Law firm White & Case predicts a “war chest” of funds will be put to work across the European private equity market with sharp-eyed firms embracing new hybrid US-European finance options. The findings are revealed in new White & Case research – Defying the odds: the rise of European private equity – published with Mergermarket.   Much of the private equity revival has been led by mid-market firms, while co-investment strategies in which institutions invest directly in deals alongside buyout firms will also rise this year, the report states. White & Case’s EMEA private equity practice also predicts the UK’s

Cranson Capital Securities has closed a convertible debenture financing for Flixel Photos, a new photography software which combines still photographs and captivating aspects of video. Cranson Capital raised USD460,000 through a number of private accredited investors in a convertible debenture offering for the expansion and development of the business.   Last year, Flixel partnered with Tyra Banks, where the "living photos" were featured on her television show America's Next Top Model.   In February 2014, Flixel launched Cinemagraph Pro, a professional desktop version of its photography software for Mac computers, previously available only for iOS.    Devon Cranson, president of

African Development Partners II (ADP II), a pan-African private equity fund advised by Development Partners International (DPI), is making a USD20 million investment in Université Privée de Marrakech (UPM), one of Morocco’s leading private universities.  ADP II’s investment will serve to support UPM’s growth plans both in Morocco and in Sub-Saharan Africa and help UPM become one of the leading private universities in Francophone Africa.   The investment benefits from the increasing penetration of the private sector which is driving substantial growth in the private education sector   The investment is in line with DPI’s investment philosophy of investing in

The senior management team of Vista Retail Support has completed a management buyout of the business, with the support of private equity house WestBridge Capital. The secondary buyout was valued at GBP12.3 million.   This deal sees a majority shareholding being acquired by the existing senior management led by managing director Vince Haffenden, technical services director James Pepper and sales and marketing director Richard Cottrell. In addition, current chairman Keith Brooks will continue in the role of non-executive chair.   The MBO was led by Westbridge Capital, with support from Octopus Investments and Clydesdale Bank. The management team with support

FF&P Private Equity has invested in European self-ticketing solution ticketscript, which has offices in London, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona and Berlin. Since its launch in 2006, it has worked with over 70,000 events across Europe, and sold over 11 million tickets for its clients.    FF&P Private Equity will be investing GBP7million in the business, enabling ticketscript to continue its international expansion and develop new services.   Henry Sallitt, director of FF&P Private Equity, says: “We are delighted to have invested in ticketscript as a truly disruptive service provider in the pan-European ticketing market, and back the management’s ambitions to substantially

Funds advised by Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) have sold Peters Food Group, one of Australia’s oldest consumer businesses, to R&R Ice Cream backed by funds advised by PAI Partners. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.   Under the agreement, R&R will acquire Peters, with its portfolio of household name ice creams including Drumstick, Connoisseur, Peters Original and Maxibon.   PEP Fund IV purchased Peters from Nestlé in 2012. Since the acquisition, Peters has undergone a significant transformation driven by investment in its core brands, substantial new product development and improvement in operating costs, under the leadership of