Southern Europe
GLOBAL – Pantheon makes NY hire
Pantheon, a global fund-of-funds and secondaries player, as appointed Rudy Scarpa to its secondaries team as partner.
EUROPE - Stoxx launches private equity index
Stock exchange monitor Stoxx today launched a new index which tracks the performance of Europe's 20 largest listed private equity firms.
EUROPE - CVC hires former RBS CFO
CVC Capital Partners has appointed former Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) chief financial officer Fred Watt as chief operating officer.
EUROPE - Bear Stearns Private Equity seizes the moment
In an interview with unquote", Bear Stearns Private Equity director Greg Getschow explains that market upheaval can be good for business and how GPs will have to rediscover the essence of private equity. The last few weeks have been a challenging...
SPAIN - TPG-led consortium to lower bid for Iberia
It is widely reported that the consortium led by Texas Pacific Group (TPG) will lower its intended bid of EUR 3.6 per share for Spanish airline Iberia.
ITALY - Private equity heavyweights court Wind
Blackstone is said to be a frontrunner in the much commented acquisition process of Wind. Buyouts houses Apax, Texas Pacific Group and Permira are also rumoured to have shown interest.
PORTUGAL - Inter-Risco reaps 2.8x return on its first exit
Fundo Caravela, the private equity fund managed by Inter-Risco, has sold semiconductor manufacturer Chipidea to US-based sector player MIPS Technologies.
SPAIN - Panrico sells 50% its shares in Dunkin Donuts
Dunkin Brands has purchased 50% of the Spanish operations of Dunkin Donuts, held until now by Apax-owned industrial baker Panrico.
ITALY - DeA Capital joins Palamon to expand Sigla
DeA Capital, the investment vehicle of industrial player De Agostini, has purchased a minority stake of 26.75% in financial services provider Sigla from its co-founder for a total of EUR 38m. Upon completion of the deal, Palamon will remain holding its...
GLOBAL - Carlyle postpones IPO
The Carlyle Group has put back plans for an IPO until 2008, David Rubenstein said in an interview with Financial Times Deutschland. He blamed the delay on the uncertainty in the debt and equity markets and also said that he expected one quarter of agreed...
ITALY - Sofipa SGR makes partial exit from Colony Sardegna
Sofipa SGR, the private equity arm of Group Capitalia, has made a partial exit from its hotel management interest Colony Sardegna by selling a 49% stake. It is understood that the divestment has generated a money multiple of around 1.5x.
ITALY - Arca Impresa exits Diffusione Italiana Preziosi
Arca Impresa and Meliorbanca have sold their stakes in Diffusione Italiana Preziosi to industrial player Morellato & Sector. The sale value is understood to be EUR 60m and the deal is forecast to close by the end of September. Rothschild assisted...
EUROPE - European private equity leaps on cleantech
The concern with environmental issues and the consequent demand for solutions related to the generation of renewable energy and waste management has made cleantech a sought-after sector for European GPs. Dealflow in the sector has seen a noteworthy increase...
SPAIN - New technology leads demand for seed capital
Around 40% of projects landing Spanish seed investment originate from the so-called "new technology" sector.
SPAIN - SRP invests EUR 3.4m in solar energy player
Government-backed agency Sociedad Regional de Promoción del Principado de Asturias (SRP) has led a funding round of EUR 3.4m for Rioglass Solar.
SPAIN – Clave Mayor leads buyout of Natural Food
Clave Mayor has wholly acquired Natural Food alongside industrial backer George Stravrakakis.
ITALY –Investitori Associati joins the pack of suitors for CIT
Struggling travel business CIT has received the interest of six buyers so far. The company – which is nearing liquidation, with losses reportedly surpassing EUR 150m – aims to find a buyer by the end of September.
ITALY - Barclays Private Equity acquires catering business
Barclays Private Equity has completed the management buyout of Gemeaz Cusin Ristorazione and Scapa Italia from the Accor Group. It is understood that the sale of the two businesses is part of Accor's disposal strategy of non-core Italian assets to focus...
GREECE - Global Finance exits ice cream chain
Buyout house Global Finance has sold ice cream chain Dodoni to NBGI Private Equity. The divestment by Global Finance was the first ever secondary buyout to take place in Greece.
ITALY - Alto Partners acquire minority stake in Rancilio
Alto Capital II acquired a 16.67% stake of Rancilio from its founders.
SPAIN - Kimia receives EUR 2m in backing from Debaeque
Media content developer Kimia Solutions has received EUR 2m in a series-A financing round led by Debaeque Venture Capital.
SPAIN - Qualitas wins Alcasa deal
Qualitas Equity Partners has wholly acquired aluminium producer Aluminio Catalán SA (Alcasa) from Ibersuizas alongside the company's management. BBVA is providing the debt for the acquisition.
ITALY - Euraleo makes its first invesment
Euraleo, the joint venture established in 2006 by French buyout house Eurazeo and investment group Banca Leonardo, has made its first acquisition.
SPAIN - Media content developer secures EUR 2m from Debaeque
Debaeque Venture Capital has led a series A round of funding totalling EUR 2m in Kimia, a company developing technology to channel rich media content from the Internet to mobile phones.