BPE backs the £270m MBO of Preferred Mortgages. It’s the second big deal involving a non-conforming mortgage lender in a week.
Prelude Trust, an early stage technology investor, has reported 25 per cent growth over the last year.
Finnish and Swedish VCs Eqvitec and IT Provider have struck an alliance to strengthen their positions in the Nordic VC market. Joint investments are planned for the near future.
Apax, Merlin, 3i and SEB Foretagsinvest flash the cash.
Bridgepoint Capital and bank of Scotland have put about £20m into a new pan-European PR firm to be headed up by Michael Murphy, formerly of Shandwick International. The new firm has already made its first acquisition.
The German investor has sold its interest in the company to Newage International, a British firm.
Publishers IPC and Emap are under the cosh. IPC could soon be put up for sale by majority owner Cinven, while Emap’s abortive US play has also left it vulnerable to bids.
The Muppets may be about to buy their way out of EM.TV. Jim Henson Company CEO Charles Rivkin is in talks with the German media group and is said to be approaching US private equity firms for backing.
GE Capital has bought mortgage lender iGroup for £200m in cash. The deal comes 18 months after an iGroup’s MBO.
Big European buyout firm Cinven has hired a threesome from Allianz Capital Partners, Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch.