News
FRANCE - Uniq to sell Saint-Hubert
According to press reports, UK chilled convenience food company Uniq, is planning to sell its butter and margarine business, Saint-Hubert. A range of private equity players and industrial companies have allegedly shown an interest.
ITALY /UK- Electra changes name and opens Milan office
The buyout firm Electra is set to open a new office in Italy and change its name to Cognetas.
UK – Endless successfully exits GlynWebb
Endless LLP has announced the sale of GlynWebb Ltd to private retail investors for an undisclosed sum. This exit comes just four months after Endless acquired the DIY and home improvement retailer.
UK - ISIS completes MBO of 3i-backed Empire World Trade
Empire World Trade (EWT), owned by 3i, has undergone an MBO backed by ISIS Equity Partners and HSBC Leveraged Finance. ISIS Equity Partners has invested c.£5.2m in the deal.
SWITZERLAND – Zurmont and Madison to merge and launch fund
Zurich-based private equity firms, Zurmont and Madison are to be merged and will be launching a new CHF 200m private equity fund under the name Zurmont Madison Management. The investment focus will be on succession solutions and MBOs in Switzerland, Germany...
SWITZERLAND – Swiss Capvis backs MBO of ORIOR Food Group
Swiss Capvis, the Swiss private equity firm has acquired a majority stake in ORIOR Food Group alongside the company's management team for an undisclosed sum.
UK - Quester exits Avidex
MediGene AG, based in Frankfurt, has signed an agreement to acquire the Quester-backed biotechnology company Avidex Ltd. This will be a share-for-share transaction for a value of around EUR 50m.
UK - 3i divests stake in Rovtech
The Dutch oilfield services company, Fugro N.V. has today announced the acquisition of Aberdeen based Rovtech Ltd from 3i for £34.5m. Rovtech Ltd is a provider of remotely operated vehicle services to the oil and gas industries and currently has an annual...
SWEDEN - Nordic Capital and Apax launch bid for Capio
Apax and Nordic Capital aim to acquire publicly listed healthcare group Capio AB for SEK 15.6bn. Opica AB, a company jointly owned by Apax Europe VI, Nordic Capital Fund VI and Apax France, has offered SEK 153 per share in cash for all shares in Capio.
SWEDEN - Småföretagsinvest sells Reflex for SEK 180m
Småföretagsinvest has sold manufacturer of surveying instruments for boreholes, Reflex Instrument AB, to Australian Imdex Ltd for around SEK 180m. The seller has recorded a SEK 170m profit on its investment.
FINLAND - Sponsor Capital combines Huoneistokeskus and SKV
Sponsor Capital has merged real estate agencies Huoneistokeskus and SKV, which it acquired in 2003 and 2005 respectively.
NORWAY - Norvestor buys Nordic gym group from Compass Partners
Norvestor Equity has acquired Elixia Nordic, a health and fitness club chain, from Compass Partners. The value of the deal is undisclosed.
UK - Investec funds acquisition of Telinet by Statevine
Investec Private Bank's growth & acquisition finance division has backed Statevine Ltd in the acquisition of telecommunications provider Telinet from its founders.
FRANCE - AXA Private Equity reaches 95% threshold for TLD take-private
Following its public tender offer, AXA Private equity has secured over 95% of shares in listed airport equipment business TLD Group.
ITALY - Fondamenta SSGI invests in Lux Vide
The closed-end fund-of-funds Fondamenta SSGI has purchased a 25% stake in film production company Lux Vide, via its vehicle Imperium SpA for EUR 15m. Fondamenta has acquired 10.7% ordinary shares from existing shareholders RML Comunicazione Srl and 14.3%...
UK - Smedvig Capital exits City Invoice Finance
Smedvig Capital has realised its investment in City Invoice Finance following the acquisition of the company by Venture Finance Plc.
FRANCE - Perfectis-owned Ekis makes acquisition
Technical documentation publisher EKIS, which was acquired last May by Perfectis Private Equity, has bought 80% of aeronautical documentation business, Aimtech.
SWITZERLAND – Partners Group announces strong financial results
Zug-based Partners Group, which recently achieved an IPO on the SWX Swiss Exchange, has released strong financial results for the first half of 2006.
FINLAND - CapMan exits Distocraft Ltd
CapMan funds have divested their stakes in software provider Distocraft Ltd to Ericsson for an undisclosed sum. With offices in Helsinki and Lahti, Distocraft develops telecommunications software products that enable network performance management and...
UK – Bridgepoint appoints new head of investor services
Bridgepoint has announced the appointment of John Barber as a partner. He will be head of investment services and will take over from Graham Dewhurst at the beginning of 2007. He will also be serving on Bridgepoint’s operating and investment committees.
FRANCE - Sofinnova Partners leads EUR 8m funding for Travel Meta Search
Sofinnova Partners and Walden International have injected EUR 8m in Travel Meta Search, an internet search engine focusing on flights, hotels, car rentals and holidays packages.
UK – NVM-backed Arleigh International acquires Midland Chandlers
Following a MBO in 2004 funded by Northern Venture Managers, Arleigh International has successfully acquired Midland Chandlers, creating the UK’s largest provider of holiday home and narrow boat spares and consumables.
UK - Further investment for ZBD
Prelude Trust Plc, managed by Esprit Capital Partners, has made an additional £640,000 investment into ZBD Displays Ltd as part of a £2.86m funding round. This will mean that Prelude will now have a 33% holding in ZBD, and has so far committed £5.6m...
UK – Sigma enters into 25 year university partnership
Following the recent signing of a heads of agreement with the Robert Gordon University (RGU), Sigma Capital Group Plc has entered into a 25-year legal relationship agreement with the university.