CEE
EUROPE - Male gender prevails in venture-backed companies
Around 95% of the CEOs in venture-backed companies across Europe are men, according to a study carried out by Library House. However, the data shows that companies run by women appear to perform ahead of their male peers. Out of 600 venture-backed companies...
CEE - unquote'' Central & Eastern Europe Congress & Awards
unquote” is excited to bring you the first annual unquote” Central & Eastern Europe Private Equity Congress & Awards this Wednesday, 16 May 2007, in London. The unquote” Central & Eastern Europe Private Equity Congress brings together industry experts...
WORLD - KKR cashes in with 44% of global deal volume
KKR has eclipsed its rivals so far this year, claiming a 44.1% share of global deal volume, over double its 20% share since the beginning of 2004. The value of these deals was more than it recorded in 2005 and 2006 combined. This includes the ТЃ10.1bn...
TURKEY - Global Finance buys stake in Biofarma
Greek private equity firm Global Finance is the latest investor to purchase a stake in Turkish pharmaceutical business Biofarma.
BALTICS - BaltCap exits UAB Daily Services yielding 35% IRR
BaltCap has sold its minority position in UAB Daily Services, a Baltic office supplies logistics company, to Agias Holding SIA. BaltCap recived 35% IRR on the investment.
EUROPE - Later stage rounds dominate European venture activity in Q1 2007
Recent research into European venture investing in Q1 2007 shows that later stage rounds have dominated activity. 40% of the rounds in the first quarter were later-stage rounds, the largest percentage since 1999. In total, Q1 2007 recorded EUR 1.07bn...
CEE - Colin Hewett leaves Mid Europa
After eight years involvement with the Mid Europa team, Colin Hewett has stepped down from the investment and management committees of Mid Europa Partners. Although Hewett has decided to pursue other interests, he will continue as a consultant to the...
BULGARIA - AIG acquires Bulgarian Telecommunications Company
AIG Global Investment Group has acquired a 65% stake in Bulgarian Telecommunications Company for EUR 1.08bn from Viva Ventures GmbH. The former state-owned telecommunications company is currently listed on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange and AIG acquired...
HUNGARY - GMT and MidEuropa complete sale of Invitel
Mid Europa Partners, GMT Communications Partners today announced the completion of the sale of fixed telecommunications services provider Invitel to Hungarian Telephone & Cable Corp for a total consideration of EUR 470m. The agreement to sell Invitel...
BALTICS - GILD Bankers is joined by a new partner Mr. Kimmo Irpola
GILD Bankers has appointed a new partner - Kimmo Irpola, who has extensive experience in private equity investment management in Finland, Germany and also in Central and Eastern Europe. At GILD Bankers Irpola joins the Investment Management team, where...
EUROPE - ECB survey says private equity poses limited systemic risk to banking sector
European leveraged buyout activity poses a limited systemic risk to the European banking sector, says a report by the Banking Supervision Committee of the European Central Bank.
EUROPE – US interest in European offers co-invest opportunities but increases valuations
тThe sign of a bubble is when the IPO market goes from push to pull,т said Gerard Lopez this morning at the Benelux unquote" Private Equity Congress in Luxembourg. The Skype backer explained that valuation levels are increasing and cited the example that...
EUROPE – Pipeline of EUR 10bn funds
There is a pipeline of mega funds coming to market in the coming months, according to Stef Oostvogels at law firm Oostvogels Pfister Roemers, speaking at the Benelux unquote" Private Equity Congress in Luxembourg this morning. He indicated that many are...
EUROPE - unquote'' Benelux Private Equity Congress
unquoteт is excited to bring you the second unquoteт Benelux Private Equity Congress, on 19 April 2007 in Luxembourg.
SLOVAKIA - Penta acquires Slovak Privatbanka
Slovak private equity group Penta Investments has acquired a 73% stake in Slovak Privatbanka from Austria’s Meinl Bank. The transaction value has not been disclosed but the financial investor has indicated to acquire the remaining stake by end of 2007....
ESTONIA - Alta Capital Partners buys Polish Mieszko
Estonian Alta Capital Partners has acquired 66.18% of Mieszko, a Polish confectionary producer. The acquisition fits Alta Capital's strategy of building a portfolio of regional players in the dairy food processing and confectionary products. Alta Capital...
CEE – Innova sells Polcard
Central and East European investor Innova Capital has sold its remaining stake in Polish banking card company Polcard in a EUR 243m sale to First Data International, an e-commerce provider. Innova held a 25.24% stake in the company, strategic co-investor...
EUROPE - Covenant-lite loans stoke heavy fears
Reports of banks accepting тcovenant-liteт loans to win deals has worried industry professionals. тIt is due to an oversupply of capital and a very clear sign of an overheated market,т one banker said. тIt is a bad structure and will come unstuck т we...
CEE – Royalton generates 3.6x money multiple on sale of Ella Bank
Dedicated Central and Eastern European investor Royalton Capital Investors has sold its entire stake in Ella Bank to generate a return of 3.6x money invested and an IRR of 39%. The Hungarian retail bank was sold by Royalton and EDHI to AXA Holdings Belgium....
EUROPE - No overhang, but concerns regarding returns say LPs
'There is no capital overhang,' according to Urs Wietlisbach at Partners Group, speaking at the EVCA Investors' Forum in Geneva on Wednesday. As Thomson revealed that nearly EUR 90bn was raised for investment last year, panelists were quick to point out...
GLOBAL - S&P launches industry index
In a move that underlines the increasing significance of private equity, ratings agency Standard & Poorтs has launched a new index to track the industryтs performance. The tracker will follow the 25 most liquid private equity firms around the globe.
CEE - ICG appoints head for Central and Eastern Europe
European mezzanine specialist Intermediate Capital Group has appointed Aleksander Marcin Ferenc as assistant director responsible for originating and executing deals in Central and Eastern Europe. Prior to joining ICG, he was investment director at Baring...
GLOBAL - Bear Stearns acquires private equity placement agent
Bear Stearns has strengthened its private equity fundraising services with the acquisition of Crane Capital Associatesтs fund placement business.
CEE - Bridgepoint to enter Central and Eastern European market
Bridgepoint has announced that it is to open a regional office in Warsaw to address the growing investment opportunities in Central and Eastern Europe. The new office will be led by new partner Khai Tan, the former head of Advent International’s operations...