Flying off the scale: Fever-Tree’s Tim Warrillow talks malaria, crane strikes and private equity May 25, 2015 We're seeing a renaissance; it’s incredibly exciting. People are better educated and the market is growing and growing – and quite right too, it’s a great English invention.” Tim Warrillow is talking about the gin and tonic – something the co-founder of maverick drinks company Fever-Tree knows a fair bit about. The gin and [...]
Poundworld owners quids in after selling majority stake to US private equity firm TPG in £150m deal May 15, 2015 Britain's second-largest single price retailer Poundworld has been snapped up by US-based private equity group TPG in a deal reportedly valuing the business at £150m. Poundworld was started from a market stall in Wakefield, West Yorkshire in 1974 by owner Chris Edwards Sr and has since growth to have around 270 stores and over 5000 employees. [...]
Avon claims $8bn takeover offer from private equity firm PTG Partners was false May 14, 2015 Avon says it has not received a takeover offer from private equity firm PTG Capital Partners, contradicting a filing released earlier today via the Securities and Exchange Commission. PTG claimed it had made a cash offer to the cosmetics firm worth $8.2bn (£5.2bn), or $18.5-per-share. This is more than three times the company's value according [...]
Private equity goes to the circus April 20, 2015 A GROUP led by the Texas-based private equity fund TPG Capital has bought a controlling stake in the Canadian circus and entertainment company Cirque du Soleil. The group of investors includes Fosun Capital Group, owned by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International. While no financial terms were disclosed for the deal, it is thought to value Cirque du [...]
South African private equity firm Brait in £1.3bn Virgin Active takeover April 16, 2015 High end gym chain Virgin Active was yesterday sold to a South African private equity outfit, scuppering longstanding plans by the company to float on the stock market. Brait, a private equity firm based in Johannesburg, will take an 80 per cent controlling stake in the group, which has 1.3m members and 267 clubs. [...]
Private equity owner HgCapital sells spread betting giant Sporting Index March 23, 2015 Sporting Index, which has around 80 per cent of the spread betting market, was yesterday sold to an unnamed private investor. Private equity owners HgCapital bought the company for £76m from Duke Street Capital in 2005 and had decided to put it up for sale following the 2014 World Cup. Yesterday it agreed the deal, [...]
Private equity executive Randy Work ordered to make £72m divorce payout to ex-wife Mandy Gray by top London court March 10, 2015 A former private equity exec has been ordered to pay his ex-wife £72m – much more than he'd been offering. Randy Work, a former exec at Lone Star, said his estranged wife Mandy Gray should receive just £5m ($7.5m) of his wealth. He said his £150m ($225m) pot was protected by a post-nuptial agreement originally signed in Texas. [...]
Double decker deal for Exponent Private Equity as group snaps up Big Bus Tours February 24, 2015 The former owner of thetrainline, Exponent Private Equity, has added another transport-related firm to its portfolio after snapping up sightseeing company Big Bus Tours. The mid-market buyout manager, which also owns Quorn Foods, and recently floated shares in HSS Hire, will buy the group from shareholders made up of two family backed groups. The Maybury [...]
UK private equity firms Circle for Evans February 22, 2015 BRITISH private equity players ECI Partners and Graphite Capital are vying to take a controlling interest in UK bicycle store chain Evans Cycles, it emerged yesterday. Crawley-based Evans is up for sale for £100m. Both buyout firms – who declined to comment – have been invited to submit second-round bids by Evans-owner Active Private Equity.
Private equity firm Hellman in Auto Trader bid February 1, 2015 PRIVATE equity firm Hellman & Friedman is putting together a takeover bid for used car business Auto Trader, which could put an end to the firm’s plans to float on the London stock market. A source close to the deal said an offer from the US private equity house was a “logical step” for Auto [...]