News
DENMARK - NorthCap Partners sells Instadia to Nasdaq-listed Omniture
NorthCap Partners has sold Instadia to Omniture, a web analysis company listed on Nasdaq, for an undisclosed sum. Instadia was founded in 2000 and IVS, which is now part of NorthCap Partners, invested in the company two years later.
FRANCE - Activa Capital hires Cinven investor and appoints new partner
French mid-cap buyout house Activa Capital has announced the recruitement of Thierry Celestin, who joins the team from Cinven France, and the promotion of Christophe Parier to the position of partner.
FINLAND - Innofinance and FII invest in bio-gas company
Innofinance and Finnish Industry Investment have invested EUR 600,000 in Tampere-based bio-gas company Puhdas Energia Oy. Founded in 2001, it focuses on optimising small scale fixed bed gasification technology.
SPAIN - Candover is the most likely buyer of Parques Reunidos
The sale of leisure complex Parques Reunidos is nearing its final stages.
ITALY - Cerberus sells the holding of Fila
US-based hedge fund Cerberus Capital Management has sold its portfolio company Sports Brands International, a holding company of sportswear brand Fila.
FRANCE - SG Capital Europe takes 88% of business advice call-centre SVP
SG Capital Europe has backed the management buyout of Paris-based SVP Group.
FRANCE - XAnge and Auriga invest EUR 5m in marketing software developer Neolane
XAnge has led the EUR 5m second round of venture funding in marketing and communications software developer Neolane. Auriga Partners, which invested EUR 2m alongside the company's CEO and management in 2002, re-invested on this occasion.
DENMARK - Asetek receives $4m in funding
Asetek, a provider of thermal management solutions for semiconductors, has secured a $4m investment following the $5m round closed last year. Northzone Ventures, Vaekstfonden, KT Venture Group, and a group of private investor participated in the round....
UK - ABN AMRO Capital backs £70.4m buyout of TGI Friday's
ABN AMRO Capital, in association with US-based Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, has agreed to acquire 45 TGI Fridayтs restaurants in the UK from Whitbread Plc. As the global leader in the casual dining industry, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide is the master...
GERMANY - Granville Baird acquires Zarges Tubesca
Granville Baird Capital Partners Advisers has acquired Zarges Tubesca from Taros Capital for a total consideration of EUR 156m. The management also reinvested in the company and will hold a minority stake.
UK - Clive Norton joins Helix from Goldmans
Jefferies International Ltd has announced that its UK affiliate, Helix Associates Ltd, the private equity fund placement agent, has expanded its capabilities with the hiring of Clive Norton as a managing director in the firmтs London office. Norton has...
UK - Aberdeen Asset Managers Growth Capital backs £17m MBO of Oliver Kay
Aberdeen Asset Managers Growth Capital has led the ТЃ17m management buyout of Oliver Kay Ltd, a supplier of fresh fruit, vegetables, delicatessen products and sundries to hotels, restaurants and pubs.
UK - John Browne joins Apax advisory board
John Browne, the former chief executive of BP, has joined Apax Partners as chairman of its advisory board.
UK - Foresight invests for surge in online video advertising
Foresight Venture Partners has invested ТЃ2.5m in UTarget, the online advertising services company. UTarget has created the UKтs first online TV and video advertising network, serving full page TV-style ads on websites for major brand clients. A challenge...
FRANCE - AFIC bolsters its team
The French venture capital association (AFIC) has announced it had promoted Florence Moulin to the position of director of legal and tax affairs, and Grégory Sabah to the position of director of research.
FINLAND - ABN AMRO Capital's Iittala to consider listing in Helsinki
The design company Iittala Group, a portfolio company of ABN AMRO Capital, is looking into the possibilities of going public on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. Nordea Corporate Finance and ABN AMRO Rotschield have been appointed financial advisers.
UK - ECI acquires Aerial Facilities in £56m management buy-in
ECI Partners has acquired Aerial Facilities for ТЃ56m. Aerial, based in Buckinghamshire, is a market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of specialist products and solutions. ECI is backing a new management buy-in team led by Ian Brown,...
UK - Boyden strengthens team
Boyden Interim Management Ltd has strengthened its UK team with the creation of a key senior position. John Bloor has been appointed director of restructuring and turnaround, reflecting the gathering momentum of demand for Boyden's input to business recovery....
UK - Phoenix Equity Partners promotes Chris Hanna to partner
Phoenix Equity Partners has promoted Chris Hanna to the position of partner.
DENMARK - Venture funds sell Ascio for over DKK 200m
IVS, Nordic Venture Partners and Vækstfonden have sold internet domain name company Ascio Technologies A/S to listed NBT in the UK. The value of the deal is over DKK 200m, with the sellers receiving cash, shares in NBT and options.
GERMANY - Partech invests in video-games search engine
Partech International has led a EUR 6m second round of funding in international video-games search engine Wazag.
UK - Aberdeen spinout Zeus reaches £50m first close
unquoteт has learned that Zeus Private Equity, a new firm formed by members of the team at Aberdeen Murray Johnstone Private Equity (AMJPE), has reached a first close of ТЃ50m towards its ТЃ100m maiden fund. Investors include institutional outfits, including...
UK - Corbett Keeling appoints Vincent Thompson
Corbett Keeling has appointed Vincent Thompson as an associate. Thompson qualified as an accountant with Peat Marwick Mitchell in 1978 and has since worked for the corporate finance division of Morgan Grenfell and Hambros Bank. In 2003, he joined the...
UK - Bridges backs Birmingham-based School Stickers with £1.42m of funding
Bridges Community Ventures has invested ТЃ1.42m in School Stickers, a Birmingham-based manufacturer of customised motivational stickers and postcards for schools. This is Bridges 2nd investment from its new fund, Bridges Community Development Venture...