Top Headlines This Week

• 🏥 DCC sells DCC Healthcare to InvestIndustrial for £1bn enterprise value.

• 🎓 Cognita, the UK private schools group with £260m+ EBITDA draws interest from Blackstone, CVC, and Permira.

• 🚘 Continental to spin off automotive division Aumovio for Frankfurt listing; 2024 sales €19.4bn.

• 🧬 KKR bids $1.2bn for Swedish biotech group Biotage.

Deals, Deals, Deals

UK & Ireland 🇬🇧🇮🇪

🥤 Selkirk, the AIM-listed buyout vehicle, is no longer in discussions to acquire THG's Myprotein brand after a £600m bid was rejected.

💊 Irish conglomerate DCC to sell its healthcare division DCC Healthcare to InvestIndustrial for £1bn enterprise value.

🛒 Lakeland, a UK homewares retailer with 60 stores, has been acquired through an MBO backed by Hilco Capital.

🐾 CVS Group, the UK-listed veterinary services company, sells its Crematoria operations to Anima Care UK for £42m.

💳 UK credit card provider NewDay, owned by Cinven and CVC, has drawn interest from Pimco, KKR, and Bain Capital.

🔒 Glasswall, a UK provider of zero-trust file protection solutions for B2G and B2B markets, announces strategic growth investment from PSG Equity.

🏦 Shawbrook, the UK challenger bank, has approached Starling Bank about a potential merger (Sky News).

⚽ Rangers FC, the Scottish Premiership club, confirms takeover discussions with a consortium of US investors.

🏦 Banco Santander plans a reorganization of its underperforming UK operations (Bloomberg).

🚍 Dublin-headquartered uTrack, a public transport data platform provider, acquired by Bregal Milestone-backed Ridango.

🎤 PMY Group, an Australian tech solutions provider for sport and major events, acquires London-based EVENT360, a specialist in stadium experiences.

💼 Shackleton, backed by Sovereign Capital Partners, acquires IM Asset Management, adding £1.4bn of AUM.

💳 Octopus Ventures will take over management of the Fintech Growth Fund, who invests in UK fintech scaleups.

🏦 Gordon Brothers, the global asset advisory firm, acquired UK-based SIA Group, specialists in asset valuation and trading.

🏫 Cognita, an operator of premium schools and nurseries globally, is exploring a sale or IPO, attracting bids from major PE players.

⚡ UK EV charging firm Pod Point receives a takeover offer from majority shareholder EDF Energy, valuing the share capital at ~£10m.

🏦 Zopa, the London-based bank and lending platform, eyes a public listing after achieving a $1bn valuation in its last fundraising.

🥛 Activist Clearway Capital is pushing for a break-up of Irish nutrition group Glanbia to unlock value, potentially spinning off its Optimum Nutrition protein brand.

🛍️ The Original Factory Shop (TOFS), the UK discount retailer owned by Modella Capital, could soon announce a CVA restructuring.

🧹 Irish cleaning and security services firm Ailesbury Services (750 employees) acquired by international peer Samsic.

Central & Northern Europe 🇩🇪🇸🇪🇵🇱

 🧠 GAIA, a Germany-based developer of digital therapeutics solutions for chronic diseases, is exploring sale options. The business is marketed off €10m+ EBITDA.

📊 synvert, a German data analytics and AI solutions provider backed by Maxburg Capital Partners, has been put on the market, with expected 2025 EBITDA of €25m+.

🚘 Autodoc SE, the German online car parts retailer, is preparing for a public listing by summer 2025. Apollo acquired a minority stake last year, valuing the company at €2.3bn.

🏠 Swiss non-medical homecare services provider Dovida is launching a sale process. The business is marketed off €55m+ EBITDA for 2025, with an expected enterprise value of over €600m.

🛡️ Swiss insurance giants Baloise and Helvetia have agreed to a merger of equals, creating Switzerland’s second-largest insurer with a ~20% market share.

🧬 KKR has made a $1.2bn offer to acquire Swedish biotech firm Biotage, specializing in sample purification technologies. KKR already owns a 17% stake through its vehicle Gamma Biosciences.

🔩 Swiss-based PCB manufacturer STG, specializing in highly miniaturized printed circuit boards for demanding industrial and medical applications, is being marketed for sale by private equity firm Afinum. The business posted around €20m FY24 EBITDA.

🛜 Valokuitunen, a Finnish fibre broadband network operator established by CapMan Infra and Telia, is exploring a sale. The company generates €23m revenues and €14m EBITDA, and has Finland’s largest residential fibre coverage.

