Southern Europe
Nazca nears final close; to hit €200m hardcap
unquote” has learnt Nazca Nazca Private Equity is nearing the final close of its third fund. The vehicle has been oversubscribed, surpassing its €150m target and hitting its hardcap – set at €200m.
Ambienta acquires 60% stake in Ecotek
Specialist environmental investor Ambienta has acquired a 60% stake in alternative fuel producer Ecotek. The balance is retained by the Ravelli family.
Pavoncelli departs Lazard to set up PE outfit
Riccardo Pavoncelli is to launch a private equity investment company for private wealth investors, following his departure from Lazard at the end of March, according to media reports.
Private equity in talks to acquire Intesa asset manager
Intesa Sanpaolo is in preliminary talks with private equity group Hellman & Hellman to sell a stake in its asset management business, Banca Fideuram.
Fortis sells fund administration arm to Credit Suisse
Fortis Bank Nederland (FBN) has agreed to the sale of its fund administration unit, Prime Fund Solutions(PFS), to Credit Suisse.
Candover-backed Parques Reunidos considers IPO
Candover-backed Parques Reunidos, the Spanish theme park, has turned to JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse for assistance preparing its IPO.
3i appoints Sir Adrian Montague as chairman
The board of 3i Group plc has appointed Sir Adrian Montague CBE as chairman, effective following 3i’s AGM in July 2010.
Nauta leads €2.5m round for Groupalia
Venture investor Nauta Capital has led a €2.5m series-A round for online discount site Groupalia, alongside La Caixa, the company’s founders and its CEO.
Acton closes internet growth-equity fund at €150m
Acton Capital Partners has announced the final closure of its Heureka Growth Fund.
GP communications missing a trick
Many of Europe’s most prolific later stage investors have some way to go before they can consider themselves truly transparent, as Emanuel Eftimiu finds out.
GED acquires 70% stake in EP4
Spanish private equity investor GED has acquired a 70% stake in engineering business Estudio Pereda 4 (EP4).
Healthcare buyouts: a tonic for the market
Defensive sector or not, buyout activity in the healthcare area was as depressed as elsewhere during 2009. But things are looking up and a spate of deal completions and possible exits in the first few months of 2010 are providing a welcome tonic for a...
Sun Capital acquires Famosa
US-based Sun Capital Partners has wholly acquired toy store Famosa from Vista Capital. Completion of the deal is subject to regulatory approval.
Primary Capital promotes Alec Parkinson to assistant director
Primary Capital has promoted Alec Parkinson to the position of assistant director, and has also expanded the team with the hire of Oliver Melliss, as associate.
AlixPartners bolsters financial advisory team with Derek Holt
AlixPartners has appointed Derek Holt as a director in its economics consulting practice, which forms part of its financial advisory services group.
BAML names new head of EMEA Financial Sponsors
Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) has appointed Rob Firth as head of the financial sponsors group for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
JP Morgan wins IFC's PE administration mandate
The International Finance Corporation's Assets Management Company (AMC) has appointed JP Morgan to provide private equity accounting and fund administration services.
NB's debt fund to raise $150m in LSE float
Neuberger Berman has set out plans to float its NB Distressed Debt Investment Fund on the London stock Exchange's Specialist Fund Market in a bid to raise over $150m for investments in distressed debt.
Madison Dearborn soldiers on to close Fund VI
The Chicago-based buyout house takes well over two years to close latest fund at around 40% of its original target
GMT hires TMT specialist from Cinven
GMT Communications Partners has announced the appointment of Stefan Franssen as partner.
Advent appoints operating partner for business services
Advent International has appointed Kevin Beeston to its operating partner programme.
Law firms Hogan and Lovells merge
Law firms Hogan & Hartson and Lovells have merged to become Hogan Lovells.
Carlyle buys Stanfield's $4.2bn CLOs
Carlyle has announced plans to purchase $4.2bn worth of collateralised loan obligations (CLO) from Stanfield Capital Partners, as part of a $5.1 credit portfolio purchase.
JP Morgan to buy Schroders PE services business
JP Morgan has signed an agreement to purchase Schroders' private equity administration business, as part of the build up of its JPM Worldwide Securities Services (WSS) unit.