Deal round up 20/09/02

AMJPE backs House of Dorchester BIMBO

Aberdeen Murray Johnstone Private Equity (AMJPE) has invested in the buy-in management buyout (BIMBO) of House of Dorchester Limited, a manufacturer of premium quality chocolates, through a newly formed company, House of Dorchester Holdings Limited. Financial details for the transaction were not disclosed.

Established in 1965, HoD manufactures and supplies different types of high quality chocolates into the food services, leisure and retail markets. The products are sold under the HoD brand as well as under customers’ own-label guises. HoD currently has 85 employees at its Hampshire headquarters.

AXA PE leads Champeau MBO

AXA Private Equity, the private equity division of French insurer Axa, has backed the leveraged management buyout of Champeau Group, backing the existing CEO Jean-Pierre Champeau. AXA Private Equity will acquire a 73.5 per cent stake in the company, although it has not specified the financial details of the transaction.

Champeau is one of the major supplier of wood roof truss systems in the French market, with a ten per cent share. The business is based near Limoges and has tripled its turnover in the last ten years, reporting turnover in 2001 of E42m.

ProVen, RBOS back Ashford buyout

UK private equity firm ProVen Private Equity has backed the management buyout of Ashford Colour Press, a UK-based printing business. The deal enables Ashford founder Norman Betts to sell his interest in the business, although he will stay on in a consultative role.

Royal Bank provided debt for the acquisition of the business, which reported turnover of £10m in 2001. Clients of Ashford include Pearson, Sage and Oxford University Press. The price for the business, which employs 120 people at its Hampshire headquarters, has not been disclosed.