News
UK - Catapult Growth Fund leads investment in Oxford Genome Sciences
Catapult Growth Fund, a newly launched £30m ECF run by Catapult Venture Managers has led an investment in Oxford Genome Sciences Ltd (OGeS). Existing investors South East Growth Fund and Oxford Capital Partners also participated in the funding round...
EUROPE - Return expectations of private equity investors reach record levels
The return expectations of private equity investors have strengthened significantly over the last 12 months – almost half of LPs are now forecasting medium-term returns of 16%+, according to Coller Capital’s latest Global Private Equity Barometer,...
DENMARK - Langholm Capital invests in Cane-Line and Sika-Horsnaes
Langholm Capital has invested in Cane-Line and Skia-Horsnaes, two Danish furniture specialists focusing on woven indoor and outdoor furniture. The investor retains a minority stake in both companies following the deal.
GREECE - Apax and TPG sell TIM Hellas to Naguib Sawiris
Apax Partners and Texas Pacific Group (TPG) today announced the sale of TIM Hellas Telecommunications S.A. the third largest mobile phone carrier in Greece, to Weather Investments, the vehicle owned by telecom tycoon Naguid Sawiris.
FRANCE - Financière Agache wins Go Voyages auction for EUR 281m
Bernard Arnault's holding company, Financière Agache has won the auction for the acquisition of travel agent Go Voyages. The deal values the business at EUR 281m, representing a capital gain of EUR 200m for its vendor, Accor.
UK - Midven invests £250,000 in software company Gemba Solutions
Midven has invested £250,000 in Gemba Solutions Ltd, a provider of real time performance management software. The investment from its £20m Advantage Growth Fund gives Midven a minority holding in the company.
NORWAY - FSN's VIA Travel enters Finland by acquiring Travelzon
FSN Capital-backed VIA Travel has acquired Travelzon Oy, a Finnish independent travel management company, from Berling Capital and three minority shareholders.
UK - TDR Capital to delist portable accommodation company
TDR Capital's offer for portable accommodation company Wraith Plc has been declared unconditional. The offer of 105p per share gives Lincolnshire-based Wraith a market capitalisation of £30.29m.
NORWAY - Northzone, Verdane and Ferd Venture invest EUR 10m in Colibria
Norwegian Colibria, a provider of new generation mobile instant messaging (MIM) services, has raised EUR 10m from current lead investors Northzone Ventures, Verdane Capital and Ferd Venture.
UK - Amadeus leads $10m funding round for Belfast-based Aepona
Existing investors Amadeus Capital Partners, Polaris Ventures and Trinity Venture Capital have participated in a $10m series-C funding round for Belfast-based Aepona. The new funding follows previous rounds in 2003 and 2005, bringing total investment...
SPAIN - Alex Wagenberg is promoted to MD of Carlyle
Alex Wagenberg has recently been promoted to managing director of The Carlyle Group in Spain.
SPAIN - e-Valora changes contact numbers
Valuation services company e-Valora has changed its telephone and fax numbers. The new contact information is as follows: Tel: +34 91 444 97 42 Fax: +34 91 402 51 80
FRANCE - Launch of Axonia Partners
Financial advisory boutique Axonia Partners has announced its launch. Axonia Partners is already working on several transactions, split equally between private equity clients and corporate clients.
GERMANY - Rademacher Group changes hands in secondary transaction
In a secondary buyout, NORD Holding Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft has acquired the Rademacher Group from ARCADIA. Management also invested and will hold a minority stake. The transaction value has not been disclosed.
GERMANY - Advent International portfolio company makes acquisition
Advent International’s portfolio company CASA REHA Holding GmbH has announced that it has acquired fellow nursing home group Unternehmensgruppe Sozialkonzept GmbH. The transaction value has not been disclosed.
UK - Bank of Scotland housebuilding portfolio company in talks with trade buyer
Bank of Scotland housebuilding portfolio company Linden Holdings is in exclusive talks with listed housebuilding and construction company Galliford Try to be acquired. A possible deal would represent an exit for Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance which...
GERMANY - DZ Equity Partners buys Bader Group
DZ Equity Partner GmbH and company management have acquired the Senden-based Bader Group. The transaction was supported by a senior debt package provided by IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG.
POLAND - FL Group sells Kentpol
FL Group, the private equity arm of Icelandic bank, has fully exited its investment in Polish soft drinks and mineral water company Kentpol to Refresco Holding for an undisclosed sum. Following the transaction, Kentpol will continue to produce under its...
UK - Close Brothers Corporate Finance boosts team
Close Brothers Corporate Finance has boosted its senior management team with the appointment of Henry Wells as a new director to its leisure and retail sector group.
UK - West Coast Capital and HBOS lose out on £2.13bn Wilson Bowden deal
West Coast Capital, the private equity vehicle belonging to Sir Tom Hunter, which had been bidding with Bank of Scotland Corporate for house-builder Wilson Bowden lost out in the final stages of the auction.
UK - nabCapital further expands its UK acquisition & leveraged finance capability
nabCapital has made two additional appointments to its acquisition and leveraged finance team in London. Simon Rolfe has joined as an associate director from HSBC Leverage Finance and Tim Cussins from Rabobank International Leveraged Finance.
UK - Monument Group announces expansion of partnership
Placement agent Monument Group Inc has announced the promotion of Martin Anthonsen and Laurence Zage to the existing partnership.
UK - The Carlyle Group acquires The Mill from 3i
The Carlye Group has acquired advertising visual effects group The Mill in a secondary management buyout from 3i for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition was made through Carlyle's technology fund, Carlyle Europe Technology Partners. Founded in 1990, The...
UK - TowerBrook leads tertiary £185m MBO of Jimmy Choo
TowerBrook Capital Partners has acquired luxury shoe company Jimmy Choo from Lion Capital in a £185m management buyout deal. Galas Capital, founder and president of Jimmy Choo, Tamara Mellon, along with CEO Robert Bensoussan and the rest of the company's...