Southern Europe
GLOBAL - ArcelorMittal launches cleantech fund
ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, has launched a EUR 100m venture capital fund to invest in clean technologies.
GLOBAL - CP Eaton beefs up team
Placement agent CP Eaton Partners has appointed Jerry Elliot, Peter Martenson, Nina Frandson, Dan Meade and Brian Newman.
SPAIN - YSIOS appoints CFO
Ysios Capital Partners has appointed Marc Casellas to its newly created finance division.
UK/GERMANY - First London to launch EUR 50m fund
First London Securities has reached an agreement with Humbolt-Innovation GmbH to establish a joint EUR 50m fund designed to invest in spin-out companies from the Berlin Humbolt university.
ITALY - Palladio acquires yacht manufacturer Tecnomar
Palladio has acquired a majority stake in ship manufacturer Tecnomar, with the balance being retained by brothers Roberto and Maurizio Zappelli and Maurizio Magrim, who will remain as at the head of operations in the shipyard.
ITALY - Barclays exit industrial manufacturer CEME
Barclays Private Equity has agreed to sell fluid control components producer CEME Group to Investcorp, the global provider and manager of alternative investment products. The current management team will also reinvest in the company.
ITALY/SPAIN - Investitori-backed company acquires chemical firm
Investitori Associati-backed Italian chemical company Infa Group has acquired Spanish rival Derivados Quimicos. The transaction is in line with the backers plan to develop the business to a European level.
ITALY - Credem acquires graphic sector player
Credem Private Equity, through the Credem Venture Capital fund, has acquired a 60% stake in graphic design business Galeati Industrie Grafiche in a management buyout.
GLOBAL - Buying from private owners most lucrative
Private equity firms make the most impact on buyouts they source from private owners, rather than those of formerly listed companies, though both outperform companies that are not backed by private equity at all, according to a report from Ernst & Young.
SPAIN - Private equity investment drops 41%
According to the latest data released by ASCRI, the first semester of 2008 registered a 41% year-on-year drop in total private equity transaction value in Spain, dropping to EUR 1.19bn and falling below the EUR 1.23bn invested in the first semester of...
ITALY - Private equity offers too low for Cavalli
According to reports, the offers presented for fashion house Cavalli by Candover, Lion Capital, Carlyle and Texas Pacific did not match the vendor's expectations and the sale has subsequently fallen through.
ITALY - Bridgepoint acquires perfumeries
Bridgepoint has acquired two perfumeries, Linea Bellezza and Beauty Star, in a management buyout deal.
ITALY -Two private equity offers for MPS Asset Management
Market rumour suggests that MPS has received two different valuation offers for its asset management business from private equity firms Clessidra and Investitori Associati.
ITALY - Private Equity Partners opens India office
Private Equity Partners (PEP) has opened an office in Mumbai to support the international development of portfolio companies.
ITALY - Patrimonium interested in electrical appliances plant
According to reports, UK-based Patrimonium Venture Capital (PVC) is interested in acquiring an Electrolux production plant in Sacandicci in a deal valued at approximately EUR 60m.
SPAIN - Bertelsmann in series-C financing for BuyVip.com
Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments (BDMI), the venture investment vehicle of the Bertelsmann Media group, has completed a EUR 10m series-C round of financing for internet multi-brand retailer BuyVip.
EUROPE - F&C closes on EUR 173m
F&C Management has held the final close of its Europe-focused mid-market fund-of-funds, F&C European Capital Partners, on EUR 173m.
ITALY - Private equity firms compete for vending machine business
Market rumour suggests that Barclays Private Equity, Bridgepoint, Warburg Pincus and BC Partners are among the private equity firms shortlisted in the auction for vending machine distributor N&W Global Vending (formerly Zanussi).
SPAIN - Magnum joins bidding for renewable energy assets
According to reports, a month before the closing date for bids, Magnum Capital Industrial Partners has joined the auction for the renewable energy assets of Babcock & Brown in Europe.
SPAIN - Carlyle-backed Applus+ acquires testing and inspection group
Carlyle-backed Applus+ has completed the second bolt-on acquisition since the private equity firm acquired the business; US-based non-destructive testing and inspection (NDTI) firm JanX.
ITALY - Private equity interest in Bulgari
Market rumour suggests that Carlyle and Blackstone could be among several private equity firms interested in purchasing Italian fashion accessories house Bulgari.
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.