⚡ Nodica Group AB, a Swedish supplier of power electronics and pulsed power subsystems, plans to relaunch its postponed IPO in the second half of 2025.

💻 Danish IT services company Complea A/S, providing digital transformation services to public and private enterprises, has been acquired by pan-European PE firm GTO Partners.

⚖️ Berlin-based LegalTech firm Xayn (soon rebranding as Noxtua SE), has raised €81m in Series B funding, led by Germany’s leading legal publisher C.H.Beck. Noxtua is Europe’s first sovereign Legal AI platform.

🧬 Swiss immunology biotech Granite Bio AG has emerged from stealth with $100m in total funding, including $30m Series A led by Versant Ventures and Novartis Venture Fund, and $70m Series B led by Forbion and Sanofi Ventures.

💸 Swedish small-business lending platform Froda has raised SEK 224m (~€20.5m) in new funding, led by Incore Invest.

🐶 Swedish online pet marketplace Pet Media Group (PMG) has acquired US peer Lancaster Puppies to strengthen its position internationally. PMG has annual revenues of approximately €18m.

⚡ node.energy, a German SaaS platform enabling corporate buyers to source renewable energy via direct PPAs, has raised €15m Series B funding, backed by DTCF and eCAPITAL.

🦃 German turkey meat distributor Heidemark has acquired poultry producer Gut Bergmark. Heidemark posted €713m sales in 2023, compared to Gut Bergmark’s €133m.

🛠️ Renta Group, a Finnish machine rental company backed by IK Partners, is preparing for a potential IPO. Renta achieved €456m turnover in 2023, driven by an active M&A strategy.

📱 German digital and influencer marketing agency Intermate has been acquired by Spanish marketing platform Samy Alliance. Intermate employs around 200 people.

Western & Southern Europe 🇫🇷🇪🇸🇮🇹

🍬 Eurazeo brings Carambar & Co to market, targeting confectionery buyers. Forecast €450m FY25 sales, 10% margin.

🧳 Paris-based travel software developer Travelsoft, backed by CAPZA, rumored to launch sale process (€40m EBITDA).

🔫 Italy’s CSG acquires full ownership of ammunition manufacturer Fiocchi Munizioni.

💊 French PE fund ArchiMed mandates Rothschild to sell SuanFarma’s non-core nutrition unit. 2024 turnover: €300m, EBITDA: €31m.

♻️ Spanish biogas engineering and agribusiness consultancy Biovic acquired by Suma Capital to accelerate renewable gas rollout.

🏦 Italian bank Banca Profilo faces potential breakup and sale following market rumors (Il Sole 24 Ore).

☕ Dutch coffee capsule manufacturer Euro Caps, advised by Rabobank, prepares for sale (€25m FY24 EBITDA).

🛒 Spanish supermarket chain Dinosol Supermercados listed for sale. €140m EBITDA, 260+ stores, 25% Canary Islands market share.

🏬 Italy’s state investment group Invitalia to take a 30% stake in troubled retailer Gruppo Coin.

📊 Consent management platform Didomi, based in Paris, raises €72m from Marlin Equity Partners to support expansion.

🖥️ Amsterdam-based Microsoft partner HSO, owned by Carlyle, prepares for sale (€70m+ EBITDA).

🔐 Italian cybersecurity and infrastructure solutions firm BV Tech to launch sale. Forecast FY25 revenue: €205m, EBITDA: €46m.

⚖️ Spanish legaltech player Conversia, backed by Arraigo, for sale. Forecast €10m EBITDA, €30m turnover.

⚖️ Bpifrance takes a minority stake in Hg-backed legaltech firm Septeo (€420m revenue).

🚎 SaaS transport platform Matawan, with €20m+ ARR, launches sale process targeting mobility-focused buyers.

🌱 French cleantech startup Auum secures €15m to scale its reusable cup-cleaning technology.

🎤 French karaoke app KaraFun enters exclusive sale talks with Vendis Capital and Verlinvest, targeting a €180m enterprise value.

Fresh Powder 💰

💷 Palatine closes £254m Buyout Fund V, targeting £10m–£50m mid-market deals.

🇮🇹 P101 SGR finalizes Programma 103 VC fund at €250m.

🧬 Avidicure, pioneering multifunctional antibodies, launches with $50m seed financing led by EQT Life Sciences.

🛠️ Danish VC KOMPAS closes second industrial tech fund at €150m.

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