Romania
CEE fundraising activity promises buyout revival
Fundraising in the region held strong in 2018 in contrast to the rest of Europe and promises to be even stronger in 2019, even as dealflow slumped
Rich shoppers and cheap talent quell CEE slump fears
Influx of high profile employers and the availability of affordable skilled talent could benefit the region during a wider European slowdown
EBRD appoints new regional director for Romania, Bulgaria
Mark Davis joined the bank in 2013 as head of Armenia, after stints at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs
Abris exits Urgent Cargus to Mid Europa
Exit ends a five-year holding period for Abris, which acquired the firm with its second buyout fund
Sequoia, CapitalG lead $225m series-C for UiPath
Funding was co-led by existing investor CapitalG with new investor Sequoia Capital joining the round
Abris appoints Stanculescu as head of Romania office
Stanculescu will assume responsibility for the supervision and operation of the Bucharest office
Highlander Partners opens Romania office
GP has opened its inaugural office in the region after entering the Polish market in 2008
Accel leads $153m series-B round for UiPath
Fresh capital will be used to accelerate the product offering, in addition to opening new offices
Mid Europa buys MediGroup from Blue Sea Capital
Seller Blue Sea Capital, which established MediGroup in 2013, will retain a 45% stake
Horizon partially exits Purcari Wineries in Bucharest listing
The Ukraine-focused buyout house remains an active shareholder with a 22.7% stake held
Triton-backed OptiGroup completes bolt-ons in Romania, Finland
Acquired businesses are expected to post a €50m combined turnover, according to OptiGroup
Enterprise sells Macon to Xella in trade sale
Deal ends a 12-year holding period for Enterprise, which acquired the business in 2006
Vitruvian buys 30% stake in Bitdefender
Deal marks end of 10-year holding period for Romania-based PE firm Axxess Capital
ADM sells brick maker Brikston
PE firm invested in the brick maker in July 2014 via its Capital CEECAT Recovery Fund
Fribourg Capital closes VC fund on €20m
VC firm intends to deploy capital in Romanian IT startups seeking seed funding rounds
Duet buys minority stake in Marfin Bank Romania
Deal is the London-based GP's first financial services investment in the CEE region
Accel leads $30m series-A for UiPath
New funding will be used predominantly to hire new staff to keep up with increasing product demand
Ardian's Solina buys Supremia
Ardian will continue its strategy of external growth in the European food industry through the acquisition
EBRD buys into Mid Europa's Profi
International finance institution provides €25m of equity after a €533m buyout by Mid Europa in November
New government may jeopardise Romanian progress
Results of December election follows year of record Romanian M&A activity and strong PE performance
Rockaway acquires e-commerce trio from Naspers
Deal sees venture capital firm acquire CEE-focused online comparison shopping engines
Value4Capital makes 2x gross return on MedLife IPO
Exit comes as part of the Romanian private healthcare provider’s RON 522m IPO in Bucharest
Enterprise Investors makes 7x on €533m Profi exit to Mid Europa
CEE-focused private equity firm invested €76m over the course of its investment
Romanian buyout activity shows no signs of picking up
Macroeconomic factors, combined with a dearth of dealmakers, are limiting the growth potential of Romanian private equity