Western Europe

AXA Private Equity backs web TV

AXA Private Equity has invested in Brainsonic, a European producer of media content and corporate WebTV portals, to help drive growth.

Alchemy Partners makes 3.6x return on classic car insurer

Alchemy Partners has made a return of 3.6 times its original investment in Footman James, a classic car insurer, which has just provided cover for Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine.

Permira gambles on soft drinks stake(2)

The European mega fund has bought a stake in Britvic, a UK soft drinks company, to convince its board to come to the table. The tactic might help end a run of high-profile public-to-private reversals.

Change Capital Partners in second deal in a week(2)

Change Capital Partners has become the controlling shareholder in a company formed from the merger of four Spanish electrical goods retailers in its second deal in a week, and may raise its second fund in 2007.

Esprit takes eight percent in pharma merger(2)

Venture capital firm Esprit Capital Partners has acquired a Canadian drug company to merge with its existing portfolio business Kiadis Pharma.

Permira gambles on soft drinks stake

The European mega fund has bought a stake in Britvic, a UK soft drinks company, to convince its board to come to the table. The tactic might help end a run of high-profile public-to-private reversals.

Hermes completes two deals in two days

Hermes Private Equity has completed its second deal in two days with the acquisition of a residential care provider for adults with learning disabilities for an undisclosed amount.

Rhone to buy division of International Paper(2)

International Paper has also agreed to sell a separate unit to Australian forest products company Carter Holt Harvey, bringing the total value of the company’s many spinouts to approximately $11bn.

Phoenix makes eleventh investment this year(2)

Phoenix Equity Partners has bought a media monitoring business from 3i for £42 million in its eleventh investment this year.

Inflexion buys software company(2)

Inflexion Private Equity has completed its second transaction in a month with a £12 million buyout of a software company, a week after it sold its £19.1 million venture capital trust.