News
UK - LGV appoints new chief exec
LGV Capital has appointed Ivan Heywood as new chief executive. Heywood succeeds Adrian Johnson.
FRANCE – Activa takes 37% stake in Sport 2000
Activa Capital has acquired a 37% stake in sports retailer Sport 2000. The deal will lead to a demutualisation of the company's current co-operative structure and the regroupment of all 398 ‘co-op’ members to transform it into a private company structure.
SPAIN – 3i to re-invest in Pepe Jeans
3i is thought to be preparing the acquisition of a 30% stake in textile manufacturer Pepe Jeans, in a deal which could be worth up to EUR 150m mark.
SPAIN – Magnum in negotiations with auto parts company
According to reports, Magnum is in negotiations with Amadeo Martí Carbonell (AMC), an auto part manufacturer specialising in the production of cylinder heads for gasoline and diesel engines, regarding a possible investment.
SPAIN – Vector Capital and Ingenia Capital acquire Gas Gas
Vector Capital, the private equity arm of Caixa Penedès, and Ingenia Capital, managed by Alta Partners, have acquired a 65% stake in motorbike manufacturer Gas Gas.
DENMARK - Glitnir Total Capital in Copenhagen closes down
Icelandic bank Glitnir's integrated finance division, Glitnir Total Capital, is to discontinue activities in its Copenhagen offices due to the increasing difficulties in getting financial backing to support its transactions.
UK - Baird sells ArmorGroup for £44m
Baird Capital Europe has sold its stake in security services company ArmorGroup International Plc to G4S, an international security solutions group, for a total consideration of £44m, respresenting a price of 80 pence per share in cash.
NETHERLANDS - Babcock & Brown opens in Amsterdam
Investment & specialised fund and asset management group Babcock & Brown is to open an office in Amsterdam, which will be headed up by Rob Oudman.
UK/US - MVM hires new partner for Boston office
MVM Life Science Partners has hired Eric Bednarski as partner in its Boston office.
SWEDEN - Smedvig backs SelStor with £15m
Smedvig Capital has invested £15m (SEK 175m) in SelStor AB, a self storage company.
GERMANY - Wellington Partners leads investment in Retailo
Wellington Partners has led a first round of funding for gift card company Retailo AG. The size of the round was not disclosed, but was described as 'significant'.
CEE - Private equity consortium acquires GTS CE
A consortium led by Columbia Capital, M/C Venture Partners and Innova Capital has wholly acquired telecom service operator GTS Central Europe for an undisclosed sum. The consortium also includes HarbourVest Partners, Oak Investment Partners and Bessemer...
LUXEMBOURG – European Capital invests EUR 28m in IIE
Through its wholly-owned subsidiary ECAS, European Capital has made a EUR 28m mezzanine investment into International Electronics and Engineering (IEE), a developer of safety-critical sensing solutions for the automotive industry. The investment supports...
UK - August Equity portfolio company completes acquisitions
August Equity portfolio company Boat International Media Ltd has acquired The Wood Report, a database and information provider for the superyacht industry, for an undisclosed sum. In addition, the company has also acquired the remaining 50% stake in the...
UK - MTSF invests in nanoTherics
The Mercia Technology Seed Fund (MTSF) has invested an undisclosed sum into scientific medical devices company nanoTherics Ltd.
GERMANY - Leonardo Venture increases participation in Culavis GmbH
Leonardo Venture GmbH & Co KGaA has increased its stake in portfolio company Culavis GmbH by 10%, taking its interest in the business to 48%. In addition to the purchase price for the shares, Leonardo Venture is also making a silent participation, bound...
GERMANY - EQT Opportunity acquires Strauss Innovation
EQT Opportunity has signed an agreement with the shareholders of private label retail chain Strauss Innovation to acquire a majority stake in the company through a capital increase. The current majority owners, the Geringhoff family, will continue to...
CEE – Arcapita acquires Pinnacle Real Estate
Arcapita has acquired Pinnacle Real Estate, a developer and operator of logistics warehouses in Central and Eastern Europe, from Merrill Lynch for an undisclosed sum. The deal includes 230,000 square metres of leased warehouses and a land bank of nearly...
UK - 3i takes stake in environmental consultancy
3i has acquired a significant minority stake in environmental consultancy SLR from ISIS Equity Partners for £32.5m. The investment values the company at £100m.
FRANCE - Colony and Eurazeo to raise stakes in Accor to 30%
Colony Capital and Eurazeo plan to raise their stakes in publicly listed Accor to a combined total of 30%. On 13 May 2008 Eurazeo will thus own 19,561,291 shares, which is 8.5% of Accor’s share capital, and over time will seek to increase this position...
EUROPE – PAI close EUR 5.4bn fund
PAI partners has held the final close of PAI Europe V on EUR 5.4bn. The fund is the largest ever raised in Continental Europe.
UK - GE Commercial Finance makes two appointments
GE Commercial Finance has expanded its business development team in the South and South West with the appointment of Lorrae Hayes and Jo Forde.
UK - Morgan Stanley Private Equity hires two
Morgan Stanley Private Equity has appointed Jean-Philippe Barade and Alasdair Thomson as executive directors in its London office.
SPAIN – Angels Capital disembarks on the venture scene
Angels Capital has launched as a new player on the Spanish venture scene, with EUR 17m dedicated for investments in seed and start-up projects. According to reports this would be the largest such fund in Spain to date.