Deals in Focus
Deal in Focus: EMH Partners eyeing up geographic expansion for newest portco
Speaking to Real Deals off the back of the firm's recent investment in Stonebranch, partner Jens Zuber says engagement with the company intensified towards the beginning of 2023
Deal in Focus: Progressio’s Archiva deal reflects focus on IT, but some sub-sectors ‘too fragmented’
Beatrice Capretti, partner at Milan-based Progressio, speaks to Real Deals about the "caution" required when shopping around for tech deals
Deal in Focus: Triton’s Norstat exit preparation started on ‘day one’
"Identify likely buyers early" is the firm's approach, Triton partner Daniel Björklund tells Real Deals
Deal in Focus: Apiary’s 4x return on sale of entertainment touring agent TAG worth the wait
Apiary's Mark Salter and ECI's Rory Nath speak to Real Deals about the exit
Deal in Focus: Literacy Capital picks up minority stake in Live Business Group
Literacy CEO Richard Pindar tells Real Deals that the opportunity came through its advisory network
Deal in Focus: Omni notches strong return with Vivup sale
The GP had not planned to exit so soon but an unsolicited bid from Great Hill Partners prompted it to consider the deal, partner Elissa von Broembsen-Kluever tells Real Deals
Deal in Focus: Synova invests in Mecsia
Alex Bowden, partner, tells Real Deals that the GP acquired the target because of the firm’s consolidation potential and strong growth
Deal in Focus: NorthEdge backs Contollo
NorthEdge director Liam May tells Real Deals that the deal origination was relationship-driven
Deal in Focus: Bridges Fund Management exits Vegetarian Express
Partner Emma Thorne tells Real Deals the GP first initiated an exit process in early 2020 but it was shelved when the pandemic struck
Deal in Focus: Nordic Alpha Partners sells Spirii to Edenred
Senior partner Laurits Bach Sørensen tells Real Deals the GP’s “highly” capital-efficient strategy was key to the portco’s growth
Deal in Focus: Lightrock consortium completes take-private of Velocys
Real Deals speaks with Lightrock’s Kevin Bone to understand the dynamics behind the GP’s first take-private deal
Deal in Focus: Investindustrial forms Sammontana Group with €1bn revenue
The GP's founder Andrea Bonomi tells Real Deals that the GP is already looking at three US-based bolt-ons to expand the firm’s offering
Deal in Focus: BD Capital acquires controlling stake in TLC Worldwide
Andy Dawson, co-founder and managing partner, tells Real Deals the GP’s operator-led approach resulted in the partnership
Deal in Focus: Ambienta acquires Officine Maccaferri
Ambienta’s Mauro Roversi tells Real Deals the GP plans to support the firm via organic and inorganic growth
Deal in Focus: Enterprise Investors raises a glass to JNT Group sale
EI’s value creation thesis allowed to reposition the company and shift its perception, which resulted in scaling JNT’s market share from single digits to almost 20% in volume terms, partner Sebastian Król tells Real Deals
Deal in Focus: PSG Equity acquires Visit Group majority stake for €100m
The buyer’s managing director Edward Hughes tells Real Deals it is the eighth investment from the firm’s PSG Europe II fund
Deal in Focus: Trimountain Partners invests in the UK’s Horizon Parking Group
Partner Ali Khanbhai tells Real Deals that the GP intends to leverage consolidation opportunities in the fragmented parking services industry
Deal In Focus: Averroes completes sophomore investment
Investment director Jack Scott tells Real Deals that the deal-by-deal investor has been tracking Glacier Energy for a “number of years”
Deal in Focus: BGF swiftly exits Scottish IT firm to LDC
According to BGF’s Richard Pugh, rapid progress in the business meant all parties were able to realise their objectives ahead of schedule
Deal in Focus: Eurazeo exits €1bn ophthalmology platform
Francesco Orsi of Eurazeo sits down with Real Deals to discuss the GP’s value creation strategy, which included a new product launch and expansion into China
Deal in Focus: GED Capital sells Procubitos Europe to Magnum
The blend of organic and inorganic growth saw the firm quadruple its revenues, Enrique Centelles Satrústegui, GED Capital tells Real Deals
Deal in Focus: Lionrock acquires Haglöfs from Asics
The firm’s European head Tom Pitts tells Real Deals the brand has been in the GP’s sights for years
Deal in Focus: Argos Wityu eyes creation of green logistics player via new acquisition
Argos Climate Action fund will aim to halve Bracchi’s CO2 emissions over five years across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 in, senior partner Sandra Lagumina tells Real Deals
Deal in Focus: Future Business Partnership becomes majority shareholder of Naïf Care
Co-founder and managing partner Tracey Huggett tells Real Deals the impact PE firm acquired all external shares from Doen Participaties and early angel investors
Deal in Focus: PSG provides Sport Alliance with further $100m
Real Deals catches up with the GP’s MD Edward Hughes and director Tobias Richter on the encouraging progress of its investment
How Bregal achieved dragon status with €1.59bn EA exit
