CEE
Covid-19, oversubscribed funds fuel interest in early secondaries
Early secondaries are tipped to become more plentiful in the coming months, but market observers urge caution to mitigate potential pitfalls
The Deals Pipeline
A highlight of deal processes underway and involving PE, either on the buy- or sell-side, across Europe
Speedinvest holds first close for Speedinvest x Fund 2
VC also announced the appointment of Tier Mobilty co-founder Julian Blessin as partner
Innova acquires stake in Bielenda Kosmetyki
Proceeds from the investment will fund the company's acquisition of two cosmetics brands from Norwegian cosmetics group Orkla
Värde Dislocation Fund closes on $1.6bn
Fund has a global mandate to pursue a mispriced, stressed and distressed credit
Private equity ramps up divestment efforts
Exit activity jumped by 50% in October, back to pre-pandemic levels, according to Unquote Data
Buyout rankings: who has invested most across Europe since April?
EQT, Ardian and KKR remained very active and struck sizeable deals amid the coronavirus turmoil
FirstFloor et al. back €41m series-D for Skeleton
Latest round brings Skeleton's total funding to €93m since its inception in 2009
Mid Europa buys Polish e-retailer Displate
Company's founders will remain significant minority shareholders of the business
Preparing for the turnarounds wave
The much-anticipated wave of distressed opportunities has failed to materialise so far, but market participants are still readying for an uptick
Sponsor-lender relationship faces stiff Covid-19 test
GPs' relationships with their existing banks and debt funds will remain key to managing the ongoing consequences of the crisis
Secondaries update: Unigestion's David Swanson
Secondaries activity is recovering from the initial coronavirus-related shock, with good prospects for GP-led secondaries deals
Blackstone Core Equity Partners II closes on $8bn
BCEP II follows a long-hold private equity strategy, with an investment period of 15 years
TVM Capital closes LSI II on $478m
Vehicle is TVM's largest ever fund and the second in its exclusively life-sciences-focused strategy
Digital doctors here to stay as telemedicine deals surge
Rise in demand for telemedicine т and promising returns for investors that have been targeting the space т looks set to continue
Abris exits locomotive leasing business Cargounit to Three Seas
Polish buyout firm Abris Capital Partners has signed an agreement to sell its stake in Polish locomotive lessor Cargounit, also known as Industrial Division, to Three Seas Investment Fund (3SIIF).
Amplify raises $375m across two funds
Amplify IV targets seed and series-A rounds, while Amplify Select makes follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies
Innova to buy PayPoint's Romanian division
PayPoint will use the proceeds to focus on core UK markets
European Direct Lending Perspectives Q2 2020
Debtwire and Creditflux examine the way direct lenders reacted to pandemic-related upheaval and how the industry looks set to bounce back
Lithuanian Aid Fund for Business looks to raise up to €500m
Fund has already secured a €100m investment from the Lithuanian government
True Ventures raises $840m in two final closes
True Core VII provides seed and early-stage capital, while True Select IV provides follow-on capital
Mid Europa sells minority stake in listed Waberer's
Transaction also includes a call option for trade buyer Indotek for the GP's remaining 47.99% stake
Enterprise Investors buys remaining stake in Pan-Pek
GP has acquired the remaining 35% in the company, having bought a 65% stake in the company in May 2018
Levine Leichtman Capital Partners Europe II closes on €463m
Fund has already completed one investment and has two additional deals under contract