I was recently informed that in quarters past peHUB has to posted very detailed quarterly charts of M&A data that breaks down private equity activity as a percentage of the total by regions. Apparently that lovely chart, which includes every quarter since 2000, hasn't appeared in this space for three quarters, but by request, we have updated it to include the full year for 2008. Needless to say, PE as a percentage of the total has dropped significantly from '07 levels. As a percentage of total M&A, it's down 69% worldwide and 82% in the US. Total Global M&A was only down 30%; in the US it was down 37%. (I use "only" as a relative term here...) We'll try to keep this data coming at a more consistent and timely pace each quarter. Download the spreadsheet after the jump.
Robbins Bros., an engagement ring retailer, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and proposed a plan to sell the company. Robbins Bros. sold a minority stake in 2005 to Weston Presidio and affiliate Dorset Capital. It has selected Weston Presidio and Spence Diamonds are lead bidders. www.robbinsbros.com
Westwood One (OTC BB: WWON) has agreed to a restructuring plan that includes private equity firm Gores Group increasing its stake in the radio broadcaster to 72.5 percent. Gores originally invested $100 million via a PIPE last year, and now would provide another $25 million in equity.
The UK could see a wave of delistings in the sub-£100m value bracket, suggests a piece of research which has identified a growing trend of ‘stranded Plcs’. That some sub-£100m-size companies would be better off private, rather than listed, is not a new idea. What the research, commissioned by BDO Stoy Hayward, does do is […]
After lengthy speculation, Virgin Media, the UK cable operator has reportedly put its content business on the market. According to a report in the Times, Virgin Media has formally started the sale process on the unit which includes stakes in the Dave and Living television channels. The unit, which could fetch as much at £500m […]
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Premier Foods (PFD.L) confirmed plans for a 404 million pounds ($571.3 million) capital raising on Thursday as it looked to reduce its 1.8 billion pound debt pile, easing fears over its long-term future. Shares in Premier Foods, which have lost over 70 percent of their value over the last 12 months […]
LONDON (Reuters) – French private equity firm 21 Centrale Partners is expected to buy French paper manufacturer Arjowiggins’ security unit after being granted exclusivity on the sale, banking sources said on Thursday. The deal is one of the only private equity auctions making progress in an otherwise silent leveraged loan market. A group of around […]
Blackstreet Capital Partners has acquired substantially all the assets of Professional Appearances Inc., a direct marketer of medical apparel and diagnostic equipment to healthcare professionals. No financial terms were disclosed. Blackstreet has renamed the company Scrubs AC Inc.
CHAMP Private Equity, an Australian affiliate of Castle Harlan Inc., has acquired a 75% stake in Australian financial advisor Centric Wealth. The deal was valued at A$80 million.
SunGard Data Systems Inc. has acquired Performance Pathways Inc., a Mechanicsburg, Penn.-based provider of instructional management software for K-12 school districts. No financial terms were disclosed. SunGard was acquired for $11.4 billion in 2005 by Bain Capital, Blackstone Group, GS Capital Partners, KKR, Providence Equity Partners, Silver Lake Partners and TPG Capital.