http://capital.liveactu.com fr 2008-08-20T23:45:23+01:00 tag:capital.liveactu.com,2008:rss-1007725 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:25:00 +0100 fr Virginie FAVRE European private equity firm, Cinven Limited, announces that the management of Cinven has acquired a 50% stake in Indicus Advisors LLP. The balance of the firm will continue to be owned by senior management of Indicus.

Indicus is an alternative investment manager focusing on European Leveraged Finance and Global Structured Credit. David Reilly and Ujjaval Desai founded the firm in 2006 which today has 17 professionals located in London and New York with approximately $1.75 billion of assets under management. Indicus also advises on over $2 billion of structured investments for several large institutional investors. Indicus has established an impressive reputation based on the strong performance of its European loan as well as corporate structured credit funds. Indicus is not involved with mortgage or other consumer related debt.

Cinven has been closely following the corporate debt markets over the last 18 months and believes that, following the correction in the debt markets starting last summer, there are now opportunities to earn attractive returns in this area which are closely adjacent to Cinven's core business of private equity. Cinven identified Indicus as an experienced, high quality team with a strong track record and exceptional infrastructure. Cinven is confident that this will be an enduring business with excellent risk/return characteristics and that its clients can access these attractive returns through Indicus.

Indicus will remain a distinct firm and will continue to be managed by its current partners. In this way Indicus's investors will continue to benefit from the focus of the Indicus team, together with the advantage of leveraging Cinven's infrastructure and relationships. Cinven will retain its own focus on its core business of private equity.

Cinven Partner, Andrew Joy, commented:

"We are delighted to be partnering with such a highly talented team as Indicus. The disruption in the debt markets over the last 12 months has produced a much healthier environment for corporate debt investors. Investing in debt through a top class manager can now deliver attractive returns with relatively low risk, and as an investment class, it is highly complementary to private equity. The team at Indicus will continue to manage the business independent of Cinven, but with the advantage of accessing Cinven's relationships."

David Reilly and Ujjaval Desai, founders of Indicus said:

"We are excited to be teaming up with Cinven to capitalize on current and future opportunities in the global debt markets. We are proud of what our team has accomplished since launching our firm and feel exceptionally well positioned to deliver strong performance for our investors. Cinven shares our long term approach with a clear emphasis on achieving great returns but never by taking undue risk. This is exactly the right approach for the world today."

]]> http://capital.liveactu.com/Cinven-acquires-50-stake-in-Indicus-Advisors_a2935.html tag:capital.liveactu.com,2008:rss-1007719 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:14:00 +0100 fr Virginie FAVRE Cognetas, société indépendante de capital investissement spécialiste du mid-cap européen, annonce aujourd'hui l'acquisition des activités internationales de FullSIX SpA pour 25 millions d'euros. FullSIX International est une agence de marketing relationnel leader en Europe avec environ 550 collaborateurs dans le monde. Cognetas investira aux côtés de l'équipe dirigeante en place.

FullSIX International conçoit et implémente des campagnes multi-canal intégrées pour de grands clients parmi les plus prestigieux à travers l'Europe. En tant qu'acteur indépendant majeur dans l'industrie en plein essor du marketing interactif, FullSIX International est parfaitement positionnée pour se développer tant par croissance interne qu'externe.

Patrick Eisenchteter, Associé de Cognetas responsable de l'opération, a déclaré : "Nous avons été impressionnés par la qualité de l'équipe dirigeante de Fullsix, ses nombreux succès sur un marché très attractif et la forte croissance organique de son activité. Nous sommes enthousiastes à l'idée de travailler en partenariat avec les dirigeants et les collaborateurs dans la mise en œuvre de leur stratégie ambitieuse et dans la poursuite de leurs objectifs".

Marco Tinelli, Président Directeur Général de FullSIX International, a commenté : "Nous sommes ravis de cette transaction qui devrait aider FullSIX à franchir une nouvelle étape dans son développement. Nous avons perçu en Cognetas un véritable partenaire capable de soutenir nos prochaines acquisitions pour renforcer notre croissance interne continue, afin de devenir le plus gros acteur alternatif indépendant dans le secteur du marketing et de la communication en Europe."

