Southern Europe
Spanish VC association appoints new president
Maite Ballester will become president of the Spanish Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (Ascri) until an election for a permanent candidate is held.
Eurazeo portfolio company raises €50m mezz
Eurazeo portfolio company Intercos has raised €50m of mezzanine financing to fund the beauty specialist's business plans from 2010-14.
Corpfin fails in Banco Pastor court action
Corpfin Capital has failed in its bid to sue Spanish bank Banco Pastor for €10m.
Clessidra "offers €280m for Fondiaria unit"
Clessidra has offered Italy’s Fondiaria-SAI €280m for a 90% stake in its life insurance unit Liguria-Sasa.
Fun-raising: PE runners seek €2.5m
GPs including 3i, Apax, Arcus, Bridgepoint, Capvis, Coller, Meridiam and Platina have joined forces to raise тЌ2.5m. LPs Adams Street, Capital Dynamics, Partners Group, Pantheon and Pomona are also taking part, with Campbell Lutyens, Ernst & Young, PEI...
AIFM: The end of a long road
With todayтs news that European Parliament negotiators have agreed on the final text of the Alternative Investment Fund Managerтs Directive (AIFM), the private equity industry can look forward to greater certainty about the regulatory environment going...
Legislators agree on final text for AIFM
European legislators have finally agreed on the Alternative Investment Fund Managerтs Directive (AIFM).
Mercapital secures majority stake in Panasa
Private equity firm Mercapital has secured a majority stake in bakery business Panaderías Navarras (Panasa).
Sherpa Capital launches €30m distressed fund
Sherpa Capital has launched a €30m fund specifically designed to support companies undergoing distressed situations.
La Caixa and Nauta Capital lead €5m Groupalia round
Caixa Capital Risc - the venture capital division of La Caixa - and Nauta Capital have led a €5m second round of funding for online collective buying website Groupalia.
Mega deals drive Q3 market value to €24bn
The value of the European private equity market soared to almost тЌ24bn in the third quarter, according to the unquoteт Private Equity Barometer.
Q3 2010 unquote" Private Equity Barometer
The unquoteт Private Equity Barometer, produced in association with Candover Partners, provides in-depth statistics and analysis of the latest trends in European Private Equity.
Widening gulf between the haves and the have-nots
Todayтs press coverage of David Rubensteinтs predictions on the future of the global private equity market serves again to highlight the increasing polarisation within the industry. Julian Longhurst reports.
Sepides launches SME fund
Sepides, the venture capital arm of Spain’s Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI), has launched a €15m fund, Enisa Fespyme Sepides.
Going gives cash boost to GIM
Going Investment Gestión has invested in Gestión Integral de Marcas (GIM) in exchange for a minority stake in its cleaning business for hotels, restaurants and cafés.
Cabiedes and angels invest in Club Santa Monica
Cabiedes and Partners has participated in a €500,000 funding round for Spanish company Santa Monica, alongside several business angels.
Videogames: private equity plays to win
Web-based and mobile games have seen a rapid rise in popularity in recent years, with popular products such as Farmville even making mainstream news headlines. Private equity has kept a keen eye on the industry, and a number of firms operating in the...
Candover to pull out of Parques Reunidos sale
Candover looks set to drop its plans to exit amusement park operator Parques Reunidos via a secondary buyout or IPO.
French venture: Retail funds under threat
Franceтs FCPI and FIP funds, two tax-efficient retail vehicles created to promote venture investments, are currently being overhauled by the legislator. While the proposed 2011 budget grants them a new lease of life, a number of changes are bound to leave...
SES Iberia exits Neumáticos Andrés
SES Iberia Private Equity has exited Neumáticos Andrés via a management buy-back to original owners the Andrés family.
Caixa Capital Risc boosts biotech spin-offs
Caixa Capital Risc, the venture capital arm of La Caixa, has invested in two spin-off companies from the same sector: Sagetis Biotech and Chronobiotech.
Tallwood injects €5m into Accent
Silicon Valley investor Tallwood Venture Capital has given Italian semiconductor specialist Accent a €5m cash boost.
Inveready launches €5m IT fund
Venture capital specialist Grupo Inveready has launched Inveready First Capital I, a €5m fund to be invested in Spain-based IT firms, mainly in Madrid and Catalonia.
Terra Firma buys Rete Rinnovabile for €670m
Private equity group Terra Firma has purchased Rete Rinnovabile, the largest solar power firm in Italy, in a deal worth €670m.