Southern Europe
SPAIN - GED closes debut deal with second fund
GED Sur, managed by Spanish firm GED, has acquired a 60% stake in aesthetic clinic chain Cellulem Block for EUR 9m. This is the first deal to be completed by GED Sur.
ITALY - Cape closes second deal in lighting sector
Cape Natixis has acquired a 65% shareholding in lighting business Norlight alongside the business co-founder, who is re-investing in return for a 35% stake .
ITALY – Credem-backed company acquires string of confectionary brands
Fida Trade, a confectionary company owned by Credem Venture Capital, recently acquired various brands from sector player Leaf Italia.
ITALY – Mariella Burani's shares rise due to private equity interest
Italian fashion group Mariella Burani has reportedly been approached by Doughty Hanson, with a EUR 26 per share offer.
ITALY - Investindustrial-backed business buys helicopter operator
Buyout house Investindustrial acquired 100% of helicopter operator Elilario via its controlled company Inaer.
SPAIN - Rodés & Sala strenghtens private equity team
Carlos de Cárdenas and Victor Domenech have joined the private equity division of Catalonian law firm Rodés & Sala.
SPAIN – Axón Capital seals agreement with ENISA
Spanish private equity firm Axón Capital has announced the signing of an agreement with government-backed innovation agency ENISA.
ITALY – Latham & Watkins to bolster Milan office and open Rome branch
Latham & Watkins is expanding its Italian practice with the launch of a local law capability. The additions to the Milan office and the new Rome team join the Italian practice from its peer Bonelli Erede Pappalardo.
ITALY – Synergo in Valvitalia preliminary signing
The consortium comprising private equity firm Synergo, Igi Sgr and Banca Leonardo has signed a preliminary agreement for the purchase of a 45% stake in Valvitalia.
SPAIN - Demeter and Clave Mayor invest in solar panels
French private equity house Demeter and Spanish small-cap investor Clave Mayor have taken a minority stake in solar panel manufacturer Euroner.
ITALY - ABN Amro acquires pump manufacturer
ABN Amro Capital has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Finder SpA, a manufacturer of centrifugal and vacuum pumps and filters. The news of the acquisition follows ABN Amro's recent sale of gardening products manufacturer GGP to 3i.
SPAIN - Al Numa Capital to sue Catalan government
After losing the mandate for the management of Mediterrània - a EUR 100m fund focused on investments in Spain and Maghreb - Al Numa Capital is to commence legal proceedings against the Catalan government.
ITALY - Top Legal supports first Italian unquote" event
Italy's first legal and business community monthly Top Legal is proud to support the launch of unquote” Italia Private Equity Congress , to be held next week in Milan.
SPAIN - Doughty Hanson buys FCC and Veolia's bus unit
Infrastructure players Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) and Veolia have sold its bus unit, Corporacion Espanola de Transportes (CTSA) to Doughty Hanson for approximately EUR 80m.
SPAIN - Nazca buys stake in e-learning business
Nazca Capital has purchased a 45% shareholding in eduactional consulting and e-learning business élogos from its founding family Baratech. The founders will retain the majority stake.
EUROPE - Family offices back private equity
A new study by the European Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (EVCA) and the IMD Business School of Lausanne shows that family offices have become an integral part of the European private equity investor community and that a trend of increasing...
SPAIN - ABN Amro Capital to cease activity in Spain
ABN Amro has reportedly decided to discontinue its private equity activity in Spain. It is widely speculated that the bank - currently undergoing an acquisition process by Santander, RBS and Fortis - will close shop, as soon as it finds a buyer for its...
SPAIN - L Capital launches Madrid base
French firm L Capital has set up shop in Spain. The buyout house, owned by luxury goods group LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, reportedly opened a Madrid office yesterday.
PORTUGAL - Change Partners reaps 20% IRR from Acacia sale
Change Partners, ISQ Capital and PME-FSCR have agreed to sell their entire stakes in Acacia Semiconductor to Irish electronics firm S3.
ITALY - Former Capitalia CEO in private equity fund launch
Capitalia's former chief executive Matteo Arpe has returned to Milan's financial scene after announcing the launch of Sator, a new house which will focus on private equity investments as well as asset management. Arpe will own around 50% of the shares...
SPAIN - Candover-run company faces staff slashes
Employees of leisure complex Parque Warner yesterday called a 24-hour protest at the municipality of San Martín de la Vega, southeast of Madrid. Parque Warner is run by Candover-backed company Parque Reunidos, which agreed on a 10-year management contract...
ITALY - Cape Natixis Due closes first deal
Mid-market fund Cape Natixis Due, managed by Cape Natixis SGR, has closed its first investment by acquiring the optical monomer division of US-based Chemtura.