Robert Venes

Icos Capital, a Dutch venture capital firm, has launched a food, energy and waste venture capital fund with a €4m participating loan from the Dutch government.

CGS Management, a Swiss buyout firm, has raised €65m for a first close of its second fund, which focuses on a buy and build strategy in the Swiss and German-speaking countries.

A study by CMBOR has revealed contrasting fortunes for the UK and Continental European buyout markets.

A lack of pre-deal preparation and post-deal operational weakness has resulted in the majority of deals in the mid-market failing to live up to expectations says latest research.

Apax Partners and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, two buyout firms, have quashed the possibility of an offer for Signet Group, a jewellery retailer with stores in the UK and US.

A conversation with Martin Calderbank of Stirling Square Capital Partners, who says the London firm is all about crossing borders. By Robert Venes.

The revision of guidelines for taxation of ratcheted and geared returns received by employees of private-equity backed companies has been welcomed by the British Venture Capital Association.

FL Group, an Iceland investment group, has purchased a 14% stake in UK department store chain House of Fraser, bought by a consortium led by Iceland’s Baugur Group for £351m.

KBC Private Equity, a Belgian private equity firm, has made its second investment in a Belgian biotechnology firm this week by leading a €40m Series financing for Ablynx, which develops protein products for serious diseases including Alzheimer’s.

EQT, a Swedish private equity firm, is expected to float German aromas and flavours business Symrise before the end of the year.