France & Benelux
3i exits eyecare provider Nexeye to KKR
The buyer is acquiring the business primarily through its $8bn European Fund VI
IK Partners raises maiden continuation fund
The vehicle will allow the firm to extend its hold of Yellow Hive
Triton exits specialty installation company EQOS in trade sale
The sale to Eiffage Énergie Systèmes comes after a 10-year holding period
Main exits healthtech firm Evolution in trade sale
The exit is the largest in the firm's 20-year history in terms of enterprise value
Eurazeo acquires Eres Group
IK Partners has exited the French company after five years
Alternative asset classes set to see biggest increase in fundraising in 2024
Some 71% of wealth managers and institutional investors surveyed by Carne Group expect to increase their allocation to private equity by 10% or more this year
CVC invests in HR company platform World of Talents
The deal follows an exit by Belgian investment firm Baltisse
Battery Ventures-backed Proemion expands industrial asset analytics platform
The German company has acquired TrendMiner for €47m
Ardian-backed Planisware launches IPO
The software company postponed its intention to float in October last year
Apax-backed Palex Medical forms European medtech platform with new add-on
Apax first invested in Palex in July 2023
All Seas Capital invests in Reducate EdTech Group
The deal marks the GP's first investment in the Netherlands
Equistone sells work-platform lifts company Acces Industrie
During Equistone’s four-year hold the company’s headcount grew from 445 to 650 people, while revenue grew from €90m to €140m
FCDE acquires French textile-fibre designer
Kermel’s management team, led by CEO Philippe Declerck, has also invested in the firm
Buyout behemoth CVC unveils plans for long-awaited IPO
The sponsor has announced its intention to launch an offering and list on Euronext Amsterdam in what would be one of Europe's largest IPOs
Jolt Capital appoints IR director
Zineb Semlali joins from Cathay Capital, where she supported fundraising since 2021
Karmijn Kapitaal invests in tree-conservation company
InvesTree is the latest addition to the firm's Dutch SME portfolio, which includes companies active in biogas, art and culture, clothing and beer
Mentha acquires majority stake in Belgian metal-coatings company SPC Group
The portco's founders, Anthony Demaerel and Yves de Mild, and broader management team will remain shareholders
Armen appoints Christine Panier as senior executive adviser
The private equity specialist completed a 16-year stint at the European Investment Fund
MML Capital-backed Zanders expands consultancy expertise with Dutch bolt-on
The deal represents Zanders' third bolt-on since MML first invested in 2021
Bridgepoint in exclusive negotiations for Forward Global minority stake
The GP's mid=cap investment vehicle will join the portco's management and historical investors, RAISE Invest and Rives Croissance
Fund in Focus: Manulife Strategic Secondaries Fund closes on more than €550m
The fund focuses on GP-led secondaries and has already commenced its deployment phase, global head of co-secondaries Jeff Hammer tells Real Deals
French VC Quantonation raises €70m
The fund is dedicated to investing in quantum technologies
Ardian sells logistics company Staci for €1.3bn EV
During Ardian's holding period Staci completed two acquisitions
Triton carves out multi-utility service provider V&N Group
The company is indirectly owned by Koninklijke VolkerWessels
Kennet Partners backs Fluid Topics with €15m
Cillian Hilliard, director, and Hillel Zidel, managing director at Kennet, will join the portfolio company's board of directors
Siparex Intermezzo structures Ecritel MBO
The operation sees Ecritel’s directors, Audrey and Thierry Louail, take back 100% of the group's capital
Sofindev acquires coffee-machine distributor Hillewaert
The deal represents the third investment of Sofindev VI
Expect fundraising to slow following ‘record’ quarter: PitchBook
European funds have already amassed more than half the capital raised in 2023, according to PitchBook’s Q1 2024 Global Private Equity First Look report
Main Capital banks €2.44bn across two vehicles
The oversubscribed funds take the GP’s AuM to €6bn
Eight Advisory expands into Spain
The firm has also recently launched its first North American hub
ESquare backs Smart Servant
The portco is a Dutch provider of service and cleaning robotics
Mentha sells Paradigma Group to Castik Capital
The portfolio company’s founder and management team will remain shareholders in the business
Sagard in negotiations to invest in Primelis
The deal is the tenth investment from the Sagard 4 fund.
