Southern Europe
EUROPE - Osmosis to raise EUR 200m for new fund-of-funds
Reports suggest that newly launched fund-of-funds manager Osmosis Capital is seeking to raise EUR 200m for its inaugral fund, which will target investments into low carbon technology funds.
ITALY - F2i and AXA acquire 80% of Enel's gas network
F2i and AXA Private Equity have acquired an 80% stake in Enel Rete Gas SpA from its parent Enel Distribuzione SpA, in a deal valued at EUR 480m.
SPAIN - N+1 decides against distressed fund
N+1 has decided against raising a EUR 300m fund for distressed assets, citing possible conflicts of interest with its corporate finance division.
ITALY - Buyout interest in Banca Fideuram
Reports suggest that several buyout houses have expressed an interest in bidding for Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo's subsidiary Banca Fideuram, which could have a price tag of up to EUR 3bn.
US/EUROPE - Houlihan Lokey re-hires Justin Abelow
International investment bank Houlihan Lokey has re-hired Justin Abelow to resume his role as managing director of the financial sponsors coverage group.
ITALY - PAI's Saeco sold to Philips
According to reports PAI Partners has sold portfolio company Saeco International Group SpA, a manufacturer of coffee machines, to Royal Philips Electronics NV for an estimated EUR 200m.
SPAIN - Arcano hires former RBS M&A exec
Arcano Capital has appointed Jorge Vasallo as partner in charge of corporate finance.
SPAIN - Landon carries out EUR 28m capital increase
Landon Investments, the venture capital arm of Spanish family office Grupo Corporativo Landon, has completed a EUR 28m capital increase.
GREECE - TLcom and Alpha Ventures invest EUR 11m into Upstream
London-based TLcom Capital LLP and Greek investor VC Alpha Ventures have co-led an EUR 11m financing round for mobile content provider Upstream Telecommunications.
EUROPE - SEP appoints general counsel
Venture capital firm SEP has hired Andrew Buchan as general counsel.
EUROPE - 3i sells venture portfolio for less than half value
London-based private equity firm 3i has reportedly sold its venture portfolio to an unnamed bidder for around ТЃ100m, a substantial discount to the approximate ТЃ250m book value.
EUROPE - Platina launches new asset management company
London-based Platina Partners, a private equity fund manager specialising in renewable energy and buyouts in turnaround situations, has launched a new asset management company, Engineering Renewables Ltd (ERL).
EUROPE - Barclays boosts European mergers advisory business
Barclays plans to hire as many as 65 bankers for its European mergers advisory business in an attempt to become one of the top three global securities firms.
UK/SWITZERLAND/SWEDEN – KKR's Alliance Boots circles Swedish pharmacies
KKR portfolio company Alliance Boots is reported to be interested in acquiring a portfolio of pharmacies being sold by Apoteket, which is owned by the Swedish state.
EUROPE - Perella hires partner in advisory group
US-headquarted Perella Weinberg Partners has hired Stefan Jentzsch as a partner in its advisory group. He will be based in the firms London office.
EUROPE - Max Planck Innovation and LSP launch DDC Ventures
Max Planck Innovation GmbH, the technology transfer arm of Germany's Max Planck Society, has teamed up with Life Sciences Partners ( LSP) to launch DDC Ventures, a EUR 100m venture fund.
SPAIN - Daiwa takes over Atlas Capital
Following the acquisition by Daiwa SMBC of UK-based Close Brothers Corporate Finance, the Japanese bank has purchased Spanish corporate financier Atlas Capital.
ITALY - Clessidra to acquire Cavalli stake
Market rumour suggests that this summer could see private equity firm Clessidra finalise the acquitision of a 20% stake in fashion house Roberto Cavalli.
GLOBAL - SVG Capital makes two executive hires
Listed fund-of-funds SVG Capital has appointed Lynn Fordham as CEO of the company and Tony Dalwood as CEO of SVG Advisers.
PORTUGAL - Explorer acquires Gascan
Private equity firm Explorer Investments has wholly acquired gas business Gasses Combustiveis (Gascan) SA for an undisclosed sum.
EUROPE - Close Brothers Corporate Finance acquired by Daiwa for £75m
Daiwa Securities SMBC Europe, the European subsidiary of Japanese investment bank Daiwa Securities SMBC Co, has agreed to acquire Close Brothers Corporate Finance from Close Brothers Group plc for ТЃ75m.
GLOBAL - Barclays looks to sell $ 10m asset management unit
Barclays is reportedly in talks with US asset manager Black Rock and Bank of New York Mellon to sell its asset management unit, Barclays Global Investors (BGI), with the price tag thought to be around $10bn.
SPAIN - Creditors take over Cinven-backed USP Group
According to reports, Cinven-backed healthcare group United Surgical Partners (USP) has completed a restructuring with its lenders Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland that will see the banks acquire a 65% stake in the business through a debt-for-equity...
Mezzanine to soldier on
Lenders are currently struggling under the weight of an underperforming legacy portfolio, but there may be brighter prospects on the horizon. Emanuel Eftimiu reports from Paris