News
UK/US - Denham Capital opens new London office
Denham Capital Management LP, a $2.3bn US private equity fund manager that focuses on energy and commodities, has announced the opening of a new European office in London.
UK - JC Flowers edges closer to Northern Rock
JC Flowers is reported to be a step closer to a possible bid for Northern Rock after it was revealed the US buyout group has ТЃ15bn of debt already in place. JC Flowers could begin due diligence on the ailing bank in the coming weeks. Cerberus is also...
UK - BOSIF completes £225m acquisition of Ainscough Crane Hire
Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance (BOSIF) has backed the ТЃ225m management buyout of Ainscough Crane Hire Ltd, the UK's market leader in crane hire. The deal, which represents an exit for the founding family owners, sees management take a majority stake...
ITALY - Francesco Cartolano leaves Camozzi Bonissoni
Francesco Cartolano has left law firm Camozzi Bonissoni Varrenti e Associati after eight years of service.
FRANCE - European Capital acquires 40% stake in DEVGLASS
European Capital has supported the management buyout of DEVGLASS. It invested common equity, senior bonds, senior and junior mezzanine bonds and convertible bonds to take a 40% stake in the French manufacturer and distributor of insulated glass for windows....
UK - Palamon Capital Partners appoints new vice president
Palamon Capital Partners has announced the appointment of Braam Verster as vice president. He joins the firm from McKinsey and Company, where he held the position of associate principal in its London private equity practice and worked with both private...
SWEDEN - Norvestor-backed Life acquires Finnish health food chains
Norvestor-backed Life Europe AB, the health and lifestyle retailer, has acquired two of the largest Finnish health food chains Sinunkaupat Oy and Ikivireä-Vital OY. The combined entities will have a 25% market share in Finland with 120 shops and annual...
UK - IMAC invests $3.2m in online sports network
Ingenious Media Active Capital Ltd (IMAC) has completed an investment of $3.2m in Sportbuzz Ltd, which manages sports online content network Sportingo.com.
UK - IPO of TA Associates-backed SmartStream pulled
The flotation of SmartStream Technologies, a provider of software to banks, has been abandoned for now. TA Associates acquired SmartStream from 3i in September last year. The IPO had wobbled in previous weeks when market turbulence forced its price to...
SPAIN - Axón Capital closes its first deal
Axón Capital has closed its first deal by investing EUR 1m in game developer Enigma Software Productions.
FINLAND - CapMan acquires commercial property in Finland
CapMan RE II has acquired an office property located at Ylistönmäentie 33 in Jyväskylä, Finland. The property has a lettable area of approximately 5,790 m², and was fully leased to TietoEnator Corporation at the time of investment.
FRANCE - Chequers and Pechel sell IT solutions business to TKH
Chequers Capital and Pechel Industries have realised their entire stake in CAE Groupe by selling the company to Amsterdam-listed TKH Group NV.
UK - Trinity Mirror scraps Midland newspaper auction
The sale of a collection of Midland newspaper titles has been abandoned by vendor Trinity Mirror. Exponent Private Equity was reported to be the front runner for titles such as the Birmingham Post and Coventry Telegraph. It was thought the assets could...
UK - Balderton Capital invests in Top Up TV
Balderton Capital has completed an investment in Top Up TV, the company which operates a pay TV service on Freeview.
UK - Nigel Beer appointed as Hotbed chairman
Nigel Beer has joined Hotbed, the private investor syndicate, as chairman.
UK - LDC appoints new director to London office
LDC has announced the appointment of Peter Brooks as a director in its London office.
BELGIUM - GIMV completes MBI of Le Cobourg
GIMV has backed the management buy-in of Le Cobourg, a Belgian producer of traditional salads. The financial details were not disclosed. It is understood that GIMV has taken a 90% stake in the newco. The new management team hold the balance.
UK - Global M&A announces new UK partner
Global M&A, a partnership of independant middle-market investment banking firms, has announced that Noble & Co, the corporate finance advisory and broking subsidiary of Noble Group, will join as UK partner.
SWEDEN - CreVal Acquires Aspen
CreVal has acquired a majority shareholding in Aspen, a Swedish bathroom furniture company, alongside the company’s CEO and previous owner, Jan Aspelund. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
FINLAND - Eqvitec and CapMan sells remaining shares in Affecto Plc
Fenno Rahasto Fund, an investment vehicle co-managed by CapMan and Fenno Management Oy, and Eqvitec have sold their remaining shakes in Affecto Plc, a Finnish semiconductor company. Fenno Rasto Fund had held 8.9% of the shares and Eqvitec 12.6%. The investors...
FRANCE - CIC LBO Partners buys into call centres
CIC LBO Partners has led a syndicate of investors backing the secondary buyout of call centres business Armatis.
FRANCE - Chausson Finance nominates new partner
Thibault Lougnon has been appointed as partner three years after joining venture-oriented corporate finance boutique Chausson Finance.
GERMANY – Saratoga acquires lighting technology provider
Saratoga Partners has acquired the lighting technology branch of glass manufacturer Schott AG for an undisclosed sum. Following the transaction the division will operate under the name of Auer Lighting GmbH.
UK - Former Clifford Chance managing partner joins Terra Firma
Peter Cornell, former managing partner at Clifford Chance, is reported to be joining Terra Firma as managing director of stakeholder relations.