Deals
Private equity and alternative asset manager Maven Capital Partners has participated in the GBP55m investment in Global Risk Partners (GRP), led by Penta Capital, providing GBP5m of the funding.
This deal represents another opportunity for Maven client funds to invest in private equity transactions led by Glasgow-based Penta. Maven previously invested as part of a syndicate in the 2010 acquisition of online insurance provider esure, which earlier this year undertook a successful IPO, and the 2011 buy-and-build platform Six Degrees Group.
GRP has been set up by chief executive David Margrett who had a series of senior roles at
Technology dealmakers may be showing a little spring in their step heading into 2014, according to the latest M&A Leaders Survey issued jointly by M&A law firm Morrison & Foerster and technology research firm 451 Research.
In their latest canvass of tech industry insiders, MoFo and 451 Research found participants modestly bullish about the pace of mergers and acquisitions, both in recent months and looking ahead.
Forty per cent said the past six months generated more deal activity than at any point in the past two years, compared with 36 per cent saying the same period produced less M&A
Having emerged from the global recession and its aftermath, the real estate private equity sector is finally positioned for growth in 2014, according to EY’s latest global market outlook.
"Five years on, and following a long recovery, global real estate is now entering a broad up-cycle and, having learned some important lessons during the downturn, private equity funds are heading down a path toward growth. What remains to be seen is if they are in for a brisk morning walk or just a Sunday stroll," says Mark Grinis, EY's global real estate fund services leader.
The strategies being deployed
Private equity firm North Castle Partners is to acquire Jenny Craig, an iconic brand in the weight loss industry, from Nestle.
The terms of the investment, which is expected to close later this month, have not been disclosed.
"We are very excited to bring Jenny Craig into the North Castle family and to continue its 30-year tradition of providing consumers with dedicated one-on-one coaching and great tasting, clinically proven food to support their weight loss goals. As a firm focused exclusively on consumer businesses that promote health, wellness, and active living, we were able to draw upon substantial experience from
Babson Capital Europe has completed a mezzanine investment in Busy Bees, the largest UK nursery chain.
The childcare company has been acquired by Teachers’ Private Capital, the private equity division of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. The total debt package includes a mezzanine facility co-arranged by Babson Capital Europe.
Established in 1983, Midlands-based Busy Bees is the largest children’s nursery daycare provider in the UK. The business has grown both organically and via acquisitions, and currently operates 213 nurseries, where its 7,000 staff look after some 19,500 children on a daily basis.
The management team is led by chief
Credit Suisse is to spin off the DLJ Investment Partners business (DLJIP), including the existing investment team led by Igor DaCosta and Charles Harper, to Portfolio Advisors.
Portfolio Advisors, an independent, employee-owned firm that provides tailored private equity, private credit and real estate investment solutions to both institutional and high net worth clients through separately managed accounts and commingled fund-of-funds programmes, will become the new investment manager of DLJ Investment Partners (DLJIP I), DLJ Investment Partners II (DLJIP II), and DLJ Investment Partners III (DLJIP III).
DaCosta (pictured) and Harper will continue to manage the DLJIP funds and all
Bestinvest, the UK wealth manager and online investment service, is to be acquired by a company owned by the Permira funds for an undisclosed sum.
The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2014.
Founded in 1986, Bestinvest is a UK private client investment group that provides a broad range of services for private investors whether they choose to make their own decisions or require investment advice, financial planning and investment management.
The UK wealth management industry offers attractive growth dynamics with assets increasing in excess of 10 per
Atlas Holdings has acquired certain operating assets of PDM Bridge, a steel fabricator that produces steel components for the largest and most complex bridge structures.
The acquired assets now operate under a new entity, Veritas Steel. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Veritas Steel becomes a leader in the steel bridge fabrication industry with extensive experience in fabricating both simple and complex bridge structures. With the acquisition, Veritas Steel will operate three fabrication plants in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Wausau, Wisconsin and Palatka, Florida.
“We are pleased to announce the formation of Veritas Steel,
Ardian has signed an agreement to invest EUR30m in the CLS Group, a provider of location services, environmental data collection, monitoring and ocean observation.
The existing shareholders – the CNES, the government agency responsible for French space policy in Europe, and Ifremer, the French research institute for exploitation of the sea – retain their stakes, while the minority shareholders sell their holdings in the company.
Ardian will work alongside CLS to strengthen the resources of the group and continue its internal and external expansion. The group’s strategy, which will be supported by Ardian, focuses on innovation as a driver
Apollo Aviation Group has contracted to purchase 38 aircraft and 11 engines, amounting to USD570m, for its second aviation fund, Sciens Aviation Special Opportunities Investment Fund II (SASOF II).
The purchases approved by SASOF II Investment Committee this year include, but are not limited to, 12 Airbus A320ceo family aircraft and 13 Boeing 737 Next Generation models. Specifically during the third quarter, Apollo Aviation committed to purchase 13 aircraft for approximately USD200m.
“Apollo Aviation is a mid-life aircraft specialist. All but two of the aircraft that we have acquired for SASOF II are in-production models,” says William Hoffman, Apollo Aviation’s chairman.
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