Market stories

Earlybird Venture Capital today announces the funding of three new portfolio companies. The altogether high single-digit million euro investment is made in the sectors Cleantech, Consumer Internet and Scalable IT-Services.

The private equity firm GED Capital has acquired a stake in Bio-Oils, a Spanish Huelva-based company, to expand on and improve its existing capacity. The transaction, with an investment of €7 million through a capital increase, will enable the company to finance the project to expand its capacity to 500,000 tons/year. The company also plans to build a co-generation plant to reduce CO2 emissions and save on energy costs.

Sophos plc and funds advised by Apax Partners today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement in which Apax Funds will purchase a majority stake in Sophos plc (“Sophos”), a leading IT security and data protection provider, from the founders of Sophos and TA Associates, valuing the company at US$830million. The founders of Sophos will retain a significant minority shareholding.

Yoom.de has raised further growth capital from Earlybird Venture Capital. The innovative online platform for tenant-to-tenant residential real estate transactions received seed financing from angel investors in spring 2009 and has now raised a further medium single-digit million Euro amount following its successful market entry.

In partnership with Apax, Tommy Hilfiger’s new management team redefined its strategy to reflect the brand’s global presence and premium brand positioning. Over the past four years, Tommy Hilfiger has acquired its Japanese licensee, entered into a ground breaking exclusive department store distribution agreement with Macy’s in the US, sold its sourcing operations to Li & Fung, re-launched its e-commerce business in cooperation with D+S, another Apax portfolio company, and consolidated its supplier base to enable the company to maintain profitable growth in challenging times.