European Directories has sold its stake in Swedish local directory provider Lokaldelen i Sverige to FCR Media Holding, increasing the latter’s already-dominant presence in the local search domain for Europe. The acquisition of the company gives FCR media its first entry into the Scandinavian market for local search and operator services; it’s presence is already strong [...]

Swedish PE firm EQT Partners has agreed to purchase 100 percent of Austrian IT automation software developer UC4, currently valued at around EUR 220 mln (USD 271.3 mln). UC4′s founder, Frank Beranek, will also be selling his stake in the company, along with main investors, the Carlyle Group. Carlyle first acquired the company in 2006 [...]

Sweden’s Ratos has announced a deal with the Sanoma media group which will allow the company to acquire 100% of a cinema chain based in Finland. Ratos will provide private equity funding of € 50 million for Finnkino, Finland’s largest cinema chain, in a deal that’s been valued at € 94.3 million. The sale includes [...]

Nordic investor CapMan has signed an agreement to sell it’s 25% share of Jolife AB, a Swedish manufacturer of specialized medical equipment. The company’s other shareholders also agreed to sell their shares, giving new owner Medtronic 100% of the company. CapMan first entered Jolife via a 2003 investment from its Swedestart Life Science Fund. Physio-Control, [...]

ATP Private Equity Partners has launched its fourth fund of funds which will enjoy the same ATP backing provided to its three predecessors. The new fund will be financed with EUR1 billion of ATP reserves. ATP plans to use the fund for as many as 25 projects; primarily contributions to growth capital funds, buyout funds, [...]

Björnkläder, operators of the Grolls retail clothing chain, has a new owner in Sweden’s Litorina. Litorina paid €34 million to acquire Björnkläder from Britain’s Davis group after closely watching the company’s financial performance for some time. Litorina believes Björnkläder’s long history of more than 100 years in the workwear business makes it an attractive investment. [...]

In Russia’s largest e-commerce transaction of 2010, online classified advertiser Avito.ru has secured USD 26 million in new funding from Sweden’s Northzone Ventures and Investment AB Kinnevik. Kinnevik contributed most of the funding at USD 21 million. With the additional investment, Avito.ru is better positioned to compete with Slando.ru, IRR.ru, and OLX.ru, it’s main rivals [...]

Two of the Nordic region’s leading bathroom supply companies are set to become one larger organization now that CapMan has agreed to acquire both and merge them. CapMan will purchase INR and Aspen from Swedish private equity firms Accent Equity and Valedo Partners, respectively. The acquisitions will come via the recently closed CapMan Buyout IX [...]

CapMan, the Nordic alternative asset firm based in Helsinki, has reached a deal enabling it to fully divest from Inflight Service Intressenter AB. CapMan’s 67% stake in the Swedish travel service company will be sold to Triton for an undisclosed amount. CapMan acquired Inflight Service in 2005 and with the divestiture, is very pleased with [...]

Citing the poor performance of the East Capital Bering Funds, East Capital Explorer AB announced in late September a plan to make additional investments in the two funds. The Bering Russia Fund received €20 million while the Bering Balkan Fund received €10 million. With the investments complete East Capital Explorer reports €42.1 million available for [...]

Mid Europa Partners, the owner of Danish molding and casting company DISA Group, has announced the completion of a merger between DISA and another portfolio company, Wheelabrator. Wheelabrator is an international company operating in the metal surface preparation field. The merger, which was required to receive approval from the German Bundeskartellamt, is being promoted as [...]

CapMan Plc., a leading alternative asset manager in the Nordic Region and Russia, has announced an agreement with Belgian investment firm Gimv that it hopes will reduce future capital calls. The deal, requires regulatory approval, has CapMan selling some of its own fund investments and investment commitments to Gimv for a price of €17 million. [...]

Swedish investor EQT Funds Management is in the process of acquiring Bulgarian cable TV and internet provider Eurocom Cable Management, after government regulators gave their approval to the transaction. Should the deal be completed, acquisition will be made via EQT’s managed fund, EGT V Ltd., which earlier acquired CableTEL. Hoping to allay fears of stifling [...]

CapMan has closed its CapMan Russia Fund upon reaching a value of €118.1 million. The fund, formerly known as Norum Russia Fund III, faced some difficulty securing commitments during the last few months, but management is satisfied with the final closing value. With the close in place, CapMan can conclude its purchase of the Norum [...]

Catella Private Equity will become a shareholder in Intrac Group AB, the leading heavy machines trade company in the Baltic States, through newly issued shares. Following the issue, Baltic Investment Fund III and Intrac management will each hold slightly more than 35% of the company and Catella Private Equity will hold around 25%. Intrac Group [...]