Southern Europe
EUROPE - Final quarter records lowest deal value for a decade
Though it will come as no surprise that private equity investment in Europe dropped considerably in the final quarter of 2008, the scale of the decline just might; with deal value sliding 59% against the preceding three months from around EUR 20bn to...
GLOBAL - CalPERS hires investment chief
US pension fund CalPERS has appointed Joseph Dear, the head of the Washington state fund, as its new chief investment officer following a nine-month search.
SPAIN - Thesan to acquire Aurgi
According to reports, Thesan Capital is poised to acquire auto repair shop Aurgi from AC Desarrollo for a cash consideration of EUR 4.7m plus the stocks held in the 26 of the 29 stores they intend on purchasing, which could amount to an additional EUR...
SPAIN - Allegiance opens Madrid office and appoints partners
Dallas-based Allegiance Capital, a full-service investment banking firm, is opening of an office in Madrid.
ITALY - Linklaters appoints three
Law firm Linklaters has appointed three new associates to its Italian practice.
GLOBAL - Blackstone to invest in South Korea
According to reports, Blackstone Group will open a unit in South Korea in January.
EUROPE - Unigestion to raise two funds in 2009
According to reports, Geneva-based Unigestion will raise two new funds in 2009: a secondaries fund targeting EUR 150m, and a sustainable development vehicle with a USD 250m target.
ITALY - PM&Partners closes second fund on EUR 340m
PM&Partners has closed its second fund on EUR 340m, EUR 40m above its initial target.
ITALY - Clessidra to take minority stake in Cavalli
Market rumour suggests that Clessidra will take a 15-20% stake in fashion design house Roberto Cavalli.
GLOBAL - Advent International promotes 18
Advent International has promoted 18 members of its global investment team.
ITALY - PAI-backed Coin acquires Melablu for EUR 26m
PAI-backed clothing manufacturer Coin has acquired Tre.Bi, owner of the Melablu brand, in a deal valued at EUR 25.5m.
EUROPE - Credit Suisse sets up restructuring advisory division
It is understood that Credit Suisse has established a new division to provide restructuring advice to companies and private equity firms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
ITALY - Sici backs Conte of Florence
Sviluppo Imprese Centro Italia (Sici), via its Centroinvest fund, has invested EUR 3m as part of a EUR 5m investment into sportsware manufacturer Conte of Florence, with the Boretti family, the founding owners of the firm, contributing the remaining EUR...
SPAIN - ProA shortlisted for Acciona parking business
According to reports, ProA Capital is one of four bidders shortlisted in the ongoing sales process for Acciona's parking business.
SPAIN - Prince acquires Image
According to reports, Prince Capital Partners has acquired corporate communications firm Image Group alongside two of the firm's managers, Victor Sanchez de Real and Enrique Pascual.
EUROPE - Value of buyouts plunges to five year low
The value of private equity-backed acquisitions across Europe fell to a five-year low in 2008 amidst continuing illiquidity in the debt markets and a worsening macroeconomic climate, dropping by 61% from 2007's record high of more than EUR 184bn to EUR...
EUROPE - Balderton holds $430m first closing of fourth fund
Balderton Capital has held the first close of its new $500m vehicle, Balderton IV, on $430m.