News
FRANCE - Argos Soditic exits Dorotennis after a second MBO
In a second MBO, BCBG Max Azria Group acquired Dorotennis in a deal which saw Argos Soditic exit the company. Financial details were not disclosed.
FRANCE – Demeter Partners invest EUR 1.2m in Panosol
Demeter Partners has led a series-A round of funding for start-up Panosol investing EUR 1.2m. The founders retained a majority of the capital.
BELGIUM - KBC NV invests EUR 8m in Lenaerts-Blommaert
KBC NV has invested EUR 8m in Lenaerts-Blommaert, a company that sells and leases mobile units, machinery and equipment for the building sector.
SWEDEN - Verdane acquires four companies from Brainhart Capital
Verdane Capital has acquired four unlisted companies from Brainhart Capital for an undisclosed sum.
SPAIN - Ahorro Coporación-backed Aurgi defaults on debt
Ahorro Corporación's portfolio automotive sector company Aurgi has reportedly defaulted on its debt repayments.
ITALY - Capitalia invests a further EUR 16m in Gruppo Pneufin
Capitalia Sofipa has increased its investment in Gruppo Pneufin by a further EUR 16.75m bringing its total investment in the company to EUR 29.42m.
SPAIN - Impala fails to meet deadline set for its second closing
Impala Capital Partners has failed to meet the deadline for the second closing of its second vehicle.
GERMANY - Business angels invest six figure sum in drug portal apomio.de
Business angels Lukasz Gadowski and Oliver Jung have invested a six figure sum in apomio GmbH, which runs an independent online portal for price comparisons of drugs, care and food products. The company is set to capitalise on changes in the legal framework...
FINLAND - CapMan establishes EUR 835m real estate fund
CapMan has held a first close of CapMan Hotel RE Ky, a real estate fund, on EUR 835m.
UK - BVCA research predicts economic slowdown
The private equity and venture capital industry is bracing itself for an economic slowdown, according to new research published today by the BVCA т The British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. The YouGov poll of BVCA members shows that...
UK - Matrix realises 3.3x from full BBI exit
Matrix Private Equity Partners has realised over 3.3x its original investment of ТЃ2.3m through the sale of its shareholding in AIM-listed BBI Holdings Plc. Matrix originally invested in BBI, a healthcare business that focuses on diagnostics and diabetes,...
SPAIN - Record high for Spanish private equity in 2007
The volume and value of private equity deals in Spain reached record highs of 776 and EUR 4.2bn respectively in 2007.
FRANCE – Platina Finance exits Société Française d'Eoliennes
Platina Finance exited its 25% share in Société Française d’Eoliennes with the sale of the company to Sogernia. Lazard was appointed by Platina and other investors to organise the auction process which saw around 20 offers being placed for Société Française...
GERMANY - SHS appoints new senior manager
Tübingen-based SHS Gesellschaft für Beteiligungsmanagement has appointed Stephan Rapp as a new senior manager. The financial analyst with a doctorate in biochemistry has previously managed the field of business development as managing director of the...
UK - Barclays invests £5m as cornerstone investor in Catalyst
Barclays has announced its intention to invest ТЃ5m into a new social investment fund managed by Catalyst Fund Management and Research, which is targeting a final close later in 2008 in excess of ТЃ25m.
GERMANY/NETHERLANDS - Triangle Venture Capital Group leads EUR 4.1m funding for iOpener
Triangle Venture Capital Group has led a EUR 4.1m investment in iOpener. iOpener has developed a technology to map real-world competitions such as Formula 1 to an artificial world, allowing gamers to participate in the race virtually and in real time....
FRANCE – Astorg Partners exits Pizza Pino
Astorg Partners has sold its 76% share of restaurant chain Pizza Pino, valued at around EUR 32m, back to founder André Sfez and businessman Lucien Urano. The deal saw André Sfez use his veto to block an exclusive deal which had been set up between Astorg...
GERMANY/UK - Wellington closes EUR 265m fund and opens London office
Venture capital firm Wellington Partners has made two announcements that show a shift towards pan-European venture. The VC has closed a EUR 265m fund, Wellington Partners IV Technology, surpassing its target of EUR 250m in just over six months. The fund...
GERMANY - Heidelberg Innovation leads 4.6m series-c round for IonGate
Lead investor Heidelberg Innovation and KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau) have closed the third funding round for biotechnology company IonGate Biosciences GmbH which has raised a total of EUR 4.6m. Previous investments included a seed financing in...
UK - Catapult supports £500,000 FDTEK funding
Catapult Venture Managers has invested ТЃ330,000 as part of a ТЃ500,000 financing round for information technology company FDTEK Holdings Ltd.
FRANCE – Barclays Private Equity to sell Converteam
Barclays Private Equity is rumoured to have asked Lehman Brothers and Hawkpoint to find a suitor for power conversion engineers Converteam, a former subiseiry of Alstom. The deal could value Converteam at over EUR 1.5bn.
UK - The Capital Fund backs £450,000 2sms financing
The Capital Fund has invested ТЃ250,000 as part of a ТЃ450,000 financing round for mobile phone messaging services provider 2sms. The balance of the equity has been supplied by Richard Goldstein, an experienced SME investor, who has joined the 2sms board....
UK - Exponent closes second fund on £805m
Exponent Private Equity has reached the final close of its second fund, Exponent Private Equity Partners II, LP, with commitments of ТЃ805m. This fund doubles the amount raised in the first fund in 2004. Exponent will continue to focus on investing in...
SWEDEN - Sunstone leads SEK 40m round in CMC Contrast
Sunstone Capital has invested SEK 40m in CMC Contrast, a medical imaging company, together with existing investors øresund Healthcare Capital and Malmöhus Invest.