Western Europe

Eurazeo goes exclusive on Elis deal

The French listed buyout firm is in pole position to win the auction for Elis, a French textile business, after revealing that it has entered exclusive negotiations to buy the business from rival PAI Partners.

Credit Suisse spin-out in $1.1bn ice deal(2)

GSO Capital Partners will add the largest ice manufacturer in the US to its diverse portfolio.

Lehman launches fund of funds IPO(3)

The US investment bank with $18 billion in unlisted investments, is the latest private equity operator looking to take advantage of the private equity boom by creating a permanent capital vehicle.

Myners recommends light touch but backs tax change(2)

City of London veteran Paul Myners has given UK private equity a boost by telling the Treasury Select Committee not to recommend further regulation of the industry. However, he took a less sympathetic view of practitioners’ current tax treatment.

Hands: Tax changes will only benefit UK’s competitors(3)

Guy Hands, the outspoken chief executive of Terra Firma, has hit out once again in defence of private equity’s tax treatment, highlighting the taxes paid by his firm and arguing that any changes would only benefit continental Europe.

Hellman & Friedman taps Intuit exec(3)

San Francisco-based Hellman & Friedman is furthering the trend for private equity firms to hire partners with operations backgrounds.

AVP agrees bolt-on for software business

Pertinence, a French intelligence software business backed by venture capital firms Advent Venture Partners and Partech International, has bought US rival Intercim.

Cinven wins £1.44bn BUPA hospital auction(2)

UK private healthcare group BUPA has sold its hospital arm to European buyout firm Cinven. The healthcare company exited the business because of regulation which prevented it from expanding its portfolio.

Cracks appear as BVCA comes under fire(3)

As the BVCA comes in for sustained criticism for its handling of yesterday’s Treasury Select Committee hearing, many in the industry – including its own chairman – are suggesting that it cannot continue in its current form.

Rutland recruits transaction specialist(2)

UK turnaround specialist Rutland Partners has hired transaction services specialist Liam Camburn from KPMG, boosting its investment team to ten people.