Southern Europe
Regulating away from recovery
The usual boom of activity that accompanies the onset of spring has failed to materialise this year. The change this season is one of regulation
GLOBAL - Google launches $100m venture fund
Search engine Google has set up Google Ventures, a $100m venture capital fund designed to invest in early-stage companies.
EUROPE - EVPA hires MD
The European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) has hired Beate TrУМck as managing director.
ITALY - Permira-backed SEAT PG to raise EUR 200m
Listed publishing firm SEAT Pagine Gialle, which is backed by a private equity consortium comprising BC Partners, Permira, CVC Capital Partners and Investitori Associati, has launched a rights issue to raise EUR 200m.
ITALY - Freshfields names new managing partner
International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed Marzio Longo as managing partner of the firms Italian operations.
EUROPE - Price joins Candover as general counsel
Philip Price, formerly with hedge fund SRM Global, has joined Candover Investments as general counsel.
EUROPE - Silverfleet's Paramount trouble a blip
Silverfleet Capital has called in debt advisers for its portfolio company Paramount Holdings, a UK-based restaurant group which saw its pre-tax loss increase to ТЃ27m in the year to June 2008, up from ТЃ12m the previous year.
SPAIN - Platina backs EUR 134m solar investment
Renewable energy investor Platina has backed Madrid-based portfolio company Anemoi Renovables in a EUR 134m investment into three major Spanish solar energy projects.
ITALY - Orlando and Atlantis interested in Diadora
Market speculation suggests that Orlando Italy and Atlantis Capital are interested in acquiring sport apparel business Diadora.
ITALY - De Longhi interested in PAI's Saeco
According to reports, Italian household appliance brand De' Longhi is one of several corporate groups to have expressed interest in acquiring PAI-backed coffee machine manufacturer Saeco.
EUROPE - 3i Infrastructure stays solid
Following the stark pre-close period statement released by 3i Group plc yesterday the firm's infrastructure arm published a contrastingly bright statement today, revealing steady investment activity and strong performance.
Taking Stock
Market conversations currently indicate that the public markets are the place to go shopping for bargains, but will the discussion turn into deals? Ashley Wassall investigates
Southern Europe Sunshine
As Europe licks its fresh wounds Italy and Portugal are making hey, but can the sunshine last in Southern Europe or will the storm clouds from the rest of Europe blow in? By Francinia Protti-Alvarez
ITALY - Carlyle interested in Italpretroli storage assets
According to reports, Carlyle is among the three parties interested in acquiring the oil storage assets of Italpetroli, which to be valued at between EUR 90-100m.
ITALY - DGPA-backed Mida acquires MCG Grafica in EUR 2.8m deal
DGPA-backed Mida, a producer of adhesive labels used in the pharmaceutical and related sectors, has acquired MCG Grafica, a manufacturer of labelling sleeves, in a deal valued at just under EUR 3m.
EUROPE - 3i licking wounds – to aide healing?
3i Group today released its pre-close period trading update, warning the markets of stark writedowns ahead and revealing the scale of its de-leveraging operation.
ITALY - Quantica's second fund closes on EUR 65m
Italian venture firm Quantica has closed its second fund, Principia II, on EUR 65m, surpassing its target of EUR 20-40m.
ITALY - Quantica to invest in Banzai
Quantica SGR is to invest an undisclosed sum into Italian web operator Banzai.
GLOBAL - Freshfields elects 14 new partners
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has elected 14 new partners, with the appointments taking effect from 1 May 2009.