News
UK – LSE launches Specialist Fund Market to rival Euronext
London’s newest fund listing venue will be a hot spot on the private equity scene. By 1 November – when the new Specialist Fund Market launches – nearly every UK fund manager will have at least considered the advantages of a listing, according to...
BELGIUM - KBC Arkiv invests EUR 1m in Intek
KBC Arkiv has injected EUR 1m in Intek, a Flemish manufacturer of proprietary innovative electro-mechanical keys, which combine the benefits of traditional cylinder locks and badge access control systems.
BELGIUM – KBC Private Equity invests in Wever & Ducré
KBC Private Equity together with the current principal shareholder Frank Deceunick, has invested in Belgian lighting company Wever & Ducré. The new funding will be used to further grow the company organically and externally.
UK - No boot in the door for Terra Firma
Terra Firma had attempted to acquire a stake in Alliance Boots as part of the equity syndication process. The banks which provided a £1.3bn equity bridge are now in the process of syndicating that equity, with Terra Firma understood to have offered to...
UK - Virgin Media seeks strategic buyer
It is understood that Virgin Media has appointed UBS to help it search for a strategic buyer. The UK communications giant has recently attracted private equity interest. Carlyle is reported to be undertaking due diligence ahead of a bid which could value...
UK - Jonny Maxwell joins Allianz Group
John D. Maxwell takes over the position of global head of Allianz indirect private equity business in London. This new entity has been established in order to coordinate and further expand the existing private equity fund-of-funds business of Allianz...
UK - Advent's pharmaceutical portfolio company obtains new distribution rights
Speciality European Pharma Ltd (SEP), an Advent Venture Partners portfolio company has obtained distribution rights to Amphocil® for Germany, France and Italy. Amphocil® is a product owned by Three Rivers Pharmaceutical LLC and is presently marketed...
UK - Halliwells' corporate team expands
Halliwells has further boosted its London corporate team with the appointment of two new partners. Private equity specialist Steven Raize joins from Fladgate Fielder, whilst Catherine Moss has joined from the Dubai office of Clyde & Co. This double hire...
UK - Matrix completes £6.5m MBO of DiGiCo
Matrix Private Equity Partners has financed the £6.5m management buyout of DiGiCo, a manufacturer of digital mixing consoles for post-production, broadcast, live performance and theatre markets across the world.
FRANCE - XAnge and OTC AM invest in online household goods retailer
XAnge Private Equity and OTC Asset Management have injected EUR 3.3m in Delamaison.fr.
UK - Close Ventures leads £1.5m funding round for software company PSE
Close Ventures is pleased to announce that it has invested £1.5m into Process Systems Enterprise (PSE).
GERMANY - Neuhaus Partners backs ICS
Neuhaus Partners has invested in internet startup company ICS Internet Consumer Services. The funding will be used to develop ICS’s latest web 2.0 project, verwandt.de. The invested amount has not been disclosed but it is understood to be in the million...
FRANCE - UI Gestion backs management buy-in of Didactic
UI Gestion, regional fund NCI Gestion and CDC Entreprises have backed the MBI of Didactic, a designer, manufacturer and distributor of disposable medical equipment.
NL - Gilde acquires Dutch caramel waffles business Van der Breggen
Gilde is to acquire the Tilurg-based caramel waffles and caramel biscuits bakery Van der Breggen BV. Financial details of the transaction, which is yet complete, were not disclosed. The acquisition will result in a merger between Van der Breggen and Bakkersland...
FRANCE - Rhône-Alpes PME Gestion backs TSV spin-off
Rhône-Alpes PME Gestion has invested EUR 850,000 in equity and convertible bonds to back the management buyout of Transformateurs Solutions Vénissieux (TSV) from Areva T&D.
FRANCE - Methane-based energy specialist Naskeo raises EUR 2.6m
Oddo Asset Management and XAnge Private Equity have each invested EUR 1.3m in Naskeo Environnement, a renewable energy solution provider.
FRANCE - French-born Virtual Logix receives $16m B-round
Formerly known as Jaluna, Virtual Logix has raised $16m from a syndicate led by Esprit Capital Partners, and including new investor Intel Capital, and existing investors Atlas Venture and Index Ventures.
EUROPE - Balderton Capital invests in TvTrip.com
Balderton Capital has invested EUR 3.5m in TVtrip.com alongside Partech International. Balderton Capital was formerly known as Benchmark Capital Europe.
SWITZERLAND - Madison Private Equity exits SimilorGroup
Madison Private Equity has sold Swiss sanitary faucets manufacturer SimilorGroup to the Spanish Roca Group. The transaction value has not been disclosed. Since 2002, Madison Private Equity had gradually increased its ownership in Similor from the founding...
UK - Octopus acquires stake in T4 Media
Octopus Private Equity has invested in T4 Media Ltd. Octopus has come in as a partner to finance growth and to assist with the strategic development of the business. It is anticipated that further bolt on acquisitions will be made in due course.
AUSTRIA - EK Fin invests in Vienna Acoustics
EK Mittelstandsfinanzierungs AG (EK Fin) together with Eucoma Consumer Goods GmbH has backed the owner buyout of speaker manufacturer Vienna Acoustics. Previous company owner Renate Köberl remains invested in the company.
CEE - 3i appoints Andrzej Szostak to CEE buyout team
3i has appointed Andrzej Szostak to its Central and Eastern Europe buyout team, led by partner Stuart McMinnies. Szostak will be primarily based in Warsaw, with the remainder of his time divided between London and other parts of the CEE region. He will...
CEE - DBG acquires Tomplast
It is widely reported that DBG Eastern Europe, a Central and Eastern Europe focused private equity firm, has acquired 100% stake in Slovenian plastic components producer Tomplast. Mark Stemberger has led the MBI team that partnered with DBG in the transaction....
CEE - BAF acquires Bulgarian ice cream company Darko
It is reported in Bulgarian newspaper Dnevnik that Balkan Accession Fund (BAF) has acquired a majority stake in Bulgaria's second biggest ice cream producer Darko. Company owner Petar Tsvetkov will retain all managerial functions and a minority stake...