The UK newspaper publisher has scotched reports of a £1.3bn offer from the two buyout firms though.
UK VCs back UDEX; Super Dimension lands $13m third round; Renovo adds to second round financing; Novartis, Nextech back Genetics acquisition; Novartis, Nextech back Genetics acquisition; Private Equity Investor exits Okena; AXA PE takes Planisware minority stake
Change Capital, the private equity shop headed by Luc Vandevelde, has secured a E300m cornerstone investment from the Halley family, which has set aside another E700m for co-investment.
In a volatile trading environment, France has become continental Europe’s second largest buyout market following a sharp decline in activity in Germany.
The Irish venture capital firm has attracted a broad range of international investors for its third fund, with E170m the largest European technology fund raised in 2002.
Investors lined up by Merrill Lynch’s fund placement group to invest in Englefield Capital’s debut fund were denied access after Englefield secured a E495m cornerstone investment from the Brenninkmeijer family.
In BP’s second recent divestment to private equity firms, the UK oil giant has sold the speciality mining chemicals business of Burmah Castrol to CBPE for £32m.
Infineon Technologies chief executive Ulrich Schumacher is to join the advisory board for the US firm’s E650m venture capital fund.
UK-based London Merchant Securities has appointed Scott Potter to oversee the management of the firm’s US venture capital portfolio.
AXA Private Equity is looking to put a greater portion of its capital into private equity buyout funds to reduce its exposure to venture capital.