Reed Smith appoints new partner
Ilana Smadja joins from Weil Gotshal & Manges
IVP banks $1.6bn for 18th VC fund
The vehicle is 12% smaller than its predecessor
Endless exits Findel investment to Manutan
The seller originally acquired Findel in 2021 from Studio Retail Group
MML sells Arηs to Accenture
The seller first backed the business in June 2023
MML eyes Gravotech sale
The firm acquired Gravotech alongside BPI France in 2018
Main Capital-backed PeakAvenue bolts on Isograph
The GP backed the software company in 2022
Ardian acquires green data centre platform Verne
The deal was signed in November last year when Ardian agreed to acquire the company for $575m
GP Profile: Lightrock
CEO Pål Erik Sjåtil sits down with Real Deals to discuss the firm’s new strategy and why he remains committed to private investments
Jeito appoints secretary general
Sarah Leroy most recently served as legal, tax, compliance and insurance director at sugar producer and cooperative group Tereos
Keensight-backed BYG4lab acquires Finbiosoft
The deal expands BYG4lab’s footprint in new markets
Kurma Partners sells Amolyt Pharma
The deal marks the third major exit of Kurma Biofund III and the first exit of Kurma Growth Opportunities Fund
Private equity’s exit logjam hits $3.2trn
GPs are sitting on a record 28,000 unsold companies, According to Bain & Co’s annual global PE report
Inflexion raises £1.75bn for Partnership Capital Fund III
The fund’s predecessor banked £1bn in 2018
H.I.G. exits ICG Group
The communications business has been sold to a trade buyer
Fremman Capital eyes Innovative Beauty Group acquisition
The company is part of France-headquartered Albéa Group
Cinven invests in Alter Domus
GP to acquire half of the founders’ and Permira’s stakes in the fund admin; aims to grow company in key markets and customer verticals
Exclusive: Quilvest acquires Acuiti Labs
Thomas Vatier, partner and co-head of buyout, tells Real Deals that the investor plans on leveraging its transatlantic expertise to grow the business
Hamilton Lane closes eighth credit fund on $700m
The fund’s predecessor closed on more than $950m in September 2022
Warburg Pincus portco expands international presence
Premier Technical Services Group has acquired Flame Control
Hg backs newly formed corporate insurance brokerage
Belgium-based Induver and Clover have combined to form the new group
FCDE acquires majority stake in SELP
This is the fifth acquisition from the GP’s latest fund, FCDE Independent Fund II
Isatis Capital secures ownership of 3R Industries Group
The firm invests in unlisted French SMEs
Exclusive: Unigestion closes Emerging Manager Choice II Fund
In parallel, the fund has also notched its first exit
Motion Equity Partners acquires Axience Group
The French company develops pharmaceuticals for pets
Gimv exits Groupe Acceo
The Belgian GP supported the firm with four bolt-ons
GP Profile: Core Equity
Real Deals catches up with ex-Bain Capital alum and Core Equity co-founder Thomas De Waen to discuss the atypical GP’s strategy and why it prefers to stay away from PE’s traditional pass-the-parcel model
B & Capital exits Steliau to Astorg
The deal marks the buyer’s fifth investment from its Astorg VIII fund
Pride Capital Partners-backed GBC Group bolts on Bolde
The GP first invested in GBC Group in February 2022
GP Profile: Perwyn
Managing partner Andrew Wynn speaks to Real Deals about what makes the perfect deal and the firm's new office in Milan
Eurazeo appoints new managing director
Katrin Boström will be in charge of the Nordics and the UK
Main Capital-backed Qics bolts on ProjectFlow
The deal marks the first add-on for Qics since the GP backed the firm in 2021
CAPZA and BPI France back IMDEV
CAPZA invested through its Flex Equity Mid-Market II fund
IK to acquire Eurofeu from CAPZA
CAPZA and Eurofeu’s management team will both be reinvesting in the portco
Bregal Milestone-backed Anywhere365 bolts on Deepdesk
The business plans to open new offices overseas
Jolt sells minority stake to Armen
GP stakes investor to support Jolt with continued development of deeptech platform and geographical expansion
