Southern Europe
GLOBAL - CalPERS to renegotiate terms with Apollo
CalPERS, the California pension fund, is reportedly looking to revise the terms of its relationship with private equity firm Apollo Global Management, pushing for lower management fees, a reduction in commitments, and a renegotiation of other costs for...
SPAIN - Platina acquires Arico solar farm
Platina Partners has acquired the Arico solar energy farm, a 11MW facility in Tenerife, from energy company Endesa.
EUROPE - AIFM provisions a 'trap' for the PE industry
The new remuneration provisions contained in a fresh re-draft of the EU Commission's controversial AIFM Directive, which could require up to 60% of managers' variable pay to be deferred, has been described as a 'trap' for the industry. Deborah Sterescu...
GLOBAL - Meidlinger Partners holds $15m first close of cleantech fund
Meidlinger Partners has reached a first closing of its cleantech fund, Meidlinger Partners Sustainable Investments, on $15m.
ITALY - Market remains strong despite downturn
Speaking at the unquote" Italia private equity congress, Mara Caverni of PricewaterhouseCoopers argued that the Italian private equity market remains in good health despite the big declines witnessed in the last year, emphasising that "activity has,...
EUROPE - “We’re on our way to next boom”
Speakers at this morning's unquote" Italia Private Equity Congress in Milan stressed that deals done in the next few months will reap stellar returns, but warned that the downturn may in fact prove too short.
SPAIN - Debaeque takes 10% in BuyVip
Venture firm Debaeque has invested an undisclosed sum in online private buyers club BuyVip, acquiring a 10% stake in the business.
EUROPE - Capstone appoints associate partner
Placement agent Capstone Partners has appointed Louis de Saint-Marcq as associate partner.
EUROPE - European Parliament report slams AIFM Directive
A new report released today has heaped heavy criticism on the AIFM Directive for being "hasty" and "weak". Ashley Wassall reports.
EUROPE - CBCF shakes up senior management
Close Brothers Corporate Finance has promoted Richard Madden, managing director and head of the media sector team, to CEO of the UK business, replacing Stephen Auselbrook, who had co-led both the European and UK businesses but will now focus on his role...
GREECE - PPF considers Wind bid
Czech private equity firm PPF Partners is rumoured to be considering a last minute offer to acquire indebted telecommunication business Wind Hellas, alongside Italian insurance firm Generali.
SPAIN/EUROPE - Foresight strengthens solar team
Asset manager Foresight Group has boosted its solar team with the appointment of Humberto Santillana as investment director.
Italian private equity
Following a difficult start, private equity in Italy has experienced fast growth in the past 10 years
Care for a top-up?
Fundraising remains as challenging an activity now as it was 12 months ago. Many signs of life have been in the form of top-up funds - a signal that many LPs are not only honouring their commitments but also supporting their GPs. By Francinia Protti-Alvarez
Southern Europe: After the dawn
Over the past decade, Southern European private equity began to catch up with its Western European peer, but activity has contracted sharply in 2009. Emannuel Eftimiu looks at the region in numbers
Ten years young
This edition of Southern Europe unquote" marks a decade of private equity coverage in the region. A lot has happened in that time: 10 years ago, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts closed its first European buyout fund on $2.8bn. This year it raised an annex fund...
Venture Travails
The Southern European venture industry lags behind the rest of Europe. More government/EU incentives to attract private funding may help, but in the meantime, the strongest companies seek private, international backing to succeed. Francinia Protti-Alvarez...
Iberian private equity
In a maturing market, regional players have been stepping up to the national level in the past decade