AAA February 2013 – Page 11

NSN backs Verso Spin-off Fund

Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN), a Finland-based telecoms equipment supplier, has committed €10m ($13m) as the first limited partner in a venture capital fund that will invest in corporate spin-offs. The Verso Spin-off Fund will invest to help form independent companies from projects that are not in the core of the NSN’s strategy. The aim is… Continue reading NSN backs Verso Spin-off Fund

Parkmobile drives into $6.3m

BCD Holdings, a Netherlands-based travel conglomerate founded in 1975 by John Fentener van Vlissingen and now with $22bn in annual revenues, and VC firm Bluefield Investments joined Fontinalis in the round. BCD on its website describes Parkmobile as one of its seven subsidiaries.

Merus meets Novartis milestone

Merus, a Netherlands-based biopharmaceutical company for human antibody therapeutics, has met the second milestone in its option agreement with Switzerland-based drugs maker Novartis’s corporate venturing unit. Novartis Option Fund, part of the $850m Novartis Venture Funds team, will pay an undisclosed amount for the milestone. In January 2010, Merus entered into a $200m option agreement… Continue reading Merus meets Novartis milestone

Doughty Hanson stops fundraising

Private equity firm Doughty Hanson said it would avoid raising a new venture capital firm under its team co-led by former Intel Capital directors. Nigel Grierson (pictured) and George Powlick, co-heads of Doughty Hanson Technology Ventures, co-founded the private equity firm’s venture unit in 2000 after previously working at chip maker Intel’s corporate venturing unit… Continue reading Doughty Hanson stops fundraising

Oviya MedSafe gains Ma Foi

India-based management consultancy firm Ma Foi Strategic Consultants has reportedly acquired 17.5% of Oviya MedSafe, a local company providing drug safety services. Pandiarajan K, founder and managing director of Ma Foi Strategic Consultants, told news provider VCCircle: “As we witness the rapid and promising growth of the country’s consulting and research/analytics sector, we see ourselves… Continue reading Oviya MedSafe gains Ma Foi