News
ITALY - DLA Piper appoints new partners
DLA Piper has announced the appointment of partners Luigi Rizzi and Alessandro Corno. Both specialise in financial services. Rizzi, a former Simmons & Simmons partner, has a wealth of experience in financial service and regulatory activities, as well...
FRANCE - Industri Kapital settles in France
European private equity firm Industri Kapital has announced it will open an office in Paris.
UK - First Reserve Corporation acquires Acteon Group Ltd
First Reserve Corporation has acquired a majority stake in Acteon Group Ltd. Acteon is a leading worldwide provider of specialised offshore and subsea services and equipment. The Company is active in the subsea service and construction market and offers...
SWITZERLAND - MVM Life Sciences appoints Søren Mouritsen
MVM Life Science Partners LLP announced today that Dr Søren Mouritsen has been appointed as entrepreneur in residence. Mouritsen will be based near Zürich, which the investor considers to be one of the most promising biotech clusters in Europe.
UK - Aurigo Management join Esporta auction
Esporta, the fitness-club chain held by Duke Street Capital, has reportedly received interest from the private equity vehicle of former Asda chairman, Archie Norman. His vehicle Aurigo Management will join leisure group Whitbread, owner of David Lloyd...
UK - Och-Ziff's Whitehead Mann deal under threat
The proposed take-private of headhunting firm Whitehead Mann led by Och-Ziff is reported to be under threat from Jeremy Hosking. He has already built up a stake in the company through his vehicle Marathon Asset Management and apparently intends to augment...
UK - Interest in UK water companies continues
Anglia Water (AWG) which last week recommended a ТЃ2.2bn takeover offer from Osprey, a consortium including Colonial First State, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and 3i's infrastructure fund, may be the subject of another takeover bid. Reports suggest...
UK - Schroders Ventures Life Sciences exits PowerMed via sale to Pfizer
Pfizer Inc has announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire PowderMed Ltd, an Oxford-based company specializing in the emerging science of DNA-based vaccines. PowderMed has developed a unique and proprietary technology to deliver DNA directly...
GERMANY - BayBG invests EUR 30m in Mittelstand companies
BayBG Bayerische Beteiligungsgesellschaft has invested EUR 30m of hybrid capital in German Mittelstand companies via its programme 'Eigenkapital für den breiten Mittelstand' to date. The programme provides equity or mezzanine capital to companies in need...
FRANCE - EPF Partners backs Audisoft Consultants
EPF Partners has taken a 43% stake in Audisoft Consultants, a financial advisory firm which focuses on legal and social risk, IT project management, and process optimisation.
UK - launch of venture-backed Healthcare Brands International
Healthcare Brands International (HBI), a new company helping to turn innovative medical product technology into successful consumer brands, was officially launched today. Backed by ТЃ25m of venture capital from a syndicate of investors including Abingworth,...
GERMANY - Orlando Real Estate announces final close
Munich-based Orlando Real Estate GmbH has held a final close on its first fund, Special Situations Realty Partners I, on EUR 205m. The fund, which was launched in February 2006, has exceeded its initial target of EUR 150m and interest from investors was...
LATVIA - Darby Overseas Investments backs dairy
Darby Overseas Investments has made an EUR 8m investment in Rigas Piensaimniekes, a Latvian dairy products producer. The investment was made via Darby Converging Europe Mezzanine Fund (DCEMF) and is its first investment since it closed on 1 November 2005....
IRELAND - Maples Finance launches Fund Administration capability in Dublin
Maples Finance, the wholly owned subsidiary of international law firm, Maples and Calder, has announced the launch of its European regulated fund administration service. The new fund administration service will be based in Dublin and is regulated by the...
ITALY - New premises for Sigefi Italia
Private equity firm Sigefi Italia has recently moved premises. The new contact details are: Sigefi Italia Private Equity SpA Via San Senatore, 10 20122 Milan (Italy) Tel: +39 02 89691477 Fax: +39 02 89691483
ITALY - BS Private Equity acquires 17.3% of IP Cleaning
BS Private Equity has signed a definitive agreement to pay EUR 7.1m for the 17.3% stake currently held by Interpump Group in IP Cleaning (IPC) through the holding company X-Equity SpA. In May 2005 BS Private Equity, Capitalia Sofipa SGR and the company's...
UK - Countrywide and 3i yet to reach agreement
The UK's largest chain of estate agents, Countrywide, which has received an offer of 530p per share from 3i is yet to come to an agreement with the private equity firm.
UK - Arcapita launches £1.62bn bid for Viridian Group Plc
London Stock Exchange-listed Viridian Group Plc has received a take-private offer from Arcapita Bank through its vehicle ElectricInvest. The bid offers 1,336p per share which represents a premium of 23% on the share price before Viridian announced it...
FRANCE - Open-Plug raises $15m from Baytech-led syndicate
Open-Plug has raised a $15m second round of institutional funding from a syndicate of investors led by Munich-based BayTech Venture Capital. Other investors included SGAM AI Private Equity and first round sponsors Auriga, I-Source Gestion, Siparex Ventures...
UK - Scott Mead joins Apax
Scott Mead, formerly of Goldman Sachs, is to join Apax as the chair of its global technology and telecommunications advisory board. He left the investment bank, where he was credited with shaping the telecoms industry in the dotcom era, two years ago....
UK - Hogg Robinson float back on
Permira-backed Hogg Robinson is to be listed after all. The IPO was planned for last week but then pulled at the last minute due to uncertainty in the market.
FRANCE/GERMANY- Astorg sells CIS to Ista International GmbH
CVC Capital Partners' portfolio company Ista International GmbH has acquired 100% of CIS from French GP Astorg Partners and the company's management.
SWITZERLAND - NGN Capital leads EUR 10m series-C for Santhera
Santhera Pharmaceuticals has raised EUR 10m in a series-C financing round, with the option of calling another EUR 5m. The oversubscribed funding round was led by NGN Capital, one of Santhera's largest current shareholders. New investors to the round include...
SPAIN - Baring Private Equity Partners sell stake in Clisa-Indulisa
Baring Private Equity Partners (BPEP) and other investors have sold their stakes in cleaning services company Clisa –Indulisa to Danish facility service provider ISS. Although the deal value has not been disclosed, the transaction is believed to be worth...