News
UK - DFJ Esprit and BOSGE provide PacketExchange with $12m series-B funding
Existing investors DFJ Esprit and Bank of Scotland Growth Equity have invested $12m in PacketExchange as part of a series-B funding round for the wide-area internet exchange service company. In conjunction with the funding, PacketExchange also announced...
ITALY - Weather investments may see private equity investment
Telecom holding Weather Investments, controlled by Egyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris, could see the entry of a private equity player in the weeks to come.
SPAIN - Talde-backed Biópolis expands its capital
Talde Gestión backed biotechnology company Biópolis will undertake a capital expansion to acquire new facilities and increase production.
FRANCE – Sofimac and CDC Entreprises invest EUR 2m in Onixxa
Sofimac Partners and CDC Entreprises have jointly invested EUR 2m in Onixxa. Founder Phillippe Andrieu retains a majority stake in the company following the deal.
ITALY - Unipol Banca enters the world of private equtiy
Unipol Banca has launched new private equity player Unipol Private Equity with the support of Unipol Merchant.
UK - DFJ Esprit realises investment in buy.at through sale to AOL
DFJ Esprit has sold its interest in e-commerce marketing business buy.at through a sale of the business to AOL. buy.at will operate as a wholly-owned business unit of Advertising.com, part of AOL’s Platform-A organisation. buy.at, recently named the...
UK - LDC backs MBO of JCC Lighting
LDC has financed the management buyout of JCC Lighting, a global lighting fixtures group, for an undisclosed sum. LDC has invested a figure of less than £10m for a majority equity stake in the business. Royal Bank of Scotland provided a debt package...
NETHERLANDS - Prime Technology invests EUR 6.5m in eBuddy
Prime Technology Ventures has invested EUR 6.5m in eBuddy, a provider of web and mobile instant messaging, in second-round funding. In 2007, Lowland Capital Partners had provided a EUR 5m Series-A financing round to the company.
FRANCE – Nempartners acquires 5.1% of Proméo
Nempartners acquired 5.1% of Groupe Proméo via its Nem Invest fund. The Ganiveq family retains a majority 41% while Batipart has a 30% stake. Proméo recorded a turnover of EUR 84.3m in 2006 and achieved 20% growth in 2007 recording a turnover of EUR...
FRANCE – CIC Vizille leads EUR 1.2m financing for Protein’eXpert
CIC Vizille Capital Innovation lead Sudinnova in a EUR 1.2m financing round for Protein’eXpert which sees the partial exit of original investors Amorçage Rhône-Alpes et al, Rhône-Alpes Création and Rhône Dauphiné Développement. The two founders,...
NORWAY – 3i acquires Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients for $395m
3i has backed the buyout of Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients, an Oslo-based supplier and developer of pharmaceutical ingredients and division of NYSE-listed Alpharma Inc, for $395m.
FRANCE – Acto Mezzanine stages final close on EUR 187m
Acto Mezzanine completed the final close of Acto Mezzanine FCPR on EUR 187m ahead of its target size of EUR150m. Insurance company Groupama committed approximately 40% of the fund’s total, while the balance was financed by French institutional investors,...
UK - Balderton-backed LOVEFiLM acquires Amazon Europe DVD rental business
LOVEFiLM International Ltd, a DVD rental business backed by Index Ventures, Balderton Capital and DFJ Esprit, is to acquire Amazon Europe's DVD rental business in the UK and Germany. As part of this transaction, Amazon Europe will also make a cash investment...
UK - Octopus realises 2.3x from Gyro exit
Octopus Investments has sold its stake in Gyro, a B2B marketing services business. The exit has generated a return of 2.3x and an IRR of 57.7% on its investment. The exit has been facilitated by an investment of over £50m from a US private equity house....
UK - LDC boosts Bristol presence with new office and appointment
LDC has boosted its presence in the South West by opening a new office in Bristol and appointing Paul Oldham to its investment team. Oldham joins from Grant Thornton Corporate Finance where he built and led the firm’s eight-strong South West and South...
UK - SPARK's Kobalt Music Group signs agreement with Balderton
SPARK Ventures Plc portfolio company Kobalt Music Group Ltd, an independent music publisher has signed an agreement with Balderton Capital whereby Balderton will invest new equity in Kobalt. This transaction will result in a 60% uplift in the valuation...
UK - August Equity portfolio company makes acquisition
August Equity portfolio company Lifeways Community Care Ltd, has acquired Kentwood Ltd, a provider of care and support to adults in residential, domiciliary and supported living environments, for an undisclosed price. Kentwood is a care provider operating...
UK - IPES establishes Jersey office
The International Private Equity Services Group (IPES) has established a presence with the opening of a new office in Jersey under the name of IPES (Jersey) Ltd. The IPES Group was founded ten years ago in Guernsey and provides specialist fund administration...
UK - New music EIS fund seeks to raise £10m
Power Amp Music is seeking to raise £10m as an approved investment fund under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). The new vehicle, Power Amp Music Fund, will invest in a diversified portfolio of UK music talent, capitalising on the rapidly changing...
GERMANY - AUCTUS Management acquires 80% of Hobatex GmbH
Funds managed by AUCTUS Management & Co. KG have acquired 80% of the shares of specialised wood applications company Hobatex GmbH for an undisclosed sum. Hobatex is an international trader and service provider for specialised wood applications. Major...
NORWAY - CapMan builds new Nordic logistics group
CapMan has acquired approximately 65% of Swedish Globex AB and Norwegian Cargo Partners and STS Group, in a move to build a new Nordic logistics group, for an undisclosed value.
SWEDEN – EQT increases bid for Securitas Direct
ESML Intressenter AB, jointly owned by EQT (c64%), Säkl (c8%), Melker Schörling AB (MSAB) and Investment AB Latour (c17%), have increased their bid for Securitas Direct from SEK 26 to SEK 27.5 per share, increasing the total value of the bid to SEK...
ITALY - Advent builds up Venere.com's portfolio
Advent-backed online reservation company Venere.com acquired Italian online hotel and accommodation booking agency Worldby.com.
FINLAND - Nokia to divest Automotive Business to Equity Partners et al.
According to reports, Nokia is in the process of negotiating the sale its automotive business to the former head of Nokia’s enhancement unit and the automotive business and Equity Partners GmbH.