News
UK - Misys 'management walk in' to prevent company being sold off too cheaply
Control of software firm Misys is reported by the Times to have been assumed by three former directors who want to prevent the firm being sold off too cheaply to private equity or trade buyers. Under plans by the directors, the £1bn firm will be broken...
UK - Caudwell's mobile phone empire snapped up by private equity
The mobile phone empire of John Caudwell is to be acquired by three private equity groups according to a report in the Sunday Times.
UK - McCarthy & Stone to recommend Permira's offer
The nearly £1bn joint offer from Permira and Barclays Capital for McCarthy & Stone is today expected to be recommended by the board of the company, according to the Times.
UK - Taylor Nelson Sofres receiving private equity interest
The international market research firm Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) is said to have attracted private equity interest. The company has encountered the dissatisfaction of its institutional investors after it revealed revenues in the US had fallen and were...
UK - Blackstone and KKR target Argos and Homebase
GUS, the parent company of Argos and Homebase retailers (ARG)and Experian, the business information provider, which is intent on a demerger of the two divisions in October, is reported to have received private equity offers for both arms of the company....
UK - Quester to open US office
Quester has announced the appointment of Rudy Burger as director of US business development. Burger will open an office for Quester at 2420 Sand Hill Road San Francisco. He will work with Quester portfolio companies to develop and implement their strategies...
FRANCE - Deadline for PagesJaunes bids
Bidders for France Telecom's 54% stake in directory service PagesJaunes are expected to place binding offers today.
SPAIN - Gamesa launches fund for the development of eolic energy
Renewable energy player Gamesa is set to launch a fund to attract investments for the development and promotion of eolic energy. The new vehicle, named Gamesa Inversiones Energeticas Renovables, has registered at the Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores...
AUSTRIA - Blackstone to target Telekom Austria
According to press reports the Blackstone Group is in discussions with the Austrian government over a possible participation in Telekom Austria. Reports from investment bankers at UBS Bank also confirm that financial investors are likely to consider the...
GERMANY - Hogan & Hartson expands private equity practice
Hogan & Hartson LLP has appointed Dr Uwe Steininger as a partner within its Munich practice. Steininger, who formerly worked for SJ Berwin as an international private equity and funds lawyer, will help lead the German and pan-European expansion of Hogan...
UK - European Capital recruits two new directors to buyout team
European Capital today announces the addition of Alex Morey, director, and Julian Masters, investment director, to its UK buyout team in its London office. In addition, Athesan Guna and Ivan Stoyanov join the team as associates. With these recent appointments,...
FRANCE - Alven generates a 40% IRR on trade sale of financial software developer
Alven Capital has sold its entire stake in middle and back-office software developer Emos Futures to its main competitor, GL Trade, a deal which generated an IRR of 40%.
FRANCE/GERMANY - Aforge Finance in cross-border partnership
Giuliani Capital Advisors (US), Aforge Finance (France) and Sal Oppenheim (Germany) have agreed to form an alliance focused on cross-border acquisitions.
FRANCE - Société Générale to finance acquisitions from new Hong Kong office
Société Générale Coporate & Investment Banking has announced the expansion of its activity to Asia, with the opening in September of an office in Hong Kong.
GERMANY - Gilde and Capvis sell Soudronic AG
Gilde Buy Out Partners and Capvis have sold their 75% stake in Swiss metal packaging specialist Soudronic AG. The acquirer is Keystone Group Holding AG.
UK - Scott Tod to be taken over by Rutland Partners
Scott Tod, the struggling cash machine specialist is to be delisted by Rutland Partners in a deal which values the loss making company at £7.4m.
UK - Dow Schofield Watts appoints seventh partner
Dow Schofield Watts LLP has announced the appointment of Craig Richardson as its seventh partner. Richardson trained as a chartered accountant with KPMG and subsequently spent 10 years with KPMG Corporate Finance. During the last three years Richardson...
UK - Aberdeen Asset Managers backs MBO of Homelux Nenplas
The UK's leading tile accessory and plastic extrusion manufacturer, Homelux Nenplas, has been the subject of a management buyout led by Aberdeen Asset Managers. The business was sold by US-based Newell Rubebrmaid. Yorkshire Bank supported the transaction.
FRANCE - Jean-Hubert Vial to join Astorg Partners as portfolio manager
Astorg Partners has announced the appointment of Jean-Hubert Vial to their team as portfolio manager. He will be joining from Rothschild & Cie, where he worked for six years as director of the mergers and acquisitions department. Mr. Vial has a degree...
GERMANY - AIB appoints new portfolio management leader
Allied Irish Banks has appointed Jens Dienstbach as team leader of portfolio management in Germany. Dienstbach will be responsible for leading the portfolio management team in Frankfurt with the aim of expanding AIB's acquisition finance activities in...
SPAIN - M-Capital invests in Arigas Andalucia and Autosur
M-Capital has taken a 40% shareholding in Arigas Andalucia, an early-stage company that specializes in maintenance services for water and gas networks. The Cordoba –based company Arigas Instalaciones will hold the remaining stake.
NETHERLANDS - AVR to bid for Indaver
Waste disposal company Afvalverwerking Rijnmond (AVR) has indicated its interest to acquire Indaver, a Belgian waste disposal company. AVR was acquired by a consortium led by CVC and backed by KKR and Oranje-Nassau Group earlier this year for EUR 1.4bn.
UK - Busy times for Sovereign Capital
In the space of three days, Sovereign Capital Partners has completed an exit and an acquisition finance deal. The exit deal from SENAD Group, a specialist educational provider in Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Wales, generated an IRR of 110% and represents...
FRANCE - LBO France reinforces its team
LBO France is reinforcing its team by appointing Bruno Cremel as investment manager.