CEE
GLOBAL - $48.5bn deal for BCE the largest ever
The investment arm of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Teachers Private Capital, has joined forces with Providence Equity Partners and Madison Dearborn Partners to acquire BCE, Canada's largest telecom group. The $48.5bn price-tag will make it the...
CEE - Mid Europa Partners completes first ever leveraged buyout in Serbia
Mid Europa Partners has acquired a controlling stake in Serbia Broadband (SBB) from SEEF I fund, managed by Bedminster Capital Management. The deal represented the first leveraged buyout in Serbia.
BULGARIA - GED acquires FAMA
Spanish private equity management company GED has acquired Bulgarian dairy company FAMA. The transaction value has not been disclosed. GED has is to incorporate a new management team including Julio Muñoz, the former general manager of the Spanish dairy...
BALTIC - Otaris Eko Fonds invests EUR 300,000 in Livonia Print
JSC Eko Investors venture capital fund Otaris Eko Funds has acquired 35% of LLC Livonia Print for EUR 300,000. The investment will be used to establish the most modern book printing house in Latvia that will service customers in the Baltics, Scandinavia...
EUROPE - Schühsler replaces Loizaga as EVCA chairman
TVM Capital's managing partner Helmut SchУМhsler was officially elected as EVCA chairman for the period June 2007 to June 2008.
EUROPE - EVCA defiant on difficult day for private equity
The mood at the EVCA Symposium held in Rome today was defiant. On the day that the BVCA CEO stepped down the voices on this side of the Channel were clear: "Politicians should be careful what they wish for," warned Philippe Costeletos from Texas Pacific...
EUROPE - EVCA to change its set-up
The European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA) today announced at its annual conference in Rome that it is to become an umbrella for three independent groups dealing with large buy-out houses, mid-market buy-out companies and venture...
EUROPE - EVCA stats show record 2006 fundraising and investment
Final figures for European private equity activity and performance were announced by EVCA today, confirming a booming buyout industry and continued UK dominance. The figures also showed something of a revival for European venture, with тЌ17bn allocated...
BALTIC - BaltCap attracts Catella Private Equity to finance expansion for Intrac
Intrac, a supplier of tracked and wheeled machines for forestry, material handling and earthmoving in the Baltic States, has attracted Catella Private Equity as an investor to fund further expansion. Catella Private Equity will become a shareholder through...
BALTIC - BaltCap exits ZetCOM
BaltCap has sold its minority position in ZetCOM to Latvijas Mobilias Telefons Ltd. BaltCap invested in ZetCOM in 2005 to be part of the heavily growing telecom market in the region.
CEE - Warburg Pincus in $100m financing round for IMB
Warburg Pincus has participated in a $100m equity financing round for IMB Group Public Ltd, the Ukraine's leading consumer lender. Warburg Pincus contributed $43.8m, with the balance of the investment committed by existing investors Horizon Capital, East...
CZECH REPUBLIC - Advent opens Prague office
Advent International has announced the opening of its Prague office, led by Chris Mruck. From this office, Advent will cover investment in the Czech and Slovak Republics and Hungary. With offices in Warsaw and Bucharest, this latest opening sees Advent...
POLAND - Argan acquires majority stake in AAT Group
Argan Capital has acquired Polish distributor of security products and systems, AAT Group. Following completion of the transaction, Argan will hold a majority stake in the business. Established in 1995, AAT has a broad product offering which includes...
BALTIC - LP Otrais Eko Funds invest in LLC Epic Bau for EUR 150,000
LP Otrais Eko Fonds will invest EUR 150,000 in start-up company LLC Epic Bau to finance the acquisition of modern mobile concrete production machinery. The fund will obtain a 49% shareholding in the company.
HUNGARY - KBC invests in Grafika Press
KBC Private Equity has acquired a minority shareholding in Hungarian printing company Grafika Press. Additionally, the financial investor provided Grafika with a mezzanine facility to finance the acquisition of assets from another Hungarian printing company...
EUROPE - European venture performance takes off
The returns from European venture have never been better, with new performance figures now exceeding even the lofty heights seen in 2001. тThe GPs left in this space are the cream that has risen to the top,т says Charles Irving at Pond Ventures. тIt is...
EUROPE - European venture performance takes off
The returns from European venture have never been better, with new performance figures now exceeding even the lofty heights seen in 2001. тThe GPs left in this space are the cream that has risen to the top,т says Charles Irving at Pond Ventures. тIt is...
WORLD - Blackstone in $3bn Chinese coup
When Blackstone announced it was to list on the NYSE, it provoked much discussion, but few mused over its potential impact on Chinese-US relations. Unsuprisingly, no one foresaw China's announcement that it will invest $3bn of its $1.2 trillion foreign...
EUROPE - Private equity to take the stand
The Commons Treasury Select Committee in the UK has summoned five of Europe тs biggest private equity chiefs to attend a meeting on 20 June, which as been called a sort of тpublic hearingт in a report in todayтs Financial Times. The industry chiefs...
BULGARIA - Arco acquires CableTEL for €41m
Arco Capital Corporation (ACC) has announced the €41m acquisition of CableTEL, a Bulgaria-based telecommunications company which also has operations in Macedonia. ACC is a holding company that engages in lending and acquisition activities primarily...
EUROPE - Bear Stearns joins iPEIT club
The Initiative for Private Equity Investment Trusts ( iPEIT ) now names Bear Stearns Private Equity Limited as one of its members, bringing the total number of PEITs under the umbrella organisation to 11. Bear Stearns is a listed fund of funds that...
EUROPE - WINNERS ANNOUNCED for unquote" Central & Eastern European Awards
Unquoteт is delighted to announce the winners of the first ever awards for Central & Eastern European Private Equity, held last night at One Whitehall Place, London. The inaugural event, held in association with EBRD and sponsored by Clifford Chance,...
CEE - AIG invests in SC Digital Cable Systems SA
AIG Capital Partners has invested EUR 45m in Romanian firm SC Digital Cable (DCS) Systems, a provider of video re-transmission services. The commitment will be funded by AIG New Europe II, a EUR 523m fund dedicated to investments in Central and Eastern...
EUROPE - Carlyle in Euronext placing
The Carlyle Group is to place shares of its Guernsey-based affiliate Carlyle Capital Corporation on Euronext Amsterdam later this year, the buyout house said in a statement.