Western Europe

Barclays Private Equity makes £75.5m energy play

The European buyout manager of UK bank Barclays has joined the throng of firms looking to profit from the boom time in the oil and gas industy.

Deutsche Beteiligungs exits tool company after nine years(2)

Engineering company A-Tec Industries has bought Dőrries Scharmann Technologie, a machine tool company, from German buyout firm Deutsche Beteiligungs. Mysterious investor group the Arabic Finance Circle is simultaneously attempting to buy a substantial stake in A-Tec.

Christian Hollenberg quits Orlando(2)

One of Orlando Management’s founding partners Christian Hollenberg is stepping down after seven years to spend more time with his young family. He plans to launch a new business in 2008.

Godiva may hit auction block(3)

Campbell’s will explore strategic options for its Godiva Chocolatier business, as the company refocuses on its core products and expands its soups into Russia and China.

CVC sells healthcare business to BUPA

BUPA, a UK healthcare group, has made a A$1.225bn acqusition of CVC's DCA Agedcare Group, just months after selling its portfolio of hospitals to Cinven, a UK buyout group.

Close closes another successful pubs deal

The VCT manager has sold its stake in the UK-based Bold Pub Company to Calco Midlands, a rival operator, generating an internal rate of return of 20 percent.

Bridgepoint partially exits training company after eight years

European buyout firm Bridgepoint has sold vocational skills company Protocol Skills to Close Brothers Private Equity. This represents a partial exit for Bridgepoint after eight years invested in parent company Protocol Group.

Bridges backs sock maker(3)

The UK venture firm with a social mission has invested £1.35 million in a management buyout of SealSkinz, an outdoor clothing maker based in an under-invested part of the UK.

Exponent reunited with Kahn for Cardsave deal(2)

Exponent Private Equity has teamed up with old ally Clive Kahn, the former boss of Travelex, for the £70 million acquisition of Cardsave, a UK-based firm that supplies credit card terminals to small retailers.

Falfurrias buys Bojangles

Fresh from its first fund close, North Carolina-based Falfurrias Capital has bought chicken-n-biscuits chain Bojangles.