Southern Europe
Premafin offer stalls for Sator and Palladio
The offer made by private equity funds Palladio Finanziaria and Sator to invest up to €450m in Premafin, parent company of troubled Italian insurer Fondiaria-SAI, has run aground due to penalty clauses in an earlier bid from insurance company Unipol and...
Mercapital, Nmás1 and Explorer to exit Holmes Place
Mercapital, Nmás1 Private Equity and Explorer Investments are to exit troubled European gym chain Holmes Place at a loss of €40m, according to reports in the Spanish press.
Sator and Palladio launch Premafin offer to challenge Unipol
Private equity funds Palladio Finanziaria and Sator have made a binding offer to invest up to €450m in Premafin, parent company of troubled Italian insurer Fondiaria-SAI.
Sweden tops EC innovation despite incomplete eco-chain
Sweden has ranked highest in the European Innovation Union Scoreboard, but one industry professional has expressed his surprise at this success due to an тobvious lack in strategy for innovationт and тa terrible taxing system for entrepreneursт. Amy King...
BC European Capital IX closes at €6.5bn hard-cap
BC Partners has closed its ninth European Capital fund at the vehicle's тЌ6.5bn hard-cap.
EU leaders call for pan-European VC regime
Ahead of a summit on 1st March, David Cameron has joined 11 other EU leaders in a letter calling for the EU's economic policies to shift their focus from tough austerity cuts to growth-stimulating measures.
Could venture capital cure youth unemployment crisis?
Unemployment is rife in Southern Europe. Particularly afflicted are the younger members of society, unable to enter the impenetrable job market. But could venture capital play a part in lightening the heavy burden of youth unemployment in the Mediterranean?...
CCMP, Axis and Corpfin back Volotea
CCMP Capital, Axis Participaciones Empresariales and Corpfin Capital have contributed to a €50m funding round to support the launch of Barcelona-based low-cost airline Volotea.
Ambienta acquires Tower Light
Italian private equity house Ambienta SGR has invested €13.5m in Italian lighting tower producer Tower Light, in exchange for an 82% stake, as part of a leveraged buyout.
DACH venture scene remains on top form
While the rest of Europe has suffered from a low deal volume in 2011, the DACH early-stage sector is going strong. Considering the well-established venture scene, it is not surprising that this region has dominated early-stage in Q4 2011.
Dodd-Frank fears "overblown"
The extensive requirements and wide reach of the US's Dodd-Frank Act has stirred up fears among European GPs. But law firm DLA Piper downplays worries, pointing to a number of available exemptions. Sonnie Ehrendal investigates.
Investindustrial to sell Ducati
Italian private equity firm Investindustrial is to sell producer of top-end motorcycles Ducati in the coming months in a deal that could be worth up to €1bn, according to reports.
Market consolidation forcing FOFs to evolve
Funds-of-funds are an endangered species, with many shedding the title. Kimberly Romaine finds that today itтs all about diversification and tailoring your offering to prospective clients.
Gala Capital cornerstone investors pull out
Cornerstone investors in Spanish private equity firm Gala Capital have pulled out of further commitments, according to reports in the Spanish press.
Early-stage and Nordics stand out
2011 was a bleak year for the private equity industry, but it was still an improvement on 2010, writes Olivier Marty
Doughty Hanson acquires USP Hospitales for €355m
Doughty Hanson has acquired Spanish hospitals operator USP Hospitales from Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland for €355m, 9x the firm's forecast EBITDA for 2012.
Fragmented ecosystem hampering European venture
The debate surrounding the high returns enjoyed by Silicon Valley investors compared to their European counterparts continues. But why do stateside investments traditionally reap higher returns than those in European startups, and what needs to change...
Southern Europe unquote" February 2012
Spain calls them mileuristas, temporary workers earning at most €1,000 per month. In Italy they are the precari, so-called due to the precarious nature of their temporary work contracts, and in Portugal they are the geração nem-nem, the “neither nor generation”...
Private equity firms prepare to take over USP Hospitales
Spanish hospital chain USP Hospitales has received bids from a number of private equity funds.
Trident Capital leads $8m investment round for AlienVault
Trident Capital has led an $8m series-B investment round for Spanish security information and event management service provider AlienVault. Coinvestment was provided by previous investors in the company Adara Venture Partners and Neotec Capital Riesgo....
Monti lays out plans to bolster Italian VC market
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has introduced changes to the rules regarding venture capital investments in SMEs. Amy King reports
Jersey launches private placement scheme
Jersey has introduced a private placement scheme for institutional and professional investors.
2011 a bumper year for Nordic fundraising
Fundraising activity declined slightly in 2011 compared to the previous year, as the market remains tough and LPs selective. Not all European regions fared equally though, with the Nordic countries and France attracting significant amounts of capital....
Deal volumes hit 15-year low
Deal volumes in Q4 2011 hit their lowest levels since 1996, in a difficult final quarter for the private equity industry, according to the unquoteт Private Equity Barometer, in association with Arle Capital Partners.