FVCA - Finnish PE/VC News

15.05.2012 Finnish Industry Investment makes a commitment of 7,5 million euros to the new Creandum III fund

Investments from Finnish Industry Investment Ltd., Spintop Ventures, Open Ocean Capital and OnCorps enable SkySQL to ramp up development for the enterprise and cloud

The company will strengthen its global customer relations, and further develop its performance differentiated IP in selected domains

A fund managed by the Finnish private equity investor Sentica Partners has sold its majority holding in RFID solutions specialist Idesco Oy to Lagercrantz Group AB. The management of Idesco retains ownership to nearly 10 per cent of the shares. Sentica Partners became the main owner of Idesco through a corporate asset acquisition from Polar Electro in March 2006.

Launches unique revenue investment model without dilution of equity.

TactoTek Inc. closed its first round of venture financing led by Conor Venture Partners and VTT Ventures

Sponsor Capital and the company’s management have purchased all of the Plastiroll shares in a deal signed on December 29, 2011 and closed on January 24, 2012. The sellers were Rauno Asonen and Esa Mylläri, the founders of Plastiroll, and the M-real Corporation. Plastiroll is one of the foremost manufacturers of biodegradable packaging films and bags in Europe. In addition to traditional plastic-coated materials, Plastiroll manufactures compostable paper and board-based packaging materials. Plastiroll was founded in 1983, and its turnover in 2011 totalled EUR 27 million, with exports accounting for more than 40% of it. The company’s production facilities are located in Ylöjärvi, Finland.

Aura Capital, a Finnish venture capital firm, has divested its share in Fromdistance, a device management software company, to the American-based Numara Software. Aura Capital invested in Fromdistance in 2008.

CapMan Russia, a leading Russian private equity fund managed by CapMan, has acquired a 29% share in a Russian laboratory analytical equipment manufacturer Lumex Instruments. With operations in Russia, the CIS, China, the European Union, the USA and Canada, the company aims at becoming the leading player in its field globally. In the coming years, CapMan will accelerate Lumex’s international expansion.

The majority holding in Finnsweet Ltd has been acquired by a private equity fund managed by Profita Management Ltd

Fund managed by private equity company Sentica Partners has acquired the majority of Puuilo Oy’s share capital. Puuilo’s previous owners will remain as significant minority shareholders and Markku Tuomaala continues as the company’s CEO. Sentica brings Puuilo even better resources to grow business and expand operations to new cities by establishing own stores or acquiring smaller companies.

19.09.2011 Nominations at CapMan Group

Göran Barsby and Mats Gullbrandsson have been nominated Senior Partners at CapMan. Mari Simula has been nominated Sales & Marketing Director.

CapMan Russia, a fund managed by CapMan, has invested in Siberian Networks. The company is a fast growing Internet Service Provider (ISP) operating in the Siberian Federal District (SFD) of Russia. Siberian Networks aims to further expand its operations in its primary market area with considerable growth opportunities. CapMan will support the company in achieving its targets.

A fund managed by Sentica Partners, a private equity company, has acquired a majority stake in the Kotipizza companies. The companies’ previous owner, Mr Rabbe Grönblom, will remain as a minority shareholder and intends to devote more of his time on developing the Omena Hotel business. Sentica will contribute, via the acquisition, additional resources to the Kotipizza Group for business development and internationalisation.

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