Private equity guru Damon Buffini exits UK’s Permira after nearly three decades January 20, 2015 Veteran Permira executive Damon Buffini, who worked his way up from humble origins to become one of the most powerful men in the City, has announced his exit from the group after 27 years. Buffini became a lightning rod for anti-business campaigns at the height of the buyout boom when he was Permira’s managing partner. [...]
Active Private Equity set for £7m investment in Honest Burgers January 18, 2015 British investment firm Active Private Equity is set to take a stake in fast-growing gourmet burger chain Honest Burgers, it emerged yesterday. The venture capital and private equity specialist, which owns stakes in Evans cycles shops and Leon cafes, is reportedly investing £7m in return for 50 per cent of the business. Active’s Spencer Skinner [...]
US private equity giant TA Associates swoops for Essex-based software firm Access Group January 18, 2015 US private equity firm TA Associates has acquired Essex-based technology company Access Group in a deal thought to be worth over £225m, it emerged yesterday. Access Group is a software consultancy and developer headquartered in Colchester, primarily serving UK mid-market businesses. Employing approximately 450 staff, the firm’s 6,000-strong client base includes the Leicester Tigers rugby [...]
Private equity firms line up for £400m ticket to Big Bus Tours January 11, 2015 A HOST of international private equity firms are vying to acquire British sightseeing bus tour operator Big Bus Tours, it emerged yesterday. European buyout specialist Permira, the UK-headquartered Exponent Private Equity, America’s Advent International and Omers Private Equity – the investment arm of a Canadian pension fund – are circling the London-based company, which is [...]
Private equity floats at highest since 1998 December 21, 2014 NEW STOCK market listings of private equity backed firms like SSP, led by chief executive Kate Swann, rose to their highest level since 1998 this year, according to figures from the centre for management buy-out research, at EY and Equistone. There were 43 PE-backed floats across Europe in 2014, worth €44bn, according to the stats.
Sky offloads online betting business Sky Bet for £800m to private equity firm CVC Capital December 4, 2014 Sky has sold off the majority of its online betting business Sky Bet to private equity firm CVC Capital for £800m to concentrate on its new Europe-wide TV business. The deal will net Sky £600m in cash and a further deferred £120m, giving CVC Capital an 80 per cent stake in the business. Sky has [...]
US private equity firm KSL Capital Partner buys De Vere’s Village resorts for £485m November 26, 2014 British hotels and leisure firm De Vere Group yesterday agreed the £485m sale of its Village Urban Resorts hotels chain to US private equity firm KSL Capital Partner. KSL – a Denver-headquartered firm focused on the travel and leisure businesses – acquires the Village’s 25 existing hotels along with three new properties under development in [...]
Private equity firms circle as P&G puts Braun in the window November 23, 2014 A number of Europe’s largest private equity firms are drawing up bids for Braun, amid speculation that parent company Procter & Gamble is looking to sell the German consumer goods brand. Procter & Gamble, the US consumer goods giant, is rumoured to be putting Braun up for the sale in a few months, with a [...]
Prezzo gobbled up for £304m by American private equity firm TPG November 6, 2014 Prezzo yesterday agreed to a £303.7m cash bid by American private equity firm TPG, valuing the high street Italian restaurant chain at almost 10 times its operating profit. TPG, which saw off competition from buyout firm Advent to seal the deal, launched the offer via Papa Bidco, a newly incorporated company indirectly owned by the [...]
GHO Capital Partners’ finance boss to open Private Equity Combat Sports class for Krav Maga fans October 23, 2014 The first rule of fight club, is you do not talk about fight club. But what about the first rule of private equity fight club? We’re not talking about punch-ups over the last croissant outside The Savoy Grill, the PE industry is to get its own combat class – organised by an industry insider. Duncan [...]