News
UK - Misys the latest take-private target
The Sunday Times and the Financial Times have both reported that the healthcare and financial-services software firm Misys is being circled by private equity firms following its announcement on Friday that it is the subject of a possible management buyout....
UK - Hedge funds competing against private equity for Photo-Me
Photo-Me has received interest from Bain Capital and Warburg Pincus over the last week.
UK - Blackstone and CapVest court Unilever's frozen foods
Unilever is selling off its frozen foods division in an auction which is expected to value the Birds Eye and Findus producer at approximately ТЃ1bn, according to the Times. The auction is being run by Goldman Sachs with Blackstone and CapVest favourites...
NETHERLANDS - Centaurus increases its stake in Ahold
Centaurus Capital is believed to have increased its stake in supermarket group Ahold. The private equity firm, which until now held a 4% stake (EUR 400m), is not the only investor increasing its stake in the firm. US-based Paulson, for example, is also...
UK - Blenheim Advisors expands team
Blenheim Advisors, the provider of leveraged debt advice, has recruited David Parker as an executive director and Romain Lanier as an associate.
NETHERLANDS - Rabobank to acquire Connexxion
Rabobank is reportedly looking to acquire transport company Connexxion from the Dutch state, which currently holds a 100% stake in the company.
NETHERLANDS - VNU to be delisted on 11 July
Following a tendering of 98.97% of the share capital of VNU, the Valcon consortium has announced that it will commence a squeeze-out procedure to acquire the remaining shares and that it will delist the company on 11 July.
UK - Close of Caudwell deal approaches
Caudwell, the phone group which includes the Phones 4 U chain, is now in exclusive negotiations with BAIN Capital and Doughty Hanson according to the Times. John Caudwell is selling the Carphone Warehouse's main rival for a figure thought to be close...
NORWAY - NeoMed's Clavis Pharma appoints new CFO
Stine Rolstad Brenna has been appointed CFO of Oslo-based biopharmaceutical company Clavis Pharma ASA. She joins from a similar position at Avishuset Dagbladet AS, a media and publishing house, where she has had overall financial responsibility.
UK - TutorVista secures £1.1m funding from Sequoia Capital
TutorVista, a leading online personal tutoring service, today announced it has secured ТЃ1.1m in series A round funding. The round was led by Sequoia Capital India, who have also funded Google and includes prior angel investors.
FINLAND - Eqvitec sells Saraware
Wipro Technologies has signed an agreement to acquire Eqvitec-backed Saraware Oy in an all cash deal. With a consideration of EUR 25m, the transaction includes upfront cash payment and debt takeover in addition to earn-outs on achieving targeted financial...
SWEDEN - Amadeus and Creandum invest in Edgeware
Edgeware has secured SEK 17m from new investor Amadeus Capital Partners and SEK 11m from existing investor Creandum.
FRANCE - Sagard acquires pharmaceuticals distributor
Sagard has taken a majority stake in Depolabo, the leading French distributor of pharmaceuticals, alongside its management. Previous investor Steinbeck Holding retains a minority stake in the company.
FRANCE - OFI Private Equity boosts its investment team
OFI Private Equity, subsidiary of the Ofivalmo Group, has announced two new appointments to its investment team. Ludovic Prévost, 36, will be director of investor relations. He leaves his associate position at Global Private Equity. His career started...
NL- Valcon acquires more than 97% of VNU shares
Valcon Acquisition BV has announced that it has received more than 97% of the share capital of VNU, allowing it to proceed with a squeeze out procedure to acquire all remaining shares and delist the information and media company from Euronext Amsterdam....
FRANCE - Bids for PagesJaunes to close on 18 June
The deadline for bidders to declare their interest in France Telecom's directory business PagesJaunes is the 18 June.
UK - Costcutter backed by Kaupthing
Kaupthing Principal Investments has completed an investment in Costcutter, the convenience food retailer, in a transaction that values the group at approximately ТЃ100m. Kaupthing has taken a 20% stake in Costcutter as a result of the deal.
UK - Blackstone delays IPO of Cineworld
Blackstone is to postpone the floatation of Cineworld due to stock market volatility. It purchased the 820 screen cinema giant from UGC in 2004. The decision to list Cineworld, which was expected to be worth ТЃ400m on the market, was made on 10 May since...
NL- ABP to increase allocation to private equity
ABP, the Dutch pensionfund which currently allocates almost 12% of its EUR 195bn under management to private equity, is reportedly intending to increase its exposure to the asset class.
FRANCE - AXA Private Equity and Jaccar invest in ship builder
AXA Private Equity and Jaccar have each taken a 40% stake in Piriou, while the company's management retain the balance.
FRANCE - Stone Point Capital backs AXA RE's spinout
AXA has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to cede AXA RE, its mid-sized reinsurer, to a syndicate of investors led by US private equity firm, Stone Point Capital.
FRANCE - Vulcanic changes hands
AXA Private Equity has sold its interest in Vulcanic Group, a European electrothermics and instrument transformer manufacturer, to 21 Centrale Partners and the company's management for EUR 82.5m
SPAIN - Monitor Capital buys 95% of the restaurant chain Pinocchio
The private equity firm Monitor Capital has acquired 95% of the shares of the Spanish food chain Pinocchio, which operates ten restaurants and pizzerias in Montecarlo, Madrid and Valencia.
FRANCE - AGF Private Equity recruits VoIP specialist
Matthieu Baret joins AGF Private Equity's venture team, where he will specialise in telecoms, IT and electronics investments.