Western Europe

Spectrum invests $300m in genealogy company

Spectrum Equity Investors will acquire a majority stake in The Generations Network, a company the firm has backed since 2003. The investment deepens Spectrum’s holdings in the online media sector.

Darwin hits half-way milestone with £122m(3)

Darwin Private Equity has held a second close of its debut fund just three months after launching with the backing of City grandee Lord Jacob Rothschild and his RIT Capital Partners trust.

Agribusiness fund in $143m Russian chicken deal(3)

As private equity interest in Russia picks up, Burlington Capital Group has sold Russian poultry producer Chicken Kingdom to meat processor Cherkizovo Group for $143 million.

Bridges buys recycling business

Bridges Ventures, a venture capital firm focussed on regeneration and sustainability, has bought tyre recycling business Credential Environmental fulfilling both its aims.

Barclays sells discount store chain to Duke Street

Duke Street is betting on a value retailer being what the UK consumer wants as it rolls out Barclays’ Original Factory Shop chain.

CVC in $750m Taiwanese window deal

CVC Asia Pacific added a $200 million mainland blind manufacturing business to its basket before closing the $750 million deal for shutter manufacturer Nien Made.

Report: US intelligence deems Bain buyout a national threat

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has reportedly found Bain Capital Partners’ $2.2 billion acquisition of 3Com a potential threat to security, due to involvement of a Chinese state-linked company.

GB Merchant Partners sells Spencer’s(6)

Gordon Brothers’ private equity arm has sold specialty retailer Spencer’s Gifts to ACON Investments after streamlining its business and redesigning its stores.

Hutton Collins takes Everest stake(2)

Structured equity provider Hutton Collins has taken a stake in Everest allowing a partial exit for the company’s owner Brian Kennedy.

Phoenix makes 3.8x from handbags

Exponent Private Equity has bought handbag company Radley from Phoenix Equity Partners, which exited the company after slightly more than a year and a half having “made it feel like an entirely different business”.