News
SWEDEN - Ratos and 3i complete refinancing of DIAB
Ratos and 3i have completed a refinancing of DIAB for SEK 1bn, of which Ratos will receive SEK 500m. The company’s strong performance in recent years enabled the refinancing, which gives the company a more efficient capital structure.
DENMARK - Axcel acquires home furniture group
Axcel has acquired 60% of IDEmøbler, a Danish home furnishing chain, and IDdesign, an international chain of franchise home furnishing stores. The management retains the remaining 40%. The deal will comprise 32 of IDEmøbler’s 39 stores in Denmark....
FRANCE - CAPE backs MBO of Groupe Pommier
Crédit Agricole Private Equity (CAPE) has completed the management buyout of industrial machinery business Groupe Pommier.
SPAIN – MCH backs weapons manufacturer
Private equity group MCH has invested in Spanish weapons manufacturer Industrias El Gamo, in a deal valued at approximately EUR 70m.
UK - Guy Hands slammed by former EMI artist
Guy Hands and Terra Firma "do not understand" the music industry, according to Ed O'Brien, the guitarist of UK band Radiohead, speaking to the Observer Music Magazine.
UK - Emap auction nears final stages
Apax Partners is understood to be the front-runner in the race to acquire Emap's B2B publishing division. Apax's offer includes financing from Guardian Media Group. Apax owns a substantial minority stake in Auto Trader publisher Trader Media Group, which...
SPAIN – New player to invest in renewables in Morocco.
Inveravante, a new private equity player has reached an agreement with the Morrocan Government to promote wind-energy projects.
UK - Cerberus and JC Flowers still in running for Rock
Cerberus and JC Flowers are still in the running for Northern Rock, the embattled bank. Virgin has been selected as the preferred bidder but it is understood that the two US private equity groups submitted revised offers on Friday and Chancellor Alistair...
ITALY/UK– Investindustrial acquires English perfume maker
Morris Profumi, an Investindustrial portfolio company, has acquired Atkinsons in a deal that would put the company’s 2007 turnover at around EUR 100m.
UK - CBPE sells Fishers to BOSIF for £40m
Close Brothers Private Equity (CBPE) has sold linen service business Fisher Holdings for £40m to its management. The Fisher management team is being supported by Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance. CBPE achieved a money multiple of 2.9x on its original...
UK - Gresham backs expansion of financial services training provider
Gresham Private Equity has backed the management buyout of 7city Group Ltd (7city). Debt facilities were provided by Royal Bank of Scotland.
UK - Colliers Capital further strengthens senior team
Colliers Capital has announced the appointment of Bob Bowden as Chairman with effect from January 2008.
SPAIN - GED closes debut deal with second fund
GED Sur, managed by Spanish firm GED, has acquired a 60% stake in aesthetic clinic chain Cellulem Block for EUR 9m. This is the first deal to be completed by GED Sur.
GERMANY – eCapital funds expansion of Pyramid
eCapital entrepreneurial Partners has invested in Pyramid Computer GmbH as a lead investor. The Münster-based company develops, produces, and distributes server and IT infrastructure solutions. The funding will be used to advance the company’s distribution...
ITALY - Cape closes second deal in lighting sector
Cape Natixis has acquired a 65% shareholding in lighting business Norlight alongside the business co-founder, who is re-investing in return for a 35% stake .
DENMARK - EQT and Goldman Sachs cancels ISS IPO
According to press reports, EQT and Goldman Sachs will cancel the listing of ISS, the hygiene services company, due to the shaky stock market conditions. The value of the listing was estimated to be worth between DKK 45-50bn, and would have generated...
FRANCE - Astorg and ABN Amro lead EUR 65m recap of Onduline
Astorg Partners and ABN Amro Capital France have announced a Natixis-led EUR 65m leverage recapitalisation of bitumen sheets manufacturer Onduline.
UK - LGV sells South Lakeland Group for £125m
LGV Capital has sold South Lakeland Group, the holiday park operator, to White Ocean Leisure for £125m. South Lakeland operates nine high quality timber lodge and caravan holiday parks situated in the Lake District and Morecambe Bay regions. Fallbarrow...
FRANCE - Eras receives backing from Siparex
Siparex has backed the owner buyout of Eras, a design and project management company focused on industrial installations.
FRANCE - Iris Capital injects EUR 4m in Oodrive
Venture capital firm Iris Capital has invested EUR 4m in Oodrive, a French software vendor, focused on remote backup, online file sharing and collaboration solutions.
RUSSIA - Quadriga Capital Russia portfolio company Akella sells studio
Akella , a portfolio company of Quadriga Capital Russia and Intel Capital , has sold its “Sea Dog” in-house development studio to Prague-based 1C Publishing. The acquired team has worked on Xbox games including Sea Dogs, Pirates of the Caribbean...
NETHERLANDS - Candover to acquire Stork for EUR 1.5bn
Candover has finally reached a consensus with Stork shareholders on an updated EUR 1.5bn offer. Candover had withdrawn its initial offer in September after the agreement of LME holdings, which raised its stake to more than 43%, could not be secured....
ITALY – Credem-backed company acquires string of confectionary brands
Fida Trade, a confectionary company owned by Credem Venture Capital, recently acquired various brands from sector player Leaf Italia.
UK - WINNERS ANNOUNCED at unquote's third awards
Last night unquote" celebrated the achievements of the UK venture capital and private equity industry at its third annual awards. The London event was hosted by Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow who presented awards to the eleven winners as follows. ...