News
SPAIN - Mercapital acquires Cinebox
The cinema chain Abaco, backed by the private equity firm Mercapital, has agreed to buy Cinebox from the entertainement group GMR in a deal reportedly worth around EUR 60m.
UK - Zopa gains additional $5m backing for transatlantic launch
Zopa, the first people to people marketplace for lending and borrowing, has received a further $5m financial backing from investors including Tim Draper, founder of US venture capitalists Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and the Rowland Family and adds to the...
NORWAY - HitecVision announces three new transactions
HitecVision has announced three new transactions: a new investment, a major add-on and a company sale.
UK - Launch of private equity marketing consultancy
Emma Payne has launched a marketing consultancy, EVP Marketing, providing services to private equity firms, their portfolio companies and their service providers. Having worked in all three areas, Emma spotted a huge opportunity for outsourced marketing...
Egypt - Buyout of Amoun pharmaceuticals valued at $451m
The largest private equity transaction outside of the privatisation process is due to take place in Egypt. According to the Financial Times today, a US consortium including Citigroup and Capital International, will take a 93% stake in Amoun, a pharmaceutical...
SWEDEN - Segulah sells NVS Installation AB to Triton
Segulah II L.P has sold NVS Installation AB to the European private equity investment firm, Triton for an undisclosed amount.
UK - AIG strengthens European private equity team
AIG Global Investment Group (AIGGIG) has announced the appointment of Rhonda Ryan as a vice president and head of its private equity funds group’s London team.
NETHERLANDS - Apax has Endemol in its sights
The Times today reports that Apax Partners is looking into making a bid for Endemol, the producer of Big Brother. The company is currently listed on Euronext, Amsterdam and bids are expected to be in the region of £1bn.
FRANCE - Bridgepoint suspends Médica IPO decision
Because of particularly unfavourable market conditions, Bridgepoint has abandonned its project to float Médica. The equity house will review its options over the coming weeks
GERMANY - Triton makes two buyouts in two weeks
Triton Advisers has acquired Basler, a producer of women's clothing for age 40 and over. The deal follows the announcement last week that Triton had acquired Dematic from Siemens for an undisclosed sum.
CROATIA - Mid Europa makes first Croatian investment
Central and Eastern European investor Mid Europa Partners has made its first investment in Croatia with its acquisition of Heidelberger Calcium Aluminates (HCA).
HUNGARY - Royalton sells educational publisher
Royalton Capital Investors, an investor in Central and Eastern Europe, has sold Hungarian educational publisher Láng Kiadó és Holding Zrt (Láng) to Sanoma WSOY Education, a Finnish educational publishing company. Financial terms of the deal were not...
UK - Catalyst makes London appointment
Catalyst Corporate Finance has strengthened its London office with the recruitment of Richard Holden, from RSM Robson Rhodes.
SWEDEN - Industri Kapital to acquire ELFA AB for approximately €130m
Stockholm based ELFA AB, which has been owned and managed by the Jensen Family since 1945, will now be acquired by Industri Kapital following the signing of an agreement.
UK - Exponent Private Equity buys Trainline in £163m deal
Exponent Private Equity has announced the acquisition of Trainline, the leading online and call-centre rail retailer and information provider in the UK for £163m.
FRANCE - Banexi Ventures makes investment into wi-fi rabbit maker
In its second deal this month, Banexi Ventures Partners has injected EUR 3m in Violet's first round of financing.
FRANCE - GPs exits Directinet with 6x returns
A syndicate of investors including Pyramid venture Capital, I-Source Gestion, zCorporate, Angel Invest, Afipa, MMA, Groupama, Casino Rally and Avenir Tourisme France has realised its investment in Directinet, with a money multiple in excess of 6x.
UK - Bank of Scotland Corporate backs MBO of VUE
Vue Entertainment, the UK's leading developer and operator of state-of-the-art cinemas, was yesterday sold by its controlling private equity shareholders to a management buyout team in partnership with Bank of Scotland Corporate, through its Integrated...
ITALY - Clessidra acquires Fratelli Elia
The fund Clessidra has recently purchased Fratelli Elia from the brothers Maurizio and Raffaele Elia for an undisclosed sum, according to the news agency Radiocor.
FRANCE - Acto acquires warehouse storage company
Acto has backed the LBO of Locabri, for an undisclosed sum.
NORWAY - Altor acquires 70% of Scandpower
Altor has acquired 70% of Scandpower Petroleum Technology Holding ASA (SPT). The current owners, led by HitecVision Private Equity, will have a 30% ownership in the company on a pro-rata basis.
GERMANY - Texas Pacific Group to bridge Freenet cashflow block
According to a report in German financial newspaper Handelsblatt, Freenet might receive financial support for its tender for AOL Deutschland's internet access business from Texas Pacific Group. Freenet, which is currently in the process of merging with...
UK - HgCapital floats ClinPhone
ClinPhone, the supplier of technology solutions to the clinical trials industry, has floated on the London Stock exchange representing a partial exit for HgCapital.
UK - LDC backs the Apollo Group
LDC has backed the management buyout of Apollo Group Holdings, one of the UK’s fastest growing providers of property refurbishment services to local authorities, for an undisclosed sum. The investment has enabled the Waltham Abbey-based firm to buy...