News
GERMANY - Springer Science to float
It is rumoured that Cinven and Candover are looking to float Springer Science & Business Media with a valuation of more than EUR 2bn. Investment banks Goldman Sachs, ABN AMRO and UBS are said to have been appointed to prepare the company for a stock market...
UK - Chrysalis VCT backs Rhino Rugby
Chrysalis VCT has taken a 6.25% stake in Rhino Rugby, the official supplier of training equipment to the English and Welsh Rugby Unions.
UK - 3i turns its attentions to Foxtons
3i is reported to be interested in acquiring estate agency chain Foxtons. Privately-owned Foxtons has appointed Credit Suisse to run a dual-track process to decide the asset's future.
FINLAND - CapMan acquires Walki Wisa from UPM
CapMan has agreed to buy Walki Wisa Group, a producer of wrappings and composite materials, from UPM-Kymmene.
GERMANY - GEP acquires VARTA Microbattery
Global Equity Partners has acquired VARTA Microbattery GmbH from VARTA AG for EUR 30m. Two new managing directors will support the company’s management to further expand and promote its current strength.
UK - ISIS commits £30m to Paragon
ISIS Equity Partners has completed its investment in Paragon (UK) Ltd, a provider of supported living and domiciliary care services. The company currently employs over 230 people and is based in Adlington, Lancashire. Paragon provides tailored packages...
UK - CBPE sells Gradus to BOSIF in £41m secondary buyout
Close Brothers Private Equity has sold contract interior company Gradus Ltd for £41m. CBPE generated a 3.1x return on its investment and an IRR of 28% on its five year ownership of the company. The business has been acquired by its management team with...
FRANCE - France claims European crown for biotech and pharma
In 2006, French biotech and pharmaceutical companies attracted more venture money than those of any other European country, according to data compiled by unquote".
UK - Countrywide speculation continues
It is unclear today whether Apollo will follow up its £1.01bn indicative offer for estate agency chain Countrywide with a formal bid.
UK - Bank of Scotland invests in Rocela Growth
Bank of Scotland Corporate has invested more than £1m in Edinburgh-based software consultancy business Rocela through its growth equity division. The new capital will be used to support overseas expansion plans.
SWEDEN - EQT partners buy 36% stake in advisory company from Investor
Partners at EQT Partners have agreed with Investor AB to acquire 36% of the shares in the advisory company for SEK 290m. The transaction means that partners at EQT Partners will increase their ownership from the present 33% to 69% and that Investor will...
BELGIUM - Fortis acquires majority stake in automotive supplier Penne
Fortis Private Equity has acquired a majority stake in Penne NV, an Aalst-headquartered automotive supplier.
SWEDEN - 3i buys educational toys supplier from Procuritas
3i has acquired educational learning material and toys supplier Lekolar AB from Procuritas. Headquartered in Osby, Lekolar includes BRIO Lek&Lär AB, Printel Oy, RABO A/S and BRIO Lek&Laer A/S. The company has 230 staff and generated sales of over SEK...
UK - General Atlantic Partners to float Xchanging
General Atlantic Partners is considering an IPO of outsourcing and processing portfolio company Xchanging. The asset could fetch up to £500m on the London Stock Exchange, with General Atlantic expected to continue to hold a stake in it.
FRANCE - Rexel begins IPO process
Private equity-backed electrical equipment manufacturer Rexel yesterday applied for listing with the Authorité de Marchés Financiers, just over two years after it was de-listed by Eurazeo.
UK - Further speculation surrounds EMI
EMI is again the subject of private equity speculation. It is understood that One Equity Partners is looking at the company.
UK - GMG'sTrader Media Group to be sold to private equity?
Guardian Media Group is reported to be in discussions with Apax, Blackstone and Candover about a possible sale of its Trader Media Group. Trader is responsible for listings magazine Auto Trader and approximately 70 titles in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands...
UK - Bridges Community Ventures makes third successful exit
Bridges Community Ventures has sold its stake in vehicle spare parts distributor HS Atec Ltd back to management. The exit has generated returns of over 2x and an IRR of 28.7% and represents a third successful exit for the community development-focused...
GERMANY - EQT acquires German fashion group from Apax and Cinven
EQT V has agreed to buy 100% of German fashion group CBR Holding GmbH (CBR) from Apax and Cinven.
quote'' - Jerry Wilson, Royal Bank of Scotland
‘Default rates are merely a statistic and don't provide any granularity as to why a business has breached a covenant. I am much more interested in the reasons behind it,’ he says (see Credit Analysis, Private Equity Europe, March 2007).
UK - Gaitsford Investments backs MBO of Arena from Candover's Evenser
Gaitsford Investments has backed the management buyout of Arena Events Services Group Ltd. The company has been divested by Evenser Group Ltd, a company backed by Candover.
GERMANY - Earlybird strengthens technology team
Earlybird has appointed Gayathri Radhakrishnan as an associate focusing on technology investments. In addition, the venture capital firm has brought the total number of partners to six by promoting Wolfgang Seibold and Thom Rasche.
GERMANY - APCOA changes hands for EUR 885m
Investcorp has sold pan-European manager of parking services APCOA to Eurazeo for an enterprise value of EUR 885m. In the summer of 2004, Investcorp acquired 98.26% of APCOA Parking AG from Salamander AG, a subsidiary of EnBW Energie Baden Württemberg...
SPAIN - MCH, Corpfin and Carlyle compete for tour operator
According to press reports, private equity firms MCH, Corpfin and Carlyle are among the bidders for tour operator Catai Tours.