Real Deals catches up with BU’s co-founder and managing partner Florian Schick to learn about last month’s mammoth deal
Deal in Focus: ACP and Invenio Partners carve out Link Group division
ACP has provided both debt and equity for the Southeastern European vocational education business, partner Marko Mitrovic tells Real Deals
Deal in Focus: Mindful Capital’s fourth fund completes debut investment
Managing partner Alberto Camaggi tells Real Deals that he expects the fund’s next close from December at the earliest
Deal in Focus: MidEuropa clinches c.2.5x return on Profi trade sale
The GP grew the business via a mix of bolt-ons and organic growth, Aleksandar Dragicevic tells Real Deals
Deal in Focus: Lonsdale Capital Partners acquires property consultancy firm
This is the fourth platform investment the GP has completed on a deal-by-deal basis in two years, associate Stefan Smith tells Real Deals
Deal in Focus: Tenzing-backed DJH Mitten Clarke announces hat-trick of acquisitions
Under Tenzing’s ownership, the accounting firm has now completed five add-ons, says Laura Meaden, acquisitions director, speaking to Real Deals
Deal in Focus: Lauxera backs BioLamina with €17m
The PE firm’s co-founder Alex Slack told Real Deals that the business is to the stem cell field what batteries are to electric cars
Deal in Focus: Evolver Equity exits Inprocon stake to VINCI Energies
The sell-side’s partner Peter Lindström tells Real Deals the firm is “satisfied” with the return on investment
Deal in Focus: ECI snaps up business messaging company for €300m
The deal allows Hg to exit after a seven-year holding period
Deal in Focus: SEP exits Tryzens in WestBridge-backed MBO
WestBridge’s Ed Minton discusses how his team won the competitive process by developing a strong relationship with Tryzen’s management team
Deal in Focus: Bregal Milestone bags 5x return in Epassi sale to TA Associates and Warburg Pincus
Real Deals sat down with all three PE players to discuss the secondary buyout transaction
Deal in Focus: Main exits Assessio to Pollen Street
The transaction sees the sell-side GP return its investment “multiple times” over, Main partner Wessel Ploegmakers tells Real Deals
Deal in Focus: Quadrivio wholly acquires TPC from Bluegem Secondary
Buy-side partner Stefano Malagoli tells Real Deals that the Italian GP paid a single-digit Ebitda entry multiple for the UK business
Deal in Focus: Beech Tree backs ethical hacking business
The GP began talks with the owners of CovertSwarm over 12 months ago, Ben Cartwright, investment director, told Real Deals
Deal in Focus: BaltCap and Draugiem Capital back Pepi Rer
Investment director Sandra Aile tells Real Deals how the investors plan to grow the polyethylene manufacturing business beyond the Baltics
Deal in Focus: New firm Px3 Partners pens second carve-out deal
Px3’s co-founders shared the investment plans for Cofimco with Real Deals
Deal in Focus: Summa Equity sells Kiona to CAREL in €210m EV deal
The GP moved to sell the company after receiving inbound interest, partner Gisle Glück Evensen tells Real Deals
Deal in Focus: GED acquires two AV providers
The GP estimates that Parasol Media will reach a workforce of 100 employees and sales of €30m this year
Deal in Focus: Apiary Capital bets on insurance MGU
This deal marks the GP’s first investment in insurance services
Deal in Focus: Cap10 completes £214m Sureserve take-private
The public-to-private transaction marks the first deal for the newly launched Cap10 Partners
Deal in Focus: FPE executes buyout and merger of ERP software businesses
FPE Capital has led a simultaneous buyout and merger of two UK Oracle NetSuite partners, NoBlue and Elevate2
Deal in Focus: Investcorp acquires SEC Newgate majority stake for c.$100m
Speaking to Real Deals, Investcorp principal Benjamin Marino revealed that conversations with the portfolio company began two years ago
Deal in Focus: PAI Partners capitalises on energy transition with Infra Group acquisition
Including this acquisition, PAI has inked three deals in business services this year, with the other two being Azets and ECF Group
Deal in Focus: Summa Equity sells Infobric to Stirling Square
Summa's Gisle Glück Evensen and Stirling Square's Ben Hopper sat down with Real Deals to discuss the secondary buyout transaction.
Deal in Focus: Levine Leichtman bets on regtech with new acquisition
The investor will support Cleversoft’s go-to-market strategy by investing in business development and customer success resources, Matthias Tabbert, head of DACH, told Real Deals.
Deal in Focus: Earth Capital bets on aquaculture with latest investment
Earth Capital is trying to capitalise on a booming market, which to date is in the early stages of technology adoption, senior investment manager Bradley Jones told Real Deals.
Deal in Focus: August Equity expands software portfolio into compliance public sector businesses
Partner Mehul Patel told Real Deals that August Equity will support the business through both organic and inorganic growth, and aid the firm's internationalisation.
Deal in Focus: One Equity Partners plots pan-European IT service champion
Following a double swoop for Kirey and Synergyc, the GP plans to achieve double-digit CAGR during its holding period.
