Investors
As of 30 November 2001, the Cognis Group has been owned by a consortium of private equity funds advised by Permira, Goldman Sachs and SV Life Sciences.
| Pioneers in Investment Banking |
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GS Capital Partners is the private equity arm of Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s oldest investment banking and security firms. Since ist inception in 1986, the group has invested approximately US$ 11 billion in approximately 500 companies and currently compromises a team of over 100 private equity professionals – 32 of them in Europe. In July 2000, the latest global fund amounting to US$5.25 billion was raised. GS Capital Partners today has a highly diversified global portfolio. Notable investments include Wincor Nixdorf, Polo Ralph Lauren, Onion Power and Kookmin Bank. One of the latest projects has been the joint acquisition – together with Allianz Capital Partners – of Messer Griesheim from Aventis, which closed in April 2001.
The Fund invests primarily in service industry businesses. The Fund also will consider private companies, new companies that have or are developing relationships with established businesses, companies that were formerly units of larger corporations and new franchises with a proven track record.
http://www.goldmansachs.com/ |
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| Europe's private equity specialists |
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Permira is one of the largest private equity specialists in Europe. Formerly known as Schroder Ventures Europe, Permira acts as adviser to the 17 Permira Funds. These funds have invested in over 250 transactions in 15 different countries, in companies across a variety of sectors and geographies, at all stages of the business lifecycle. The company is an independent entity, owned and controlled by ist partners. In 1997, the company raised Europe’s first billion dollar private equity fund, Permira Europe I. In May 2000, Permira Europe II was raised – a 3.5 billion fund, which is already one third invested. The firm’s team of 60 professionals, based in Frankfurt, London, Milan and Paris, advise these and other funds with a total committed capital of 6 billion. Since 1985, Permira has completed more than 250 transactions. Recent transactions include the 2.6 billion acquisition of Veba Electronics from E.ON AG.
Permira has always offered a fresh approach to European private equity. The name encapsulates this approach – Permira is Latin for "very surprising, very different". Permira believes in partnership culture, works closely with management teams and helps management teams to create value by combining extensive geographic coverage with deep vertical sector knowledge.
http://www.permira.com/en/index.html |
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| Investing in Life Sciences |
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SV Life Sciences ('SVLS'), is a life sciences focused venture capital adviser and manager. SVLS advised or managed funds from corporate and private investors make selected investments in entrepreneurs and management teams operating businesses at all stages of development requiring funding within the human life sciences sector including biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, medical devices and instruments, healthcare IT and services. SVLS currently advises or manages five funds with capital commitments of approximately $1.6bn which primarily invest in North America and Europe, but will consider innovative investments in other regions. Our team of 28 professionals has a diverse, complimentary set of skills and experience that allow us to tailor a team to work with almost any life sciences business.
SVLS was established in 1993, and operated as Schroder Ventures Life Sciences until our name was changed on 1 January 2005, and currently has offices in Boston, London and San Francisco.
http://www.svlsa.com/ |