Southern Europe
SPAIN - Erkapen launches with EUR 400m fund
Erkapen, which is backed by the Basque and local governments and three Basque savings banks, has launched with a EUR 400m fund to invest in Basque companies.
ITALY - Promos chairman launches infrastructure fund
According to reports, a new EUR 700m infrastructure fund has been launched by the chairman of Promos, Bruno Ermolli. The fund will seek to invest in the development of roads, highways and similar infrastructure between Italy and countries south of the...
SPAIN - Abraxa leads creation of cleaning holding
Abraxa has acquired a 49.9% stake in Casologroup, a newly formed non-durable household products holding, in a deal valued at approximately EUR 10m.
GLOBAL - DIC appoints new managing director
Dubai International Capital has appointed David Smoot as managing director of its private equity team.
ITALY - 21 Investimenti supports EUR 35m MBO of Velan
21 Investimenti has acquired a minority stake in the Italian business of industrial supplier Velan from its Canadian parent company, in a deal understood to be valued at EUR 35m. The management, who previously controlled 50% of the company, have increased...
Growing pains
The mid-market appears to be in relative good health and Southern Europe continues to clock up deals - even sizeable ones: as highlighted by the EUR1.1bn injection into Italian telecom holding Weather Investments by Apax, Madison Dearborn and TA Associates....
Adventurous Europe
European venture capital has often been seen as lagging behind North America and Asia, but this perception may be out of date. A struggling US economy means European exits are performing better, increasing US investors' enthusiasm for a mature sector....
Not all seconds are sloppy
More private equity-backed companies are growing the bottom line through top-line growth, not cost savings, and the best results stem from deals sourced from private, not public, owners - even if that's another buyout house. Kimberly Romaine reports on...