Lawrence Aragon

Google Phone Could Be Bad for VCs

Abingworth raises Europe’s biggest biotech fund

Abingworth, the UK life sciences VC house, has raised Europe’s largest ever venture fund dedicated to life sciences. Abingworth Bioventures V (ABV V) has €455m at its disposal, well over the target size of €380m.

Blackstone Group stops Café Rouge IPO

Legal & General Ventures has sold Tragus, a UK-based casual dining group, to Blackstone for £267m. Tragus is one of the largest mid-market restaurant chains in the UK with over 160 sites across the country. It is also the owner of Café Rouge and Bella Italia chains and recently launched the new Ortega tapas concept.

IK trebles money

Prefab concrete specialist sold to LBO France

LBO Syndications arranged December and January

Azelis, CABB, Countrywide, Dockwise, General Healthcare Group, Gerflor, Grandi Navi Veloci, Guaber Household, HC Starck, Johnson Matthey, KION, Lil-Lets, Oxo Group, PagesJaunes, Regency Entertainment, Telepizza, Thames Water, TNT Logistics, Tragus, United Biscuits, Unither, VNU Business MediaRefinancings: Dinosol, La Seda de Barcelona, Pfleiderer

Industri Kapital’s profitable yard work

The €4bn Nordic-based, mid-market private equity firm Industri Kapital sold Gardena to Husqvarna for €730m. Husqvarna, the world’s largest producer of chainsaws, lawn mowers and other petrol-powered garden equipment will buy 100% of the shares in Gardena, an Ulm, Germany-based garden tools manufacturer from Industri Kapital.

"Tell them to replace the CEO"

Spanish buyouts

Mercapital, the Madrid-based private equity firm, has raised €550m for its third buyout fund, €50m over its original target.

Duke Street sells insurer

London-based mid-market firms Duke Street Capital and Englefield Capital have sold their combined stake in UK- based auto insurers Equity Insurance Group to Insurance Australia Group (IAG), for €845m. Significant investment in Equity Insurance Brokers saw the business expand its coverage in the UK by opening up an extra 14 stores.

Whitworths makes Gresham six

UK food supplier sold to European Capital