News
FRANCE – 21 Centrale Partners takes control of La City
21 Centrale Partners has acquired a majority stake in La City following a buyout of the company. The founders will continue to manage the company.
GERMANY - Mezzanine Management invests EUR 18.6m in W.I.S
Mezzanine Management has invested EUR 18.6m in German security services provider W.I.S Group. The investment was led by Cologne-based private equity firm Argantis.
UK - NESTA invests £100,000 in start-up gaming business
The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) is investing £100,000 to help develop ‘Six to Start’, an innovative entertainment start-up company that creates immersive Alternate Reality Games.
UK - Infinity appoints John Hunt from BDO
Manchester-based Infinity Asset Management has bolstered its investment team with the appointment of John Hunt. Hunt joins Infinity from BDO Stoy Hayward, as a partner. He will be involved in generating and managing investment opportunities.
SWEDEN - STING Capital closes new seed fund on SEK85m
STING Capital (Stockholm Innovation & Growth) has held a second and final close on SEK 85m for a new seed fund.
SWEDEN - Verdane acquires stake in Saab’s portfolio companies
Verdane Capital has acquired a partial interest in Saab AB’s ownership of a portfolio of five unlisted companies for an undisclosed value.
UK - Seatwave raises $25m series-C led by Fideity Ventures
Fidelity Ventures has joined existing investors Atlas Venture, Mangrove Capital and Adinvest in a $25m series-C funding round for Seatwave, a ticket exchange website. The new capital brings the total raised by the company since it was founded in 2006,...
UK - London Seed Capital backs Magpie with £500,000
London Seed Capital has provided Magpie Ltd, the company behind social media analytics tool Brandwatch, with funding totalling £500,000. Led by London Seed Capital, the round includes a select group of business angels.
UK - Blackstone reported to be courting FKI again
Blackstone is believed to be taking a second look at London-listed engineering group FKI less than nine months after abandoning plans to launch an offer for the business. The news follows reports that heavily-indebted FKI last week received an approach...
UK - MSIF leads £360,000 investment in concrete mixing business
Merseyside Special Investment Fund (MSIF) has led a £360,000 investment in Nurock, a company which has developed an innovative hyrdraulic concrete mixing system.
CEE - GIMV and KBC invest together in Russia
GIMV and KBC have entered a partnership agreement for private equity investments in Russia. They will set up a new company, Eagle Capital Partners, in which both partners will have an equal shareholding. They expect to invest around EUR 30m each over...
SPAIN - 3i prepares IPO of Global Energy Services
3i has reportedly retained consulting firm 360 Corporate to prepare the flotation of Global Energy Services.
ITALY/CEE - Private Equity Partners launches in Poland
Italy-based Private Equity Partners (PEP) will begin operating in Poland with Private Equity Partners Polska, in co-operation with Miszerak & Associates.
UK - August Equity portfolio company makes £19m disposal
August Equity portfolio company Planit Holdings has disposed of its computer aided design (CAD) arm Fusion to 20-20 Technologies Inc for £19m. Fusion specialises in CAD solutions for the retail industry. The sale of Fusion is in line with the original...
UK - Clessidra acquires one third of Welsh woodchip power plant
Clessidra Capital Partners has acquired one third of a planned Wales-based woodchip power plant named Global Wood Holding (GWH). GWH is being built on a decommissioned steel plant in Port Talbot. Italian private equity investor Clessidra joins Taiwanese...
GERMANY – TVM Capital strengthens corporate finance team
Steffen Schuster has joined TVM Capital’s corporate finance team as principal, where he will focus on the technology investments in the venture capitalist’s portfolio.
ITALY - MPS backs safety equipment and components firm OMP
MPS Venture has acquired a 31% stake in safety equipment and components firm OMP alongside Gruppo, which holds 51% and Luxembourg holding MFO Racing.
SPAIN - Private equity interested in executive air carrier Gestair
Private equity houses are reportedly interested in investing in executive air carrier Gestair.
UK - Epi-V appoints ex-3i director as investment committee chairman
Oil and gas private equity fund Epi-V LLP has appointed Sue Hunter as its investment committee chairman. Hunter, who previously worked with 3i for 15 years, joins Epi-V’s six-strong team which invests between £2m and £10m in emerging technology and...
UK - LGV completes third realisation in a week with £300m dental disposal
LGV has sold Integrated Dental Holdings (IDH) to Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity for a reported £300m. Financing for the transaction has been provided by Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Merrill Lynch and RBS. LGV's exit from IDH represents its third in...
UK - Lyceum Capital closes second fund above target on £255m
Lyceum Capital has closed its second fund £55m above its £200m target on £255m. Lyceum Capital Fund II will invest, alongside management, in mid-sized UK-headquartered service companies. This is the first fund that Lyceum has raised since its buyout...
UK - Creative Ventures and Finance South West back online video platform
Creative Ventures Group, YFM-managed Finance South West Growth Fund and private investors have led a series-B round of funding for Coull, a provider of interactive online video publishing platforms. With this investment, Coull has launches two products...
SPAIN - Nauta invests EUR 1.3m in IT security firm
Nauta Capital has invested EUR 1.3m in IT security firm Kinamik becoming the reference shareholder.
GERMANY/UK - Riverside portfolio company acquires UK communications firm
The Riverside Company, along with several other investors, has backed Sage Holdings in the acquisition of UK-based financial communications firm – M:Communications, and of a leading global proxy solicitation firm – D.F. King & Co., Inc. Established...