L'équipe de Cognetas en charge de l'opération était composée de Patrick Eisenchteter, Cédric Rays et Alexandra Dupont. Cognetas a été conseillé par Latham and Watkins (Gaetan Gianasso) sur les contrats et les aspects juridiques, Accuracy (Christophe Leclerc) sur les questions financières, Arsène (Olivier Vergniolle) pour les aspects fiscaux et Advention (Jean-Michel Schmitt) sur les aspects commerciaux. L'équipe de direction était conseillée par Close Brothers (George Elliston) et Frieh Avocats (Michel Frieh).


]]> http://capital.liveactu.com/Cognetas-acquiert-les-activites-internationales-de-Fullsix_a2934.html tag:capital.liveactu.com,2008:rss-1007714 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:07:00 +0100 fr Virginie FAVRE Demeter Group, an investment bank focused on three consumer verticals, food, beverage and beauty, served as advisor to San Francisco Equity Partners and Simon Equity Partners on their investments in Yes to Carrots, an innovative, high growth natural personal care company. Both funds participated in a $14 million Series A funding round that Yes to Carrots recently announced it has closed, and which was led by San Francisco Equity Partners.

San Francisco Equity Partners is a private equity firm, and Simon Equity Partners is the private investment arm of the Simon family, founders of Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG).

"We identified Yes to Carrots as an exciting category innovator last year and were pleased when subsequently both investment firms retained us to advise them on the transaction," said Jeff Menashe, CEO at San Francisco-based Demeter Group. "Our industry expertise and relationships with the leading masstige and prestige beauty retailers around the globe allowed us to fine-tune projections for the company's multi-channel distribution strategy."

Yes to Carrots was founded in Israel two years ago by Ido Leffler and Lance Karish, and introduced its products in the U.S. in April 2007 through an exclusive national sales arrangement with Walgreen's. Yes to Carrots is currently in the process of moving its headquarters to San Francisco, and carefully broadening its distribution to other retail thought leaders. The company formulated and markets all-natural products containing Beta-carotene, which is derived from such natural and organic ingredients as carrots and other orange fruits and vegetables. These are combined with detoxifying Dead Sea mud and minerals to create a paraben-free formula that provides a natural glow for skin and hair. Next month, the company is launching product extensions with Walgreen's for different skin types.

"Consumers clearly are increasingly concerned about paraben and other chemicals used in their personal care products and consequently are turning to natural products. We identified this trend early on at Sephora where I was part of senior team that made the strategic decision to give natural brands prime importance in the skincare planogram," says Jani Friedman, a Demeter Group Managing Director with 20 years brand development experience in the beauty and fashion industries, and who previously was Vice President and Divisional Merchandise Manager of Skincare at Sephora USA. "Natural products are growing at a double-digit annual rate and is now a $7.2 billion category, or roughly 7% of the personal care industry, which, by contrast, is today a much slower single-digit growing business."

Since offering its products through Walgreen's, which remains the company's largest customer, Yes to Carrots is now also sold by Target, Duane Reade and Longs Drug Stores as well as via the Home Shopping Network and beauty products retailer Ulta, among others. Yes to Carrots is also sold in 16 countries internationally.

The new capital will be used to finance the company's growth which includes expanding its world-class management team. "This is an important step for us, and we are especially pleased to have the participation and support of knowledgeable investors like Simon Equity Partners and San Francisco Equity Partners, who as key investors are helping guide Method Products, a successful marketer of non-toxic, biodegradable products for the home that's been ranked among the top 10 fastest-growing companies," said Leffler and Karish.

"Yes to Carrots has all the attributes – superior products, an experienced management team and a solid game plan – to succeed in the natural personal care market,” said Steven Simon. “Demeter Group's expertise in the vertical was especially helpful to us in defining the company's potential, and their assistance will be valuable going forward."

The transaction price was not disclosed.
]]> http://capital.liveactu.com/Demeter-Group-advises-equity-firms-on-investment-in-Yes-To-Carrots,-fast-growing-natural-personal-care-brand_a2933.html