LATEST NEWS

Merlin keeps options open

Blackstone-owned theme park operator Merlin Entertainments, which last month put plans for a flotation on hold, is still considering the option.

Wednesday, 10th March 2010
Firms target Card Factory deal

Card Factory, the greeting card retail chain based in West Yorkshire, has attracted a number of bids from private equity firms, valuing the business at up to £400m (€441m).

Wednesday, 10th March 2010
LPs raise AIFM directive protest

The Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA) has written to Michel Barnier, the new EU internal market commissioner, warning that the AIFM directive could cut off European private equity from the industry in the rest of the world.

Wednesday, 10th March 2010
Cognetas promotes de Péguilhan

Cognetas has promoted Antoine de Péguilhan to the position of investment manager.

Wednesday, 10th March 2010
Bayern Kapital backs SurgicEye

Bayern Kapital has backed SurgicEye, an intraoperative imaging and navigated tumour surgery business, with a seven-digit series A financing round.

Wednesday, 10th March 2010
AGF leads €13.1m Genticel investment

AGF Private Equity has led a €13.1m investment in biopharmaceutical company Genticel, formerly known as BT Pharma.

Wednesday, 10th March 2010
AeroThermal Group secures VC backing

Bridges Ventures has led an investment alongside Carbon Trust Investments in AeroThermal Group, a Dorset-based developer of an innovative autoclave-based steam-treatment technology for waste.

Wednesday, 10th March 2010
Autoquake.com receives additional £6m investment

Existing investors Accel Partners and Highland Capital Partners have made an equity investment in online used car retailer Autoquake.com as part of a £6m (€6.6m) round of funding. Kreos Capital provided a debt package as part of the deal.

Wednesday, 10th March 2010
ASL secures £1.4m backing from CfE Fund

The Capital for Enterprise Fund (CfE Fund), jointly managed by Maven Capital Partners, has made an investment of up to £1.4m (€1.5m) in Applied Language Solutions (ALS), a UK-based language services provider.

Wednesday, 10th March 2010
Team Europe Ventures launches €6m fund

Team Europe Ventures has launched a €6m fund to focus on internet and mobile internet start-ups.

Wednesday, 10th March 2010

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"If the raft of heralded IPOs is now not going to happen after all, GPs and LPs may have to modify their return expectations further."

Guy Fraser-Sampson, Cass Business School

"Our impression is that corporates have become more aware of the potential benefits of corporate venturing to the enterprise."

Markus Thill, Robert Bosch Venture Capital
Queen fails to save Northern Rock Thu, 18 Oct 2007 May the Esprit be with you Thu, 18 Oct 2007 Flat tax haven Thu, 18 Oct 2007 The deer-hunter Thu, 18 Oct 2007
Q&A: Robert Manz

Enterprise Investors managing partner Robert Manz talks to Real Deals about the new economic reality, getting deals done in 2010 and the looming spectre of regulation.


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LATEST ISSUE

Leader

Venture's victory Venture's victory

The European venture capital industry was given a much-needed fillip at the beginning of this month, when two pieces of good news hit the headlines in the UK.

Top Story

Q&A: Mark Wignall Q&A: Mark Wignall

Fresh from a strong 2009, the chief executive of Matrix Private Equity Partners explains why he is a “small is beautiful” man, and contends that the VCT model remains attractive.

Feature

Competitive disadvantage Competitive disadvantage

Some areas of Central and Eastern Europe may have escaped lightly from the economic downturn, but fierce competition for scarce assets could drive up prices in 2010.  

Comment

From Baird to worse From Baird to worse

Much of today’s most important technology was invented by Europeans, but – as with venture – the Americans are best at “monetising” innovation.

News Analysis

Out with the old... Out with the old...

The departure of Atlas may be bad news for European venture, but a variety of smaller operators are lining up to fill the funding gap.


11.3.10

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