News
UK - The Capital Fund supplies Maison Brillant with £475,000
Maison Brillant has secured ТЃ475,000 in expansion financing from The Capital Fund. The company plans to use the funding to extend its production capacity and is set to open a French bakery cafe in London-based Harvey Nichols Food Hall.
GERMANY - 3i floats Magix
3i has successfully backed the floatation of international multimedia software provider MAGIX AG. The company listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on 6 April. The offering was 13.2 times oversubscribed and left 3i with an 11.2% stake in the company...
BELGIUM / SWEDEN - Rabo Participaties portfolio company backs PlymoVent
Rabo Participaties portfolio company Clean Air Group BV has invested in Sweden-based PlymoVent. The company is a specialist in industrial fume extraction and filtration technology. The value of the transaction is undisclosed.
SPAIN - 3i acquires Gamesa Group
3i has acquired a 100% stake in Gamesa Energía y Servicios SA and Siemsa Este SA (GES). Both are divisions of Corporación Tecnológica Gamesa. The company specialises in the construction and maintenance of wind farms and has a diversified petrochemical...
UK - Atlas Venture-backed Renovo lists on LSE
Renovo, a spin-out from Manchester University, has listed on the London Stock Exchange today. The floatation raised ТЃ50m. Atlas Venture provided seed financing to the company in 2000, assisting Professor Mark Ferguson with the university spin-out. Atlas...
GERMANY - DZ Equity Partner acquires aluminium and titanium specialist
DZ Equity Partner GmbH, together with company management, has acquired 100% of TITAL Titan-Aluminium-Feinguss GmbH. The value of the transaction, which was agreed on 1 April, is undisclosed. The vendors, a group of private investors, were advised by Hübner,...
FRANCE - Financial investors retain majority of Legrand following refloat
Wendel Investissement and KKR hold a 60% stake in Legrand following the refloat of the company. The offering was 30 times over-subscribed. The public now holds approximately 20% of the Legrand's capital, with minority shareholders holding the remaining...
FRANCE - CNP turns down Taittinger
Star GT Acquisition, an indirect affiliate of Starwood Capital Group, announced Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille’s (CNP) decision to withdraw its candidacy for the acquisition of Taittinger. CNP is controlled by Belgian billionaire Albert Frère, who...
UK - Mike Gillespie to lead Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance in the regions
Bank of Scotland Corporate has announced that Mike Gillespie has been appointed to the newly created role of head of integrated finance for the regions, leading the bankтs buy-out teams based in a network of six offices throughout the UK.
NETHERLANDS - ABN AMRO Capital exits RTD to Applus for EUR 193m
ABN AMRO Capital has sold its stake in Röntgen Technische Dienst Holding BV to Applus Services Technologicos SL. The transaction is valued at EUR 193m. ABN AMRO Capital acquired the company from Lloyds Register in 2002. The exit transaction is expected...
NORDICS - Briodgepoint appoints chairman of Nordic business
Bridgepoint has appointed Mikael Lövgren as chairman of its Nordic business Bridgepoint Capital AB.
UK - Ingenious Media Active Capital Ltd announces its flotation on AIM
Ingenious Media Active Capital Ltd has announced its successful fundraising of 150 million ordinary share at a price of ТЃ1 each to raise ТЃ150m before expenses. Admission of the ordinary shares to trading on AIM is expected to occur on 11 April 2006...
UK - Phoenix appoints David Hamid as chairman of Nationwide Autocentres
Phoenix Equity Partners has announced that David Hamid has been appointed chairman of Nationwide Autocentres. Nationwide, the UKтs leading independent MOT and car servicing specialist, was acquired by Phoenix in February 2006.
ITALY - Investindustrial acquires 65% of Stroili Oro
Investindustrial has led the acquisition of 65% of Stroili Oro, Italy’s leading jewellery retail chain. L-Capital (LVMH Group) and Ergon Capital, former shareholders of Stroili Oro, will retain a 35% shareholding. Following the acquisition, a minority...
SWEDEN - Carlyle and Providence to acquire Swedish cable operation
Liberty Global has announced that it has reached an agreement to sell 100% of its Swedish cable business, UPC Sverige AB to a consortium comprising The Carlyle Group (“Carlyle”) and Providence Equity Partners.
GERMANY - Commerzbank closes syndication for HT Troplast recap
Commerzbank Corporates and Markets has closed syndication of the EUR 100m senior secured debt facilities for HT Troplast GmbH. New lenders funded into the transaction on 31 March. Headquartered in Troisdorf, HT Troplast is a producer of PVC-based profiles...
UK - Shore Capital completes VCT fundraising
Shore Capital Group Plc, the investment bank focused on equity capital markets and alternative asset class funds, has announced that it has raised ТЃ39m for its Puma VCT III and IV.
UK - Sovereign Capital announces three promotions
Sovereign Capital has made three promotions in its team: Dominic Dalli and Simon Hitchcock have been made directors and Jose Rodriguez has been promoted to investment manager.
UK - RJD Partners appoints new investment director
RJD Partners Ltd has appointed Tim Thomas to the role of investment director.
UK - CVC makes senior appointment
CVC Capital Partners has announced the appointment of David Wood.
UK - Barclays Ventures supports 99p stores expansion
99p Stores Ltd, a leading UK single price point value retailer, has announced that it plans to open up to 45 new stores throughout the UK in the next 20 months, doubling its present number of outlets. Barclays Ventures, together with other shareholders...
UK - Hg completes acquisition of Paragon Healthcare Group
HgCapital has acquired Paragon Healthcare Group from Duke Street Capital in a ТЃ322m buyout.
FRANCE - Siparex and Avenir Entreprises back IT provider
Avenir Entreprises Gestion and Siparex, through its Rhônes-Alpes PME Gestion fund, have backed a first round of funding in CISA Informatique. The investors have injected EUR 770,000 each in the newco, Amilcar Developpement.
FRANCE - Eurazeo increases Danone stake
Eurazeo has increased its stake in Danone from 3.68% to 5.10%. The private equity house acquired the shares for EUR 375m and gained 8.59% of voting rights. Eurazeo has been a shareholder in the Euronext-listed food group for over 20 years. Last year,...