Southern Europe
ITALY - Wise acquires majority stake in SpII SpA
The private equity firm Wise SGR, via the funds Wisequity II & Macchine Italia, has acquired a majority stake in SpII SpA, an industrial automation player for the logistic sector, from its founders for an undisclosed sum.
SPAIN - SEPIDES to finance expansion of e-Cultura
The private equity fund Banesto ENISA SEPI Desarrollo has agreed to purchase a minority stake in e-Cultura Net S.A for EUR 3m. This is part of an expansion strategy led by the fund’s vehicle SEPI Desarrollo Empresarial S.A (SEPIDES).
SPAIN - Inova exits La Estrella Digital
According to reports in the Spanish press, private equity firm Inova has sold its 30% stake in the e-newspaper La Estrella Digital to communications entrepreneur Mariano Álvarez Gutiérrez for an undisclosed sum.
SPAIN - Gamesa launches fund for the development of eolic energy
Renewable energy player Gamesa is set to launch a fund to attract investments for the development and promotion of eolic energy. The new vehicle, named Gamesa Inversiones Energeticas Renovables, has registered at the Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores...
SPAIN - M-Capital invests in Arigas Andalucia and Autosur
M-Capital has taken a 40% shareholding in Arigas Andalucia, an early-stage company that specializes in maintenance services for water and gas networks. The Cordoba –based company Arigas Instalaciones will hold the remaining stake.
SPAIN - Candover set to buy Applus +
According to reports in the Spanish press, Candover Partners has signed an agreement to buy Applus + from its shareholders Aguas de Barcelona, Unión Fenosa and Caja Madrid, for EUR 915m.
SPAIN - Espiga Capital exits Stock Uno
Espiga Capital, along with other shareholders, has recently sold its entire shareholding in Stock Uno to Ibersuizas in a BIMBO worth approximately EUR 30m. The transaction represents returns to Espiga of 2.5x its original investment, equivalent to an...
SPAIN - Madrigal Participaciones buys El Arbol from CVC
Madrigal Participaciones has recently agreed to buy 80% the supermarket chain El Arbol, from the private equity firm CVC in a transaction worth approximately EUR 54m. The company’s general manager, Juan Pascual, will retain the remaining 20% shareholding....
SPAIN - Founders of La Sirena form private equity firm
The founders of the Spanish frozen food chain La Sirena, have launched Asociadis de Inversiones SCR to expand their investment portfolio. The new firm, created by the Cernuda Canelles brothers, is reportedly one of the first private equity businesses...
SPAIN - Mercapital acquires Cinebox
The cinema chain Abaco, backed by the private equity firm Mercapital, has agreed to buy Cinebox from the entertainement group GMR in a deal reportedly worth around EUR 60m.
ITALY - Clessidra acquires Fratelli Elia
The fund Clessidra has recently purchased Fratelli Elia from the brothers Maurizio and Raffaele Elia for an undisclosed sum, according to the news agency Radiocor.
SPAIN - Gala Capital buys 58% of Grupo Page
According to reports in the Spanish press, the private equity firm Gala Capital has purchased 58% of the technology group Page for an undisclosed sum.
SPAIN - GED set to exit Continental Hotels in Bucarest
The Spanish private equity firm GED will exit the Romanian chain Continental Hotels via a listing on the Bucarest Stock Exchange in July. GED will probably list all of its 28% stake in the company. The remaining shares are held by founding familiy, Enache,...
PORTUGAL - Money set for Portugal Telecom buyout
According to reports on the Portuguese press, a consortium of private equity funds including Blackstone, Cinven, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Permira and Providence Equity have secured EUR 4.9 b of their own funds available should they decide to go ahead...
EUROPE - EVCA stats show returns improved in 2005
The European private equity industryтs final performance figures for 2005 show steadily improving returns across all parts of the industry. The long-term returns have now increased to more than 10% due to the improved performance of short-term returns...
EUROPE - EVCA appoints new chairman
At the annual ordinary general assembly of the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA) last night, Javier Loizaga, CEO and Managing Partner of Mercapital, was officially elected as association chairman for the period June 2006 to...
EUROPE - EVCA reports 2005 a record year for private equity
EVCA has announced the final fundraising, investment and divestment figures for European private equity in 2005 at its annual Symposium in Monte-Carlo. The annual figures show records for all three stages of activity in the industry. After three years...
ITALY - SELI receives investment from Centro Impresa
The fund Centro Impresa, managed by Sanpaolo IMI Fondi Chiusi SGR, has invested EUR 7m of its EUR 100m capital in SELI. This transaction is the second investment of the fund since its launch in 2005.
SPAIN - Vista Capital acquires Play by Play for EUR 4.8m
Vista Capital, in a move to expand its toy manufacturer portfolio company Famosa, has purchased 100% of Play by Play from Catalana d’Iniciatives and its other investors for EUR 4.8m.
SPAIN - Ibersuizas appoints new partner
Jorge Delclaux has just joined Ibersuizas as a private equity partner and will be the vice president of the Spanish firm. The new addition to the team will strengthen the company’s new private equity project, launched a few months ago.
SPAIN - Savia Coinversión SCR invests in EUR 5m in MSS
The Zaragoza-based private equity firm has announced an investment of EUR 5m in Mobile Security Software (MSS). MSS is working on the development of a high security system for mobile devices that includes coding and uncoding, authentication control and...
SPAIN - Ibersuizas appoints new vice president
Jorge Delclaux has joined Ibersuizas as a private equity partner and will be the vice president of the Spanish firm. The new addition to the team will strengthen the company’s new private equity project, launched a few months ago.
SPAIN - Monitor Capital buys 95% of the restaurant chain Pinocchio
The private equity firm Monitor Capital has acquired 95% of the shares of the Spanish food chain Pinocchio, which operates ten restaurants and pizzerias in Montecarlo, Madrid and Valencia.
SPAIN - Cuatrecasas launched its own London office
The law firm, which has just opened an office in the heart of the City of London, is now closer to the decision center of many of its clients.