News
UK - Lazard's European private equity arm to close
The European private equity arm of Lazard, the investment bank, is to close before having the chance to do a deal. The investment bank pointed out that the private equity arm was not part of the listed bank, but instead was part of Lazard Alternative...
SWITZERLAND - Barclays Private Equity to open Zurich office
According to market rumours, Barclays Private Equity is planning to open an office in Switzerland. The financial investor's new Swiss arm will be run by Philippe Stüdi. Barclays has so far been unavailable to comment on the new opening.
ITALY - Capitalia Sofipa acquires half of Lediberg's capital
Capitalia Sofipa Sgr has recently acquired a stake in the marketing product manufacturer Lediberg via its funds Sofipa Equity Fund and Sofipa Equity Fund II, in a deal reportedly worth EUR 25m. The private equity firm has taken a 49.9% stake and the remaining...
SWEDEN - EQT and Investor increase holding in Gambro to 99.3%
Indap, indirectly jointly-owned by Investor AB and EQT IV, has increased its holding in medical technology company Gambro to 99.3% in the final offer acceptance period. The settlement for Gambro shares duly tendered by July 19 2006 is expected to commence...
UK - Lovells' private equity practice boosted by hire of Alan Greenough
Alan Greenough is to join Lovells to head up the firm's private equity practice. Alan is currently a partner and head of the London private equity practice at White and Case. He will be joined by two senior assistants, Amit Nayyar and Keith Woodhouse....
FRANCE - French WiMAX chips supplier raises additional EUR 19m
In its third round of funding, Sequans Communications has raised $24m (approximately EUR 19m) from a syndicate of investors, led by Kennet Venture Partners.
UK - London University spin-out company raises £930,000 with help from The Capital Fund
IXICO Ltd, a London University spin-out company that has developed innovative software to automate the analysis of digital clinical images used in drug discovery and development, has raised ТЃ930,000. The Capital Fund provided ТЃ100,000, investing alongside...
TURKEY - European Investment Fund and TTGV announce collaboration
The European Investment Fund (EIF) has signed a collaboration agreement with the Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV). TTGV is a non-governmental organisation that aims to support research, technology development and entrepreneurship, and...
UK - Endless acquires Peter Black
Peter Black, designer and supplier of footwear, cosmetics and gifts to Marks and Spencer, Tesco and Next has been acquired by Endless. Peter Black was taken-private in 2000 by its management team.
FRANCE - Apax Partners agrees to buy FTMSC from France Telecom
Apax Partners has signed a agreement to acquire 100% of France telecom Mobile Satellite Communications SA (FTMSC).
ITALY - Private equity consortium to buy stake in Pirelli Tyre
Gruppo Banca Leonardo, the investment group formed by dealmaker Gerardo Braggiotti, is part of a banking association set to buy a 39% stake in Pirelli Tyre later this week.
GERMANY - Barclays Private Equity buys into shipping packaging solutions
Barclays Private Equity alongside company management has acquired a majority stake in Pliening-based Ratioform Gruppe. The financial investor bought its stake from Thomas Krieg, who will retain a 19% participatory stake in the company, with the management...
IRELAND - Northern Trust sets up in Dublin
Northern Trust has set up a dedicated private equity fund administration team to offer a complete range of services for private equity funds and private equity related fund structures domiciled in Dublin. Northern Trustтs full suite of solutions includes...
ITALY - Permira set to list Ferretti
Luxury yacht group Ferretti has confirmed that it will be returning to the Milan stock exchange this year. The IPO, which is likely to happen in the autumn, had been widely anticipated ever since it was purchased by private equity fund Permira and subsequently...
ITALY - L Capital buys Piazza Sempione
L Capital, the private equity arm of the group LVMH, has acquired a majority stake in Piazza Sempione, a high-end fashion company, from its founding family. The consideration has not been disclosed.
NETHERLANDS - Private equity to bid for Philips' semiconductor division
Philips Electronics' semiconductor division has attracted interest from three consortia of private equity firms, which reportedly are in the final stages of preparing bids of around $ 10.2bn (EUR 8bn). One group is said to consist of Bain Capital, Francisco...
UK - Cinven appoints new partner
Cinven has announced the appointment of BenoУЎt Valentin as a partner. Previously he was at Goldman Sachs where he worked for 12 years, initially within the investment bank in London and Singapore and later as managing director within the private equity...
UK - Design LED Products receives Braveheart investment
Braveheart has invested ТЃ250,000 in Design LED Products, a spin-out company from the Hillington Innovation Centre, Glasgow, with which Braveheart has strong links. This is the first investment from its Alpha EIS Fund.
FRANCE - KKR in exclusive talks for PagesJaunes
According to press reports, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts has entered exclusive negotiations with France Telecom for the acquisition of its 54% stake in telephone directory business PagesJaunes, for EUR 3.3bn
UK - Lagan secures £8.3m funding led by Esprit Capital Partners
Lagan, provider of enterprise case management and customer relationship management solutions to governments in the UK and North America, has secured ТЃ8.3m investment funding to support the company's next phase of growth. The latest round of funding was...
DENMARK - CVC Capital Partners sells DT Group
CVC Capital Partners has announced the signing of an agreement to sell DT Group (formerly Danske Traelast) to Wolseley. Wolseley has bought the leading distributor of building materials for an equity value of EUR 1,498m.
UK - Panmure Capital recruits Richard Wyatt from Panmure Gordon
Panmure Capital, a joint venture between Bank of Scotland and Panmure Gordon, has been joined by Richard Wyatt who steps down from his role as executive chairman of Panmure Gordon.
UK - Nomad receives £8m boost led by Amadeus
Amadeus has led a series-A financing round of a total commitment of ТЃ8m in Nomad Holdings, a UK company that designs, installs and operates high bandwidth connectivity on board trains. German venture firm T-Mobile Venture Fund has participated in the...
UK - Barclays Ventures backs MBO of Lakeview Computers Group
Barclays Ventures has backed the management buyout of Lakeview Computers Group Ltd, a leading player in the development and maintenance of enterprise resource planning software systems. The business, which generates an annual EBITDA of over ТЃ2m, was...