Southern Europe
EUROPE - Oak Hill appoints new European head
Oak Hill Advisors has appointed Alexandra Jung as co-head of the firm's European business based in London.
GREECE - Apax, TPG consider Wind Hellas debt
Apax Partners and TPG are considering investing new money into Greek telecom giant Wind Hellas (formerly TIM Hellas) as the company looks to restructure its EUR 3.2bn debt pile.
ITALY - BlueGem and MPS acquire Neomobile
UK-based private equity fund BlueGem and existing investor MPS Venture have acquired a controlling stake in mobile marketing business Neomobile.
ITALY/SPAIN - Investindustrial boosts investment team
Buyout house Investindustral has appointed Antonio Casari to its investment team.
EUROPE - ML Capital launches alternative assets advisory service
ML Capital has today launched an alternative assets advisory and business solution service, dedicated to advising private equity and hedge fund managers on how to meet current market expectations.
ITALY - S+R and Alcedo to sell GTS to Alfaparf
It is understood that S+R Investimenti e Gestioni and Alcedo Sgr have agreed to sell their combined 72% stake in cosmetics company GTS Group to trade buyer Alfaparf, in a deal estimated at EUR50-60m.
EUROPE - Growth Capital to take the lead in 2010
In a market starved for debt, growth capital investments are in line to become the favoured deal type of 2010, as highlighted in Nordic editor Rikke Eckhoff's interview with Louis Elson, co-founder and managing partner of Palamon Capital Partners. See...
EUROPE – Specialist or generalist ?
"We will see a shift from local generalist funds to global sector specialists," said Simon Havers, BVCA chairman and managing director of Baird Capital Partners Europe. He was speaking at this morning's Capital Creation panel, which debated the future...
SPAIN - Crédit Agricole in EUR 3.75m round for ERA Biotech
Crédit Agricole Private Equity has led a series-B investment round for ERA Biotech, raising EUR 3.75m from existing backers BcnHighgrowth, Axis, and Uninvest as well as private investors.
SPAIN - Atlas Capital acquires Serviocio
Atlas Capital Private Equity has completed the first acquisition of its EUR 90m maiden fund, acquiring sports facilities management firm Serviocio. The company's management and founding partners retain a minority stake.
EUROPE – Remuneration a hot topic
A central theme this morning at the Capital Creation event was remuneration: As bankers worldwide prepare for their compensation packages to shrink, many in the private equity industry are championing maintaining the high levels of salary and bonus paid...
US/EUROPE - Oak Hill closes distressed debt fund on $1.13bn
Oak Hill Advisors has surpassed the firm's $750m target for its OHA Strategic Credit Fund, holding a final close on $1.125bn.
GLOBAL - Campbell Lutyens appoints new partner
Placement agent Campbell Lutyens has appointed Richard Allsopp as partner.
GLOBAL - CVC Capital appoints two senior advisers
CVC Capital Partners has appointed Robert Jenkins and Jim Sutcliffe as senior advisers on the firm's global financial institutions advisory board.
GLOBAL - GI Partners completes sale of assets in first fund
Private equity and real estate investor GI Partners has sold the last remaining asset in its first fund, a Frankfurt data center, to Equinix Holding BV for $28m.
EUROPE - DFJ Esprit holds first close of third venture fund on EUR 70m
DFJ Esprit has held the first close of it latest venure fund, DFJ Esprit III, on EUR 70m.
GLOBAL - KKR to delay launch of next buyout fund
Reports suggest that KKR is delaying the launch of its next buyout fund until next year, after having already invested 70% of its previous $17.6bn vehicle that closed in 2007.
EUROPE - 3i sells venture portfolio to Coller-, HarbourVest-backed Encore
Secondaries specialists Coller Capital and HarbourVest Partners have teamed up with venture house DFJ Esprit to acquire a £130m portfolio of venture assets from 3i. The portfolio will be managed by a new division of DFJ, Encore Ventures.
ITALY - Hutton completes EUR 45m Aquafil funding
Hutton Collins has invested EUR 45m into flooring specialist Aquafil, with the current owner, the Bonazzi Group, retaining majority control.
ITALY - Investindustrial strengthens investment team
Italian mid-market investor Investindustrial has appointed Luca Destito to its investment team.
ITALY - Latham &Watkins strengthens finance practice
Latham & Watkins has appointed Riccardo Agostinelli as partner to its Milan finance practice.
ITALY - Bridgepoint interested in Sia-Ssb
It is understood that European private equity firm Bridgepoint is preparing an offer for card processing business Sia-Ssb, which has been on the block since Autumn 2008.
ITALY - Crédit Agricole PE backs EUR 5m Elettrostudio funding
Crédit Agricole Private Equity, FCPR Capenergie fund, has backed an investment of EUR 5m into energy specialist Elettrostudio Energia.
SPAIN - Investindustrial acquires 50% stake in PortAventura
Investindustrial has acquired a 50% stake in theme park PortAventura from Criteria CaixaCorp, a Spanish listed vehicle controlled by savings bank La Caixa, via a EUR 95m capital increase.