News
BELGIUM / SWEDEN - Rabo Participaties portfolio company backs PlymoVent
Rabo Participaties portfolio company Clean Air Group BV has invested in Sweden-based PlymoVent. The company is a specialist in industrial fume extraction and filtration technology. The value of the transaction is undisclosed.
UK - Atlas Venture-backed Renovo lists on LSE
Renovo, a spin-out from Manchester University, has listed on the London Stock Exchange today. The floatation raised £50m. Atlas Venture provided seed financing to the company in 2000, assisting Professor Mark Ferguson with the university spin-out. Atlas...
FRANCE - CNP turns down Taittinger
Star GT Acquisition, an indirect affiliate of Starwood Capital Group, announced Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille’s (CNP) decision to withdraw its candidacy for the acquisition of Taittinger. CNP is controlled by Belgian billionaire Albert Frère,...
UK - Mike Gillespie to lead Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance in the regions
Bank of Scotland Corporate has announced that Mike Gillespie has been appointed to the newly created role of head of integrated finance for the regions, leading the bank’s buy-out teams based in a network of six offices throughout the UK.
NETHERLANDS - ABN AMRO Capital exits RTD to Applus for EUR 193m
ABN AMRO Capital has sold its stake in Röntgen Technische Dienst Holding BV to Applus Services Technologicos SL. The transaction is valued at EUR 193m. ABN AMRO Capital acquired the company from Lloyds Register in 2002. The exit transaction is expected...
NORDICS - Briodgepoint appoints chairman of Nordic business
Bridgepoint has appointed Mikael Lövgren as chairman of its Nordic business Bridgepoint Capital AB.
UK - Ingenious Media Active Capital Ltd announces its flotation on AIM
Ingenious Media Active Capital Ltd has announced its successful fundraising of 150 million ordinary share at a price of £1 each to raise £150m before expenses. Admission of the ordinary shares to trading on AIM is expected to occur on 11 April 2006...
UK - Phoenix appoints David Hamid as chairman of Nationwide Autocentres
Phoenix Equity Partners has announced that David Hamid has been appointed chairman of Nationwide Autocentres. Nationwide, the UK’s leading independent MOT and car servicing specialist, was acquired by Phoenix in February 2006.
ITALY - Investindustrial acquires 65% of Stroili Oro
Investindustrial has led the acquisition of 65% of Stroili Oro, Italy’s leading jewellery retail chain. L-Capital (LVMH Group) and Ergon Capital, former shareholders of Stroili Oro, will retain a 35% shareholding. Following the acquisition, a minority...
SWEDEN - Carlyle and Providence to acquire Swedish cable operation
Liberty Global has announced that it has reached an agreement to sell 100% of its Swedish cable business, UPC Sverige AB to a consortium comprising The Carlyle Group (“Carlyle”) and Providence Equity Partners.
GERMANY - Commerzbank closes syndication for HT Troplast recap
Commerzbank Corporates and Markets has closed syndication of the EUR 100m senior secured debt facilities for HT Troplast GmbH. New lenders funded into the transaction on 31 March. Headquartered in Troisdorf, HT Troplast is a producer of PVC-based profiles...
UK - Shore Capital completes VCT fundraising
Shore Capital Group Plc, the investment bank focused on equity capital markets and alternative asset class funds, has announced that it has raised £39m for its Puma VCT III and IV.
UK - Sovereign Capital announces three promotions
Sovereign Capital has made three promotions in its team: Dominic Dalli and Simon Hitchcock have been made directors and Jose Rodriguez has been promoted to investment manager.
UK - RJD Partners appoints new investment director
RJD Partners Ltd has appointed Tim Thomas to the role of investment director.
UK - CVC makes senior appointment
CVC Capital Partners has announced the appointment of David Wood.
UK - Barclays Ventures supports 99p stores expansion
99p Stores Ltd, a leading UK single price point value retailer, has announced that it plans to open up to 45 new stores throughout the UK in the next 20 months, doubling its present number of outlets. Barclays Ventures, together with other shareholders...
UK - Hg completes acquisition of Paragon Healthcare Group
HgCapital has acquired Paragon Healthcare Group from Duke Street Capital in a £322m buyout.
FRANCE - Eurazeo increases Danone stake
Eurazeo has increased its stake in Danone from 3.68% to 5.10%. The private equity house acquired the shares for EUR 375m and gained 8.59% of voting rights. Eurazeo has been a shareholder in the Euronext-listed food group for over 20 years. Last year,...
FRANCE - Siparex and Avenir Entreprises back IT provider
Avenir Entreprises Gestion and Siparex, through its Rhônes-Alpes PME Gestion fund, have backed a first round of funding in CISA Informatique. The investors have injected EUR 770,000 each in the newco, Amilcar Developpement.
FRANCE - Alpha’s fifth fund acquires Mecatherm
Alpha Private Equity Fund 5 has announced its first investment since it closed on EUR 750m in February 2006. The fund has acquired Mecatherm from Astorg Partners, 21 Centrale Partners and Cogepa, alongside its management team. APEF 5 will hold a majority...
UK - Matrix backs MBO of VSI Ltd
VSI Ltd, a group specialising in developing and marketing 3D software, has been sold by its founder shareholders to the management team in a £6m MBO. Matrix Private Equity Partners invested £1.9m with the remaining funds comprising cash and roll-over...
UK - Clifford Chance to launch private equity fund?
Trade magazine The Lawyer has reported that Clifford Chance intends to launch an in-house fund-of-funds to invest alongside its private equity clients.
SPAIN - Talde announces record profits
Spanish private equity group Talde Promoción y Desarrollo, S.C.R., S.A. obtained record profits in 2005 of EUR 6.9m, more than triple the EUR 2.1m registered the previous year. At its meeting yesterday, the company’s Board of Directors agreed to propose...
SWEDEN - CapMan invests in Swedish fashion retail chain MQ
CapMan funds will acquire the majority holding in Swedish fashion retail chain MQ.