Western Europe

Elevation Partners agrees first deal

The Silicon Valley-headquartered media and entertainment ‘venture buyout’ investor has agreed to acquire UK computer games developer Eidos for £71m.

AlpInvest backs UK tech fund

UK early-stage technology investor Eden Ventures has held a first close of its debut fund on £32m, having received commitments from AlpInvest and Swiss Re among others.

NY State becomes Access’ largest client

The New York State Common Retirement Fund has appointed Paris-based Access Capital Partners to invest €250m in European mid-market buyout funds over three to four years.

Eidos slips away from Elevation

The board of UK computer games publisher Eidos has withdrawn its support for the Elevation Partners cash offer for the company in favour of a higher share offer from a trade buyer.

Bowmark Capital appoints new director

The former Sagitta Private Equity has continued its recent expansion with the hire of former LDC executive Mike Simmonds as a director.

Acquisitive CEOs see PE as threat

More than three quarters of UK chief executives expect increased competition from highly leveraged financial buyers in the next six months according to the results of a survey from PwC.

AXA completes first deal from Fund III

Larivière is the first investment made from the AXA LBO Fund III since its final close last month.

Irish VC leads $28m DAB funding round

ACT Venture Capital, Apax Partners, Alta Berkeley, BlueRun Ventures and Quilvest have teamed up to provide further funding to UK semiconductor manufacturer Frontier Silicon.

Unwins sold to private investment group

The UK-based off-licence retailer has agreed to a takeover by DM Private Equity, a consortium of private investors with links to Australian wine producer Palandri.

Doughty investors handed €175m cash-back

Investors in Doughty Hanson’s latest fund are celebrating a lucrative recapitalisation of portfolio company Saft.