Firms and Funds

US computer giant IBM is teaming up with the Irish government to help young Irish technology businesses through the creation of a venture capital hub and an innovation centre at Mulhuddart in County Dublin. It will provide support to new software companies and advice to start-up managers on development.

Mid-market firm ABN Amro Capital has acquired a Finnish sauna maker in a secondary buyout from Sponsor Capital, a Helsinki based private equity house, for an undisclosed amount. Saunatec is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of saunas and steam baths

A busy month for Edmond de Rothschild Capital Partners (ERCP) has seen the French firm refinance its first two investments, Bonpoint and Via Location, enabling it to return 20% of called capital to investors. Bonpoint is a French luxury childrenswear brand and Via Location is a truck rental company.

The recruitment boom over the last 18 months has pushed the industry onto the private equity radar. As a sector, it is severely fragmented with very low barriers to entry, but with return levels uncertain due to low exit numbers, it’s an industry still very much in the ‘potential’ category.

Biovitrum has listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange