News
SPAIN – Nazca capital accelerates growth of Acens’ portfolio
Nazca-backed ICT firm Acens has acquired internet company Hostalia bringing in 20,000 new clients and raising Acens' number of clients to 50,000.
NORWAY - Verdane reaps returns of 15x from Aqua Gen exit
Verdane Capital, together with Norwegian Seafood Federation (FHL), Biomar AS and Eidsfjord Sjøfarm AS, has sold 50.2% of Aqua Gen, the Trondheim-based salmon breeding company. The company has been acquired by Erich Wesjohann Group GmbH, a German poultry...
ITALY- Strategia Italia invests in recreational park
Strategia Italia has taken a 33% stake in the park Laghi Baite Land in a deal valued at EUR 9m.
UK - Palamon Capital Partners makes two appointments
Palamon Capital Partners has strengthened its team with two further appointments. Anthony Gardner joins as director of structured finance and Alexis de Dietrich joins as a vice president. Gardner was formerly at Bank of America, where he held the position...
FRANCE - Auriga Partners leads EUR 8.2m investment in TCLand Expression
Auriga Partners has lead a EUR 8.2m funding round for TCLand Expression, a Nantes-based biotechnology company. Genzyme Ventures, Beviguen, Debiopharm and Quest for Growth also participated in the financing for the business alongside management.
SPAIN – 3i names new managing director
3i has named Maite Ballester as the new managing director of its Spanish branch.
UK - Matrix invests £3m to support MBO of environmental technology company
Matrix Private Equity Partners has invested £3m to finance the management buyout of Monsal Ltd, a specialist environmental technology company providing solutions for the water and waste sectors. Matrix Private Equity is taking a significant minority...
SPAIN – Landon Investments acquires Sedal in EUR 35m deal
Landon Investments has acquired ceramic plumbing fixtures company Sedal from Espiga Capital and Baring Private Equity Partners (BPEP) for EUR 35m.
BALTIC - BaltCap electronics portfolio company makes acquisition
BaltCap-backed Hanzas Elektronika (HE), an electronic manufacturing services company based in Latvia, has acquired Sweden's fifth largest business in the same sector, Elektromekan i Årjäng AB. Elektromekan was acquired from Westergyllen AB for an undisclosed...
UK - Cognetas sells Global Solutions for £355m
Cognetas has sold Global Solutions (GSL) for £355m to London-listed G4S. The sale, subject to EU merger clearance and South African competition commission clearance, is expected to complete in 2008. Cognetas backed the management buyout of GSL in 2004...
FINLAND - CapMan floats Savcor
Savcor Group Ltd, a business supported by mezzanine supplied by a CapMan-managed fund, has floated on the Australian Stock Exchange. The issue of 39% of the shares raised approximately AUS $111m for the Finland-based surface coating and protection technology...
FRANCE - Crédit Agricole Nord-Est cedes control of Tattinger Champagne
Crédit Agricole Nord-Est has cut its shareholding in Tattinger Champagne from 100% to 36% and a 20% vote in a partial exit from the company. The Taittinger family re-acquired 41% of the company and 47% of the vote. Crédit Agricole Nord-Est had bought...
GERMANY – Global Equity Partners exits Microdyn-Nadir
Global Equity Partners Beteiligungs-Management AG has sold Buy-Out Central Europe I portfolio company Microdyn-Nadir GmbH to a German strategic partner. Global Equity partners invested in Microdyn Modulbau GmbH & Co KG, based in Wuppertal, and Nadir...
UK - OCP backs Teepix with £800,000 investment
Oxford Capital Partners (OCP) has invested £800,000 from its Oxford Gateway Funds into Teepix, a technology which automatically captures golfers' action shots.
UK - Beringea acquires Donatantonio
Beringea has acquired food importer Donatantonio in a BIMBO deal.
UK - ICG backs MBO of Gaucho Grill from Phoenix
Intermediate Capital Group has invested minority equity and mezzanine capital to support Guacho's management team's acquisition of the company from previous backers Phoenix Equity Partners. The details of the deal were not disclosed. Phoenix considered...
CEE - Advent International strengthens team
Advent International has recruited Dan Morgan and Albena Vassileva as new principals to its Central & Eastern Europe team. This brings the number of new hires this year to six, and increases the size of the team dedicated to the region to sixteen people.
GERMANY – Mangrove invests EUR 5m in Brands4Friends
Mangrove Capital Partners has, along with private investors, invested EUR 5m in Brands4friends. The company sells branded snowboards, running shoes, and jackets, at discounted prices through an invitation-only website.
UK - Sovereign completes 5.5x exit from schools and nurseries business
Sovereign Capital has recouped 5.5x its money from the sale of Alpha Plus Holdings Ltd, a group of independent schools, colleges and nurseries. The business has been acquired by Delancey, a specialist investment advisor, for an undisclosed sum. The investment...
SPAIN – Mercapital and Carlyle to acquire stake in Arsys.es
Buyout houses Mercapital and the Carlyle group have reportedly reached an agreement with internet company Arsys.es to acquire a 79% shareholding in the business in a deal valued at EUR 160m.
SWEDEN - SVCA reports strong activity despite credit squeeze in Q3 of 2007
Q3 analysis recently released by SVCA, the Swedish private equity & venture capital association, reports that the Swedish market remains active despite the global credit squeeze. In the third quarter of 2007, there were 162 investments in companies, representing...
UK - August Equity and Huveaux no longer in talks
August Equity and Huveaux, a specialist media company listed on AIM, have abandoned talks. August Equity was understood to have entered detailed discussions about a possible take-private of the company. The London-based business focuses on e-learning...
UK - 3i agrees £228.6m take-private of Inspicio
3i has reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer with the board of Inspicio Plc to acquire the business. Inspicio is currently listed on AIM. The offer made at 225p per share values food inspection company Inspicio at approximately £228.6m.
BULGARIA - Advent backs tile maker KAI
Advent International has acquired a 70% stake in KAI Group, the largest maker of floor, wall and decorative ceramic tiles in Bulgaria.