News
CROATIA - Mid Europa secures calcium aluminate business
Mid Europa Partners has acquired Heidelberger Calcium Aluminates from HeidelbergCement Group. The transaction includes Heidelberg Cement's 92.4% stake in Istra Cemment d.o.o., a production facility based in Croatia, as well as two trading entities in...
FRANCE - Crocus technology attracts EUR 13.5m on first round
Sofinnova ventures, Ventech, CDC Entreprises Innovation, AGF Private Equity, Sofinnova Partners and NanoDimension participated in the EUR13.5m round of financing.
NETHERLANDS - Vendex KKB continues operations under the name Maxeda
Vendex KKB, the Dutch retail concern which was delisted in August 2004 by a KKR-led consortium, has changed its name to Maxeda. This decision is understood to be motivated by a desire to sound more international, in order to stimulate growth outside of...
NETHERLANDS - Alternext to be launched on 4 September
Euronext has scheduled the operational launch of Alternext Index, a stock exchange for small- and medium-sized companies, for 4 September 2006.
NETHERLANDS - Rabo Participaties has acquired Luzac College
Rabo Participaties and management have acquired Luzac Holding BV, a parent company of among others Luzac College and InterCollege, from USG People. No financial details have been disclosed, but analysts estimate the value to be around EUR 30m.
GERMANY - Süd and DZ go in on ball bearings secondary
Süd Private Equity and DZ Equity Partner have, together with the management, acquired myonic Group, Leutkirch. The vendor, Capvis Equity Partners acquired a majority stake in the company in 1999.
NETHERLANDS - Friesland Bank acquires minority stake in The Institute of Travel
Friesland Bank has announced that it has acquired a minority stake in The Institute of Travel. The financing will be employed to realise further growth of the company, both organically as well as through acquisitions of specialist travel organisations.
FRANCE - Capzanine recruits Benoit Choppin
Capzanine has added 26-year-old Benoit Choppin to its team of eight investment experts.
EUROPE - EVCA stats show returns improved in 2005
The European private equity industry’s final performance figures for 2005 show steadily improving returns across all parts of the industry. The long-term returns have now increased to more than 10% due to the improved performance of short-term returns...
EUROPE - EVCA appoints new chairman
At the annual ordinary general assembly of the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA) last night, Javier Loizaga, CEO and Managing Partner of Mercapital, was officially elected as association chairman for the period June 2006 to...
EUROPE - EVCA reports 2005 a record year for private equity
EVCA has announced the final fundraising, investment and divestment figures for European private equity in 2005 at its annual Symposium in Monte-Carlo. The annual figures show records for all three stages of activity in the industry. After three years...
UK - The Capital Fund invests in mobile games innovator
Telcogames Ltd, a global publisher, developer and distributor of mobile games, has raised initial expansion funding from The Capital Fund to strengthen its publishing activities in smartphone gaming.
UK - Southern Cross to delay IPO
The Financial Times reports today that Southern Cross Healthcare is the latest company to decide to delay its floatation due to the recent retreats in the stock markets.
UK - Macquarie-3i consortium tries to thwart Goldman ABP deal
The board of Associated British Ports yesterday approved the Goldman Sachs consortium's bid offering 810p per share. Within hours Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, acting on behalf of the Macquarie-3i consortium purchased shares in the market at a price...
NETHERLANDS - VNU shareholders approve changes to supervisory board
VNU has announced that new supervisory board members and an interim CEO have been appointed during its 2006 AGM.The changes to the supervisory board were effective immediately following the conclusion of todays AGM.
Luxembourg - Taylor Wessing advises IGEFI on Summit Partners equity investment
Taylor Wessing has advised IGEFI Group, a provider of software solutions to the investment funds industry, on its equity investment from Summit Partners.
ITALY - SELI receives investment from Centro Impresa
The fund Centro Impresa, managed by Sanpaolo IMI Fondi Chiusi SGR, has invested EUR 7m of its EUR 100m capital in SELI. This transaction is the second investment of the fund since its launch in 2005.
UK - Coller Capital unveils its Summer Barometer 2006 findings
The Coller Capital Global Private Equity Barometer Summer 2006 was released on Monday revealing that whilst LPs remain committed to private equity they are becoming increasinly discerning. Over the last three Coller Barometers, the proportion of investors...
FRANCE - Varioptic receives extra EUR 1m from Dow Corporate Venture Capital
The American investor Dow Corporate Venture Capital has joined exisiting investors with a contribution of EUR 1m in the third round of financing for liquid lens developer Varioptic.
UK - MFI auction reaches second round
The second-round auction of MFI Retail will begin on Friday according to the Financial Times. Further details of the sale of the struggling furniture business have now emerged.
NORWAY - Sustainable Solutions receives value creator of the year award
Sustainable Solutions has been nominated Value Creator of the year in the Norwegian business plan competition Verdiskaper 2006, value creator 2006. The winning company received NOK 150,000 and a six-month free entry pass to the innovation centre at Forskningsparken.
GERMANY - Carlyle Group invests in Global Media
The Carlyle Group has obtained a significant minority stake in Global Media GmbH, a web marketing company. The firm delivers a range of online services including search engine optimisation, key word advertising and online media planning.
NORWAY - HitecVision closes Technor acquisition
HitecVision Private Equity has via holding company CET Holding AS closed the acquisition of 94.6% of the shares of Technor ASA. Technor is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and CET Holding has announced its intention of buying the remaining shares and...
FRANCE - PE firms defeated in competition for EMAP France
EMAP has announced that it has entered exclusive negotiations with Silvio Berlusconi's Italian publisher Mondadori, for the sale of its French business.