Southern Europe
Ambienta announces international expansion and new hires
Italian private equity firm Ambienta SGR has announced the expansion of its business to Munich, to capitalise on investment opportunities in Germany and Central and Northern Europe.
Hedge funds: A new source of dealflow
The credit crisis has left hedge funds holding on to unwanted equity stakes. Could this be a new source of dealflow for private equity buyers? Sonnie Ehrendal investigates
Avindia Capital launches energy fund
Spanish private equity firm Avindia Capital has announced the launch of its first fund, Avindia Energy I.
Buyout recovery stalls at one third peak levels
Europeтs buyout market recovery stalled at just a third of the level seen at its peak, according to data from the unquoteт European Buyout Review 2012.
DFJ Esprit and Tempo Capital merge secondary businesses
VC firm DFJ Esprit and venture secondaries firm Tempo Capital are set to merge their venture secondaries businesses to form DFJ Esprit Secondaries.
Banesto exits Top 30
Banesto Enisa Sepi Desarrollo has sold its 22.6% stake in Spanish climbing wall producer Top 30 to UK-based climbing wall manufacturer Grupo Entre Prises.
Atlas Capital completes MBO of Adea
Atlas Capital has acquired 98.2% of Adea, the document management subsidiary of Spanish IT firm Indra, for around €15m. The transaction includes both equity and debt.
Southern Europe unquote" March 2012
The Italian private equity and venture capital industry seems set for a change. Last year, as the banks became less willing to provide credit and more concerned with their own balance sheets, the number of buyouts supported by debt fell.
SGECR backs Media For Future
Gestión de Capital Riesgo del País Vasco has provided an equity and subordinated debt package worth €436,000 in exchange for a 20% stake in Basque online interactive content producer Media For Future.
Invercaria and la Caixa back nLife
Invercaria and la Caixa have invested €5m in Granada-based nanomedicine company nLife Therapeutics in exchange for a minority stake.
Rethinking LP funds
Alternatives to LP funds, such as listed private equity and deal-by-deal, are all gaining in popularity as their merits become more obvious in today's backdrop. Kimberly Romaine reports
Alto Partners acquires Trevisanalat
Alto Partners has acquired Italian mozzarella producer Trevisanalat. The acquisition was completed through the formation of a newco, in which Alto holds a 77.2% stake.
Montezemolo acquires Bellco
Montezemolo & Partners SGR has acquired biomedical company Bellco from Argos Soditic and MPVenture.
Venture-backed Groupalia sells Latin American subsidiaries
Daily deals company Groupalia, owned by Nauta Capital, Caixa Capital Risc, General Atlantic, Index Ventures and Insight Venture Partners has sold its Latin American subsidiaries to local Brazilian daily deals site Pez Urbano.
Denham Capital leads $190m FRV deal
Energy-focused private equity firm Denham Capital has led a funding round of more than $190m for Madrid-based solar company Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV).
Private equity set to take centre stage in Italy
The current lack of bank lending for family-run SMEs spells good news for Italian private equity. But a growing focus on innovation might also give venture a much-needed boost. Amy King reports
Arcano closes secondaries fund on $700m
Madrid-based Arcano Capital has closed its third fund on $700m.
Equinox to acquire stake in Italy's third largest bank
Equinox Investment is looking to buy a significant part of the 15% stake in Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena being sold by its core shareholder, according to reports.
Creative industries perceived as risky business
Unquoteт data reveals that the volume of investments in the creative industries has fallen while their value has risen. Investor risk aversion amidst economic volatility could be behind the fall in volume in a sector commonly perceived as risky business,...
Arle Capital's Parques Reunidos buys Noah's Ark
Arle Capital portfolio company Parques Reunidos has acquired Noah's Ark, the US's largest water park.
Swiss tax treaties could open doors for further crackdowns
Sweden is the latest European country to sign a Rubik tax treaty with Switzerland. Sonnie Ehrendal reports
Gamesa backs N2S
Gamesa Venture Capital has acquired a 20% stake in Spanish energy services management firm N2S.
HgCapital backs Hidrodata
HgCapital has acquired a 29.25% stake in Catalan renewable energy firm Hidrodata for €14m from Invercartera Capital SCR.
Regional investors vital for economic recovery
Regional devolution has been favoured by some private equity firms as a means of boosting dealflow. However, despite the merits of a regional presence, unquoteт data reveals that investments backed by regional players has fallen since 2005. Perhaps though,...