News
IRELAND - DFJ backs Irish Broadband acquisition
DFJ Esprit portfolio company Imagine Communications Group has acquired Irish Broadband from NTR and Kilsaran Concrete in a EUR 47m deal.
UK - Private equity-backed IPOs outperform
According to research by Cass Business School, commissioned by the BVCA and the London Stock Exchange, private equity-backed companies perform better on listing than companies backed by other sources of capital. The key findings in the study included:
SPAIN – Caja Navarra backs biotech project
Caja Navarra has acquired a 20% stake in pharmaceutical company CBlaya & MHuguet in a capital expansion deal valued at EUR 500,000.
CEE – MCI to buy Invia
Polish fund MCI is to acquire a majority stake in Invia, a Czech company that sells tours online. The deal is believed to be worth between KC 70-100m.
FINLAND - Nordic Capital acquires CPS Color from IK
Nordic Capital has acquired CPS Color, a Vantaa-based supplier of tinting systems, from Industri Kapital for an undisclosed sum.
EUROPE - KKR fund mystery
Confusion surrounds the progress of fundraising for KKR's latest European vehicle today, with some reports suggesting a EUR 6bn final close and others reporting that the fund is still in the fundraising process.
SPAIN – BCN Ventures and Uninvest to launch biotech fund
According to reports, BCN Ventures and Uninvest will soon launch a EUR 17m vehicle dedicated to biotechnology.
SPAIN – Ibersuizas invests in pharmaceutical company
Inversiones Ibersuizas has acquired a 5% stake in Natraceutical Group from its parent company in a PIPE deal valued at around EUR 13.5m. The price per share was EUR 0.82 per share.
CEE – Cerberus to sell BankCZ for EUR160m
According to sources, Cerberus Capital Management is to sell Czech bank BankCZ, a division of Austrian bank Bawag, to German state bank LBBW for EUR160m.
Luxembourg – Nauta Dutilh appoints investment fund practice head
Nauta Dutilh has appointed Pierre Reuter to head the recently established investment fund practice.
CEE – Advent sells Bolix
Advent International has sold its stake in Bolix, a Polish provider of exterior insulation finish systems, to Indian manufacturer Berger Paints India for a sum believed to be near US$40m.
UK - Geocapital and HgCapital sell loss-making Axiom
Geocapital and HgCapital have sold service fulfillment software Axiom Systems Holding Ltd to Finnish telecom software solutions provider Comptel for £7m in an all-equity deal.
UK - Highland Capital invests in Autoquake
US-based Highland Capital Partners has led the £6m second round of funding in online used care retailer Autoquake alongside returning backer Accel Partners.
SWEDEN - Polaris portfolio company makes acquisition
Polaris Private Equity portfolio company Frösunda has acquired Personal Care for an undisclosed value. The transaction gives Försunda full ownership over Personal Care’s branches in Kiruna and Stockholm. Personal Care's stake in C/O Borlänge AB,...
FRANCE/ITALY – Investindustrial to acquire Selective Beauty
Investindustrial is to acquire a stake in perfumes and cosmetics company Selective Beauty from 3i.
SPAIN – Nomura launches turnaround fund in Spain
Japanese investment bank Nomura has launched Thesan Capital in Spain, a private equity house specialising in turnarounds.
UK - Celerant appoints new head of private equity and M&A
Management consultancy Celerant Consulting has appointed David Axon as new head of private equity and merger & acquisitions.
SPAIN – Santander creates fund dedicated to renewable energy
Santander Private Equity, a subsidiary of Grupo Santander has launched Santander Energías Renovables I, a EUR 15m fund.
SPAIN – Banco Sabadell backs renewable energy player
Banco Sabadell, through its private equity arm Sinia Renovables, has acquired a 25% stake in renewable energy player Adelanta Corporación.
UK - HgCapital expands UK Wind Farm portfolio
HgCapital's portfolio company RidgeWind has acquired equity rights to a pipeline of 90MW wind farms from co-developer Wind Prospects. RidgeWind has also completed the £18m project financing of the Bagmoor Wind Farm.
GLOBAL - Summit closes two funds
Summit Partners has closed two funds,a Europe-focused private equity fund on €1bn and its fourth subordinated debt fund on $825m. This brings the total amount Summit Partners has available for investment in North America, Europe and Asia to almost $6bn.
SPAIN – Arques takes over courier company
Arques Iberia, the Spanish subsidiary of Arques Industries has acquired parcel delivery service, Agencia Servicios Mensajeria (ASM), for a symbolic purchase price.
CEE - Mid Europa acquires CM LIM
Mid Europa Partners has acquired Polish private health care provider Centrum Medyczne LIM (CM LIM) from the founding investor group. The transaction is expected to close this summer. In October 2007, Mid Europa bought two other Polish companies in the...
ITALY – BCC Private Equity backs sport leisure centre operator
According to reports, BCC Private Equity has invested in Swim Planet Holding a company dedicated to the construction and management of sport and fitness centres.