in the business. Non-executive family members exit their shares in the company at this time,...
SPAIN - N+1 closes third fund on EUR 500m
N+1 has closed its third vehicle with subscriptions worth EUR 500m after only a four month fundraising period.
NORWAY - Energy Ventures closes new fund on NOK 1.3bn
Energy Ventures has closed its third fund, Energy Ventures III, on NOK 1.34bn. ($243m). The new vehicle will invest in petroleum-related technology companies.
FINLAND - Inventure holds first close on EUR 35m for new early-stage fund
Inventure Fund KY, a venture fund focusing on early-stage technology deals, investing in the Nordic countries and primarily in Finland, has held a first close on EUR 35m.
DENMARK - Polaris acquires Tøjeksperten for DKK 900m
Polaris Private Equity has acquired Tøjeksperten, a Danish mens clothing retailer for DKK 900m.
FINLAND - Pohjola Private Equity holds second close on EUR 119m
Finnish Pohjola Private Equity has held a second close on its first fund-of-funds on EUR 119m, exceeding its target of EUR 100m.
FINLAND - EQT sells Finn-Power Oy to Prima Industries S.p.a
EQT III has sold Finn-Power Oy, a Finnish supplier of flexible and automated sheet metal working machines and manufacturing systems, for an enterprise value of EUR 170m to Prima Industries S.p.a in Italy.
BELGIUM - KBC and Defiac acquire Dark
KBC Private Equity and Defiac have acquired Dark, a Belgian lighting manufacturer.
GERMANY – Investcorp renews interest in former portfolio company Utimaco
Investcorp Technology Partners has become former portfolio company Utimaco’s anchor investor with an approximately 25% shareholding in the business. The company’s current market capitalisation of Utimaco values Investcorp Technology Partners’ stake at...
SWEDEN - EQT's Securitas Direct bid approved by competition authorities
ESML Intressenter AB, jointly owned by EQT (c64%), Säkl (c8%), Melker Schörling AB (MSAB) and Investment AB Latour (c17%), has received approval from the relevant competition authorities regarding the SEK 9.6bn ($1.5bn) offer to the shareholders of Securitas...
GERMANY - Argantis acquires majority of W.I.S. in MBO
Argantis has, together with the management, acquired the majority of the shares of W.I.S. Holding GmbH & Co. KG for an undisclosed sum. The former shareholders retain an interest in the company.
ITALY - BCC Private Equity backs energy player
BCC Private Equity has acquried a minority stake in energy player Energy Recuperator.
GERMANY - BWK GmbH acquires 40% stake in Betec Electronic
BWK GmbH Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft, Stuttgart (BWKU), a subsidiary of Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW), Wüstenrot & Württembergische-Gruppe and Landeskreditbank Baden-Württemberg – Förderbank has acquired 40% of Betec Electronic GmbH for...
UK - Apax, Cinven, CVC and Permira circle M&B
Pub operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is being circled by large private equity players following the group's announcement of a strategic review earlier this week. Apax, Cinven, CVC, Permira and Texas Pacific Group have all been named as potential suitors...
ITALY - Intesa Sanpaolo acquires Centroplast
Intesa Sanpaolo has led the acquisition of packaging company Centroplast in a management buyout deal.
FRANCE – Rothschild Capital Partners takes majority stake in NextPool
In a propriety LBO deal, Edmond de Rothschild Capital Partners took a majority stake in swimming pool equipment manufacturer NextPool Group alongside CEO, Régis Roux and members of the board of directors who also become shareholders. The deal sees investors...
FRANCE - Alpha Associés Conseil invests EUR 15m in Babilou
Alpha Associés Conseil invested EUR 15m in Babilou in return for around a third of the equity while the management retains around two thirds. Babilou had a turnover of EUR 9m in 2007 and predicts an increase to EUR 18m in 2008.
UK - Grant Thornton strengthens Southampton team
Grant Thornton's Southampton office has recently recruited Nigel Le Bas as manager in the firm's corporate finance team.
FRANCE – Alpha Associés Conseil acquire around 70% of the Frial Group
In a deal worth over EUR 50m, Alpha Associés Conseil acquired around 70% of the Frial Group from the two founding families via The Alpha Private Equity Funds 5 (APEF5). The management has invested alongside taking their stake in newco Glacies Holding...