News
FRANCE - DLA Piper appoints new partner for its Paris office
DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, the global legal services organisation, has announced the appointment of Frédéric Bucher as a partner in the Paris office's corporate group.
ITALY - Argos Soditic closes partnership to expand in China
Private equity firm Argos Soditic has chosen private equity firm Value Partners to manage its activities in the Chinese market. The partnership will allow the Italian firm to provide support to its portfolio companies with interest in developing business...
UK - Kennet Venture Partners sells Cramer to Amdocs
Kennet Venture Partners Ltd, a venture capital firm focused on the technology sector, had announced the sale of portfolio company Cramer to Amdocs, an industry leader in solutions that enable integrated customer management, for £205m ($375m). Cramer...
SPAIN - Carlyle and Vista Capital acquire Iberostar for EUR 800m
Carlyle Group, which had already signed an agreement of intention to purchase tour operator Iberostar, has partnered with Vista Capital, the private equity firm backed by the Banco Santander, in an acquisition deal reportedly worth EUR 800m.
UK - LDC acquires digital dictation specialist BigHand
Digital dictation specialist BigHand is targeting rapid global growth after being bought by a management team backed by LDC. London-based BigHand supplies software that allows users to dictate directly onto their firm’s computer network from anywhere...
SPAIN - Mercapital sells its stake in Grupo Hospitalario Quiron
Private equity firm Mercapital has sold its 32% stake in Grupo Hospitalario Quiron, a hospital group to Portuguese firm Jose de Mello.
SPAIN - Advent acquires Euroloc
The global private equity firm Advent International has announced the acquisition of Euroloc de Maquinaria S.L., a leading equipment rental company serving the Spanish construction sector, from Fides Capital and family shareholders.
SWEDEN - Procuritas sells NSG Logistics to John Nurminen
Procuritas Capital Partners II has sold NSG Logistics to John Nurminen Oy. John Nurminen Oy has acquired the share capital of NSG Logistics, which means that the company will become the owner of AB SkandiaTransport, SkandiaTransport A/S and Göteborgs...
FRANCE - Activa Capital refinances Mont-Blanc and Delpharm
Activa Capital has announced it had returned 75% of equity investment in Mont-Blanc to its investors, and 73% of commitments to Delpharm.
GERMANY - Brenntag goes to BC Partners
Bain Capital has sold chemical distribution firm Brenntag GmbH to BC Partners for an undisclosed sum. The deal remains subject to approval from the cartel authorities. Bain Capital intends to retain a minority shareholding in the company following the...
UK - Promethean Investments acquires Cambria Automobiles
Private equity firm Promethean Investments has invested £2.6m as part of the management buy-in of Cambria Automobiles Ltd (CAL) and Sudbury (Swindon) Ltd.
UK - First Reserve Corporation strengthens London office
First Reserve Corporation, a leading US-based private equity firm that specialises in the energy industry, has announced the strategic hire of Neil J. Hartley as director. He will be based at First Reserve International in London.
GERMANY - JC Flowers expands insurance portfolio
JC Flowers portfolio company Württembergische & Badische Versicherungs AG (Wüba) has acquired Darag Deutsche Versicherungs- und Rückversicherungs-AG. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.
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 £930,000. The Capital Fund provided £100,000, 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.
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.
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).