Western Europe

Lovells recruits Eversheds’ corporate head(2)

Law firm Lovells has expanded its Paris private equity team, recruiting rival Eversheds’ corporate head.

Actis leads $134m investment in Nigerian bank(2)

Actis has taken a minority stake in Nigeria-based Diamond Bank, shortly after the country’s scandal-dogged elections. But despite the governance concerns, buyout firms are optimistic about the country’s economic and political future.

CDC float could value firm at £2 billion(2)

The UK government is reportedly planning a sale or flotation of CDC, the emerging markets fund of funds that recently revealed bumper profits.

CDC float could value firm at £2 billion

The UK government is reportedly planning a sale or flotation of CDC, the emerging markets fund of funds that recently revealed bumper profits.

3i raises £400 million for public equities

3i has completed the fundraising for its latest vehicle, which will buy minority and majority stakes in public companies and apply private equity techniques.

Truell consortium flips Threshers to Vision

A consortium led by Edmund Truell has sold the operating businesses of UK retailers Threshers and BrightHouse to secondaries specialist Vision Capital, just two weeks after buying them. The £265 million sale will leave the consortium in control of the companies’ pension fund assets.

Summit buys minority stake in Vente-Privee.com(2)

US buyout firm Summit Partners has taken a minority stake in private internet sale company Vente-Privee.com, as European internet companies show signs of recovery following European venture capitalist Index Ventures’ successful sale of Last.fm to US television network CBS.

Bridges makes case with target-topping fund

Bridges Ventures, a venture capital firm with a social mission, has closed its second fund on £75 million, almost double its first effort, after proving its cause to investors.

Eagle back-tracks over Duke Street talks(2)

Angela Eagle, the British MP who told Tuesday’s Treasury Select Committee that she had been unable to arrange a meeting with Duke Street Capital over planned job losses at a Burton’s biscuit factory in her constituency, has revealed that the buyout firm did contact her after all.

Bank of England warns lenders to buyouts(3)

In a report likely to catch the attention of the UK Parliament’s Treasury Select Committee investigating private equity, the Bank of England has highlighted the increased risk of systemic failure if a large buyout defaults.