Mérieux Equity Partners acquires InnoSyn
The deal represents the ninth transaction by MP4 and its first in the Netherlands
BNP Paribas Asset Management launches second co-investment fund
The fund will be invested in various opportunities, such as co-investments, equity flexing and GP-led transactions
Amundi makes private markets push
Europe’s largest asset manager has acquired Zurich’s Alpha Associates
General Atlantic invests in Funda BV
Michel van der Bel, former president of Microsoft in EMEA, has been appointed as chair
Ardian Growth backs My Pie
Funding also came from Caisse d'Epargne Bretagne Pays de Loire, Banque Populaire Grand Ouest, CIC Ouest, Arkea and LCL
Speedinvest closes fourth fund on €350m
The firm was established in 2011 and has an AUM of more than €1bn today
Apposite Capital appoints senior adviser
Cécile Nguyen-Cluzel brings 28 years of PE experience to her new role
3TS Capital Partners holds final close of European tech fund on €111m
The GP received commitments from the EIF among others
Main Capital Partners acquires Millum
The GP aims to support the firm’s expansion internationally
Fund in Focus: Indigo Capital holds first close of third fund on €120m
CEO Monique Deloire tells Real Deals the firm aims to hold the final close of the vehicle by December 2024
Cobepa invests in SmartSD
The co-founders and management team will also reinvest in the firm as minority stakeholders
Eurazeo expands management team with two hires
The GP’s executive committee initiated a wide-ranging overhaul of its corporate structure in 2023
BDO appoints Jamie Austin as head of global private equity
Austin joined the Belgium-headquartered business advisory firm in 2008
Rockpool’s EC Electronics bolts on Liad Electronics
It is the portco’s second bolt-on following the GP's investment in September 2022
Gryphon Investors exits RoC Skincare to Bridgepoint
The deal is the sixth acquisition by Bridgepoint Europe VII
Exclusive: Arcano Partners eyes Q1 first close for second impact fund
The firms aims to secure commitments from its existing backers before expanding its outreach to international investors, Ricardo Miró-Quesada tells Real Deals
Seven2 reinvests in Diapason
The minority deal follows the firm's exit from the company to PSG Equity last year
Vendis backs Skins Cosmetics
The deal sees the GP team up with Philip Hillege, co-founder and current creative director of Skins, and Claudia Pouw-Dullaart, CEO since 2019
Capza-backed Wifirst acquires Hotsplots
The acquisition further strengthens Wifirst’s presence across Europe
Kennet Partners sells Eloomi
The deal will generate a return of more than three times the GP’s investment
Main Capital acquires Omnidocs
The Danish company provides smart document creation
Eurazeo invests in French perfumery brand
The GP secured a minority stake in Ex Nihilo alongside the firm’s co-founders
Eurazeo plugs additional investment into Electra
Eurazeo Infrastructure Fund has already completed six investments supporting the energy transition
Committed Advisors reaps €2.6bn for fifth secondary fund
The vehicle is 65% larger than its predecessor fund
Extens acquires Imagine Human
The investment firm will focus on organic and inorganic growth in France and Europe
Riverside sells E&A Scheer to Platinum Equity
The GP supported the firm’s international expansion and appointed new management
IK promotes partners in Nordics and Benelux
Carl Jakobsson and Frederik Jacobs both joined the firm as associates
Flexstone Partners appoints Samira Boussem as head of sustainability
The managing director joins Flexstone from Natixis Investment Managers
GP Profile: Swen Capital Partners
Co-founder and CEO Jerome Delmas talks to Real Deals about the importance of expertise in impact investing
Main Capital expands to Switzerland with new investment
The GP’s portfolio company Aunetic has bolted on LARI Digital
Yotta Capital and Sofiouest exit semiconductor materials firm
Recif Technologies has been part of Yotta’s and Sofiouest’s portfolios since 2021