Matrix Private Equity Partners has invested GBP4.3m in the management buyout and recapitalisation of Iglu.com, the UK’s largest ski and fastest growing cruise holiday travel agent.  Matrix provided both the equity and the debt for the transaction, which is its second new investment in four days.   Iglu.com founder and managing director Richard Downs identified the potential for an internet travel agency specialising in ski holidays in 1998. In 2005 Iglu.com entered the cruise holiday sector.   Mark Wignall, chief executive of Matrix Private Equity Partners, says: “Amidst a dearth of M&A activity the small buyout market wheel keeps on

BridgeCo, a provider of networked entertainment technology, has received a USD7.5m investment to support the rapid growth in connected home audio. The financing was led by existing investor Earlybird Venture Capital and private investor Christian Wenger, along with a new private investor Brian Long (pictured), a general partner with private equity firm Atlantic Bridge. A 2009 report, published by Eureca Research, projects the connected home audio market to grow by over 300 per cent in 2010. BridgeCo’s financing will serve to accelerate the company’s technology development, support its growth and fund the expansion of the company’s customer base and global

Robert Coleman, chief executive officer of Six3 Systems, and private equity firm GTCR have acquired BIT Systems. In April 2009, through the CEOVisions Acquisition Services programme, Cook M&A Advisory Services partnered Coleman (pictured) with GTCR to form Six3 Systems, a company focused on building a government services platform specialising in national security and defense intelligence. CEOVisions is a service designed to partner executives who have an investment thesis with PEGs to build industry-leading companies.   The acquisition of BIT Systems is Six3’s second acquirement since its inception in April 2009. BIT Systems is an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance company that

Venture capital investments in green energy are shifting toward advanced technologies as well as less capital-extensive technologies, according to analysis by Frost & Sullivan. The green energy sector was a recipient of growing investments from the VC community until the economic downturn, following which the investments shrank in 2009. Government policies and funding have played an important role in mitigating the intensity of such trends. "Government policies and funding are two of the main driving forces for developments and investments in renewable and alternative energy technologies," says technical insights research analyst Elaine Chan. "Stronger government focus worldwide has been spurred

The European Investment Bank has pledged to make a EUR5m anchor investment in the first venture capital fund to target investments in export-oriented IT companies being launched in the Palestinian territories. The EIB’s commitment was announced at a signature ceremony in Ramallah supported by the Palestinian Prime Minister and attended by Hassan Abu Libdeh, Minister of the Economy, and Mashhour Abu Daqqa, Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology.   Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Salam Fayyad (pictured) said: “Palestine is open for business. We support the Middle East Venture Capital Fund efforts to contribute to economic growth in

Wrap Film Systems, one of the largest cling film and aluminium foil converters in Europe, has acquired the business of competitor Baco Consumer Products from US based Reynolds Consumer Products in an off-market deal. Wrap Film Systems was backed by Growth Capital Partners in 2007 in a GBP21m buyout Adrian Brown, managing director of Wrap Film Systems, says: “A household name, Baco Foil is viewed by consumers as a premium quality product. This acquisition gives WFS access to the only recognised retail brand. We have a number of products which will develop the Baco name and reputation, providing us with

Private equity firm GI Partners has acquired Shirebrook Care Group, a bolt-on acquisition to its portfolio company Care Aspirations.  The deal, valued at approximately GBP20m, will double the size of the existing business. With facilities located in the Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire, Shirebrook Care Group offers a full range of services for adults with severe learning disabilities including continuous care, respite care and day care services. Following the acquisition, Care Aspirations will support around 500 individuals. The combined group will employ over 600 people. The acquisition of Shirebrook is being funded out of GI Partners Fund III which recently

The return of M&A deal-making which began to accelerate towards the end of the third quarter this year has continued into the final quarter, where USD575bn worth of deals have been announced so far, according to a report by mergermarket. Quarter four looks set to be the largest value by quarter since the third quarter of 2008. Overall activity for the year is 30 per cent down from 2008, a percentage which has improved steadily over the course of the year. While US M&A activity continues to dominate the global scene, the Asia-Pacific region is the only market achieving close

CDC Group, the UK’s development finance institution, has committed invest over USD100m in two sub-Saharan Africa focussed private equity funds.   The funds will invest in promising businesses across a range of African countries.   The new commitments made by CDC are with fund managers Helios Investors in their Helios Investors II fund, and with Development Partners International in their African Development Partners fund. The commitments are USD75m and EUR20m respectively.   The commitments with Helios and DPI bring CDC’s total investment commitment in 2009 in Africa focused funds to over USD150m. In addition, CDC also invested USD75m this year