UK unquote
Growth Capital announces two senior hires
Growth Capital Partners has appointed Francesco Santinon as a partner and Graham Dewhirst as advisory partner, who will take a seat on the board and investment committee.
Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank appoints head of acquisition finance
Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank Corporate & Structured Finance has appointed Graham Cunning to the newly created role of national director for Acquisition Finance.
Porton Capital et al. back Microvisk
Porton Capital, Oxford Technology Management, New Hill, Midven, the Rainbow Seed Fund, Finance Wales and private investors have backed Microvisk Technologies in a third round of finance with £6m.
Spectrum announces Richard Bradley as Associate Director
Spectrum Corporate Finance has appointed Richard Bradley as Associate Director for the Thames Valley and South region.
ISIS invests £6.5m in Valldata
ISIS Equity Partners has backed the MBO of Valldata with a £6.5m investment from the Baronsmead VCTs.
Longbow launches Growth and Income VCT
Longbow Capital has launched a VCT which will invest in life enhancement and wellbeing companies located in the UK.
UK & Ireland unquote" 24 January 2011
Mark Florman will succeed Simon Walker as chief executive of the British Venture Capital Association, the lobbying group revealed last week.
Oxford Capital makes two senior appointments
Oxford Capital Partners has strengthened its lineup with two senior appointments to its board and investment team.
DFJ Esprit sells The Cloud to BSkyB
Satellite broadcaster BSkyB has agreed to acquire wireless broadband business The Cloud from DFJ Esprit for an undisclosed amount.
UK media: On the road to recovery?
The global economic downturn – combined with a sustained decline in advertising revenues – took its toll on the UK media sector in 2009, as private equity investments dried up. The past year saw signs of a slight improvement and leaves the industry...
LDC invests in eConveyancer
LDC has provided UK online conveyancing software company eConveyancer with growth capital of an undisclosed amount.
LTF makes follow-on investment in Novacem
London Technology Fund (LTF) has participated in a £1.5m follow-on investment in Novacem Limited.
Exponent acquires Premier Foods division
Exponent Private Equity and Intermediate Capital Group Plc. have acquired the meat-free business of Premier Foods Plc. for an aggregate consideration of £205m.
VC-backed BioVex sold for $1bn
Biotech company BioVex - backed by a consortium of venture investors including SEP, Forbion and Crédit Agricole Private Equity - has been acquired by US biotech firm Amgen in a $1bn all-cash deal.
Exponent contemplates £350m V Ships sale
Exponent Private Equity has hired advisers from Lazard to undertake a strategic review of its portfolio company, V Ships, with a view to a possible sale.
Key Capital Partners opens London office
Key Capital Partners (KCP) has expanded its geographic reach by opening a new office in London.
Charterhouse looking at possible £1.5bn PHS sale
Charterhouse Capital Partners is looking to sell workplace service provider PHS at the end of 2011, according to reports.
WestBridge-backed e2train buys Intraventure
WestBridge Fund Managers has made a further investment into e2train to support the acquisition of software business Intraventure.
Pamplona plans KCA Deutag takeover
Pamplona Capital Management is looking to take over UK oil services group KCA Deutag through a debt restructuring, according to media reports.
£140m refinancing for Caffè Nero
UK coffeehouse chain Caffè Nero has completed a £140m debt refinancing led by Hutton Collins.
Deals, leverage on the up but refinancing remains a worry
Renewed confidence is propelling the nascent recovery. But pressure to deploy capital and refinance companies means uncertainty persists. Kimberly Romaine reports.
Dekarta Capital backs ExpoPromoter
Russian private equity and venture firm Dekarta Capital has invested $1m in a series-A finance round for ExpoPromoter.
Balderton, DFJ and Index sell LOVEFiLM to Amazon
Balderton Capital, DFJ Esprit and Index Ventures have exited one of Europe’s largest entertainment subscription businesses, LOVEFiLM, via a trade sale to Amazon.
Northstar Ventures et al. inject £550k in Masher
Northstar Ventures and Northern Film & Media have invested £550,000 in web application Masher.