Southern Europe
Marcello Bottoli joins Advent International
Advent International has announced that Marcello Bottoli has joined the firm’s Operating Partner Programme.
Southern Europe unquote” October 2010
Binding offers for the gas distribution assets of Endesa have been submitted by three potential investors, according to reports.
What's in the box?
Secondary buyouts have grabbed many headlines this year, with the media trying to make the most out of recovering private equity deal activity. “Pass the parcel” seems to be the new buzz phrase for 2010, while the negative connotation of this seems...
Is travel & tourism set to take off?
The travel and tourism sector has been hit hard by the financial crisis, with reports of airlines on the brink of collapse and stranded passengers following the bankruptcy of travel agencies. Despite this, 2010 has seen a resurgence in private equity...
Call in the investigators?
In the private equity world, the term due diligence is most often associated with the verification of a target’s financial position and trading prospects. Yet, as it is so often said, private equity is a people business: so who, if anyone, does the...
Portuguese funds back La Seda plant
ECS Capital, Caixa Capital and InovCapital have acquired a 59% stake in a construction project to build a new plastics plant for Barcelona-based company La Seda.
Venture Capital: A growing equity gap
Recessions are often looked back on as golden ages for the venture capital industry, as the next generation of successful and innovative businesses rise from the ashes of economic collapse. However, speaking to attendees of this year’s Seedcamp last...
Ysios and “la Caixa” inject €5m into Sabirmedical
Ysios Capital Partners and Caixa Capital Risc have invested €5m in medical technology research company Sabirmedical.
Contrasting fortunes for Southern Europe
Southern Europe has experienced some of the toughest trials of the financial crisis, with its countries experiencing bank collapses, credit downgrades and dire predictions for their economies. Despite an overall gloomy economic outlook across the region,...
Basel III: Capital requirements and the cost of leverage
The Basel III banking regulations took a major step forward over the weekend when central bankers agreed on the latest set of rules to prevent future financial crises. Higher capital requirements for banks have hit the headlines, but what effect will...
Central banks agree Basel III rules
Central bank governors have agreed new capital requirements for banks as part of Basel III.
H.I.G Capital and Mercapital back Núter in new deal
Two European affiliates of H.I.G. Capital have joined Mercapital to close a new investment in Spanish animal feed and nutrition business Núter.
3i exits Panreac via trade sale
3i has completed the exit of its Spanish chemicals business Panreac via a trade sale to Illinois Tool Works Inc (ITW).
Valbart sale brings first exit for 21 Investimenti II
21 Investimenti, the Franco-Italian mid-market later stage investor, has sold Italian oil and gas engineering firm Valbart to listed US business Flowserve.
New compromise suggested on AIFM Directive
As Europe’s politicians return from the summer recess, negotiations over the final shape of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers’ (AIFM) Directive have resumed. A revised compromise on the Directive, issued by the new Belgian presidency, will...
UK mid-market moves on up
The UK mid-market stats are in for the first half of 2010 and bullish observers will note that overall activity levels and value totals for deals in the £5-150m range have seen a constant rise since the nadir in the first half last year.
Great expectations
It’s always interesting to gauge the mood of private equity practitioners and their expectations after the summer break. Two years ago, when the financial markets were in disarray following the Lehman collapse, deal activity came to a standstill and...
Private equity dines on restaurants
Burger King, one of the world’s biggest fast food brands, is set to become private equity owned yet again. The $4bn acquisition will be one of private equity’s biggest forays into the catering sector, but interest in restaurants has remained strong...
Candover story: Media picture lacks clarity
The announcement by Candover Investments plc that it is abandoning new investments to focus on returning cash from the sale of its remaining portfolio assets has certainly grabbed many headlines in recent days. But is the mainstream press sensationalising...
Q&A: The evolution of due diligence
Due dilience can be a time consuming process, and seems to be taking longer since the crisis. Emanuel Eftimiu talks to Dr Joachim Scholz of Rothgordt & Cie about the increased emphasis on due diligence in the current environment.
3i mulls over possible GES sale
3i Group has hired Citigroup to conduct a strategic review of Spanish wind farms builder Global Energy Services (GES).
Take-privates: Playing hard to get?
Shares in troubled care provider Southern Cross leaped 67% late last week after it declined an approach from TowerBrook. Having suffered a massive fall in its share price this year, it may have seemed an easy target for private equity bidders, but has...
unquote” Events Roundup
As autumn approaches, unquote” has a busy schedule of events covering all aspects of the private equity industry, while providing excellent networking opportunities. With the Italia and Deutsche conferences rapidly approaching, and not forgetting the...
CalPERS private equity manager steps down
Leon Shahinian stepped down as head of the private equity portfolio at CalPERS amid a fraud lawsuit.