Deal in Focus: Sovereign cashes in with latest accountancy acquisition, LB Group
Alex Hay, a partner at Sovereign Capital Partners, told Real Deals that its latest deal will focus on strategic acquisitions to grow regionally, and its service offering.
Deal in Focus: Carlyle’s Hurst Point dives further into wealth management
The acquisition of Helm Godfrey boosts group revenue by £10m; Real Deals spoke to Hurst Point chair Ian Gladman about the company's latest deal.
Deal in Focus: August Equity’s Integrity360 sees 30%+ revenue boost after Netsecure acquisition
Mehul Patel, partner at August Equity, told Real Deals that Integrity360's investment in Swedish cybersecurity company Netsecure will boost revenues by more than 30%.
Deal in Focus: Axcel acquires XPartners from Evolver Equity
Speaking to Real Deals, Axcel partner Thomas Blomqvist revealed that the deal came through its network within industrials and business services.
Deal in Focus: Mutares achieves ‘most successful exit’ with sale of Special Melted Products
Mutares divested after just 12 months thanks to a competitive offer from a trade buyer, according to the GP's chief investment officer Johannes Laumann.
Deal in Focus: Foresight delivers 4.5x return on GovGrant exit
Partner Matt Smith and senior investment manager David Miles sat down with Real Deals to discuss the eight-year-long value creation plan.
Deal in Focus: All Seas Capital completes minority investment in Nurture
Speaking to Real Deals, All Seas Capital's co-founder Marc Ciancimino said the investment size was above the GP’s average to date, and towards the upper end of the firm’s €25-100m investment range.
Deal in Focus: Aurelius carves out LSG Group from Lufthansa
The firm's founding partner, Dirk Markus, told Real Deals the carve-out has presented some complex challenges but also opportunities.
Deal in Focus: ArchiMed scores 300x return for Polyplus exit
Speaking to Real Deals, Denis Ribon, chairman of ArchiMed, discusses how the specialist GP achieved one of the largest-ever exits by a PE buyout fund.
Deal in Focus: Verdane acquires majority stake in Verified
Verified has already completed its first acquisition under the GP's ownership, bolting on Sweden-headquartered Assently, an e-signing and e-ID company.
Deal in Focus: Enterprise Investors reaps 4x on Unilink trade sale
"This was a ‘successful’ investment for the firm and netted a return worth 4x", a source familiar with the situation told Real Deals.
Deal in Focus: Limerston Capital begins second fund deployment
Jane Grewar, who originated the opportunity for Limerston, spoke with Real Deals on the value creation plan for recently acquired Concept Life Sciences, and the GP's investment plans for Fund II.
Deal in Focus: ACP realises early exit from Akomex
ACP's Piotr Sadowski told Real Deals that strong financial performance over the last three years meant the management team could buy-back the minority equity.
Deal in Focus: How ECI scored £300m on Tusker sale
"More than just the price – the acquirer must possess the right thoughts about the future of the business," noted ECI partner Paul McCreadie.
Deal in Focus: NorthEdge backs MBO of Cezanne HR from SME Fund I
Director Dan Matkin tells Real Deals that NorthEdge plans to support the human capital SaaS business, and where the investment sits in its latest fund.
Deal in Focus: Quadrivio & Pambianco acquires majority stake in public COVER50
Co-founder and CEO at Quadrivio Group, Walter Ricciotti, told Real Deals that the transaction is the final deal for its €300m Made in Italy Fund, which launched in January 2018.
Deal in Focus: THCP funds Kernel Global MBO
"This is almost a marriage. When you're just selling your business, partnership is less important,” said Pablo Velez, partner at THCP. “But when you’re signing up for a multi-year relationship, you care a lot more.”
Deal in Focus: How Abris earned more than 3x on its sale of Graal
Wojciech Jezierski, partner at the CEE-focused firm, sat down with Real Deals to share its value-creation thesis.
Deal in Focus: Foresight’s Mowgli exit to TriSpan
Claire Alvarez, partner at Foresight Group, told Real Deals that the GP's value-add in the UK restaurant chain was "strongest" during the pandemic.
Deal in Focus: YFM Equity Partners exits Wakefield Acoustics to trade buyer CECO Environmental Corp
Gavin Chadwick, portfolio director at YFM, told Real Deals it was exiting the business after nearly nine years to enable it to grow internationally.
Deal in Focus: Equistone caps off Bulgin carve-out with trade sale to US buyer
Following the late-January sale to Infinite Electronics, Jennifer Forrest looks back on the value-creation playbook with Equistone's Paul Harper and Tristan Manuel.
Deal in Focus: ARX toasts successful TES Vsetin turnaround
Following completion of the deal, Jennifer Forrest looks back on the successful restructuring of the asset and the investment rationale for its new backers.
Exclusive: Gyrus sells DuPont Sustainable Solutions to Inflexion
The deal, negotiated in-house by the Gyrus team, will see the seller reinvest for a 20% stake in the new structure.