Jo Nash

Gresham backs bottle-maker(2)

Esterform Packaging, a UK bottle manufacturer, has received £30 million from Gresham Private Equity.

Hg strengthens renewable energy portfolio(2)

European buyout firm HgCapital has bought a French wind farm portfolio for €69 million. The deal is the latest wind farm investment for Hg’s renewable energy team.

KKR spends another $660 million in Singapore(2)

The shareholders of Singaporean engineering company MMI have accepted a take-private bid from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. The S$1.65 per share offer values the company at about $660 million.

Bridgepoint cleared for landing at Leeds-Bradford(2)

Buyout firm Bridgepoint Capital has emerged as the preferred bidder for UK-based Leeds Bradford Airport. Its offer, which according to reports is worth about £130 million, has trumped that of four other bidders.

Rival consortium challenges KKR for Coles(2)

A consortium that includes Pacific Equity Partners, Permira and Wesfarmers, a Sydney-listed conglomerate, has bid A$19.7 billion for Coles Group, Australia’s second-biggest retailer – although KKR could yet return with another bid.

UK biotech start-up raises £3m on AIM(2)

UK biotech spin-out EpiStem has raised £3m from its flotation on AIM. 33 venture capital sources, and UK business angel network Beer & Partners, have backed the initial public offering.

SV Life Sciences closes fourth fund on $572m(2)

SV Life Sciences has closed its fourth fund on $572m, just under the £300m fund that Abingworth closed last month but far exceeding its original target of $400m.

Bridgepoint buys and sells(2)

European private equity firm Bridgepoint has made its second German investment of 2007 and has sold one of its portfolio companies.

Iceni Capital does three deals in one day(2)

UK mid-market firm Iceni Capital has closed three deals in one day , buying marketing services company Pell & Bales, and two communications companies that it has merged into one group.

Stirling Square buys highway safety solutions business(2)

UK-based mid-market firm Stirling Square Capital Partners and US-based Diamond Castle have acquired an international highway safety solutions business for an undisclosed amount.