Southern Europe
ITALY - Argan and Merrill Lynch considering N&W flotation
Press reports suggest that Argan Capital and Merrill Lynch are considering the IPO of its vending machine interest N&W Global Vending this year.
EUROPE - Covenant-lite loans stoke heavy fears
Reports of banks accepting “covenant-lite” loans to win deals has worried industry professionals. “It is due to an oversupply of capital and a very clear sign of an overheated market,” one banker said. “It is a bad structure and will come unstuck...
SPAIN - Mercapital to join Doughty Hanson in competition for Continental Auto
Reports in the Spanish press suggest that Mercapital has joined forces with Doughty Hanson to bid for Continental Auto, the bus division of local infrastructure and services group Actividades de Construccion y Servicios (ACS). The company is said to be...
SPAIN - Vista acquires pharma business for EUR 360m
Vista Capital has wholly purchased pharmaceutical business Laboratorios Indas from the Arochena family for around EUR 360m. It is understood that the private equity firm has faced competition from its peers Mercapital, Nmás1 and Ibersuizas, before signing...
EUROPE - No overhang, but concerns regarding returns say LPs
'There is no capital overhang,' according to Urs Wietlisbach at Partners Group, speaking at the EVCA Investors' Forum in Geneva on Wednesday. As Thomson revealed that nearly EUR 90bn was raised for investment last year, panelists were quick to point out...
SPAIN - Diana Capital pockets 36% IRR with Grupo Recyde sale
Diana Capital has completed its first exit by selling its automotive component, a 23% interest Grupo Recyde, to sector player Cie Automotive for EUR 19m.
SPAIN - Highgrowth makes 1.6x return with Dimat sale
Highgrowth Partners has sold the 32.65% stake it held in communications and networking solutions company Dimat SL. The company designs and manufactures communication and networking solutions for the international power utilities market.
ITALY - Galaxy supports the development of Siena airport
According to press reports, MPS Bank and the management of Siena Airport have signed an agreement with private equity fund Galaxy for the expansion of Siena's airport.
SPAIN - Dinamia and Nmás 1 acquire Alcad for EUR 9,8m
Private equity firms Dinamia and Nmás 1 have acquired Alcad in an MBO valued at EUR 9,8m.
GLOBAL - S&P launches industry index
In a move that underlines the increasing significance of private equity, ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has launched a new index to track the industry’s performance. The tracker will follow the 25 most liquid private equity firms around the globe.
ITALY – Berlusconi to partner with Goldman Sachs Private Equity for Endemol bid
According to speculation in the Italian press, the group Mediaset is to bid for a Telefonica-owned 75% shareholding in fellow broadcasting group Endemol. The stake valued at around EUR 2bn.
SPAIN - BPEP makes 4.6x on Euroatomizado
Baring Private Equity Partners Spain has divested its stake in Euroatomizado.
SPAIN – ACP leads EUR 2m financing of Buyvip.com
Barcelona-based venture capital investor Active Capital Partners has led a round of funding in Buyvip.com, an e-commerce business offering a range of brand products at discounted prices.
ITALY - Abacus Invest and MPS Venture enter the fashion industry
Private equity firms Abacus Invest and MPS Venture have jointly acquired a 45% stake in fashion business Phard SpA.
ITALY - Palamon Capital Partners acquires debt collection agency
Mid-market firm Palamon Capital Partners has acquired all shares in Milan-based debt collection agency Si Collection SpA. The vendor is Si Holding SpA, which owns Carta Si, a major issuer of credit cards on behalf of a consortium of Italian banks.
ITALY - Investindustrial buys cosmetics business
Private equity firm Investindustrial has wholly acquired Morris Profumi. The business is a Parma-based cosmetics division of German specialty chemicals player Henkel.
SPAIN - Nazca to sell its tapas restaurant chain
Spanish press reports suggest that private equity firm Nazca is to sell Lizarran Tapas Selectas, its tapas restaurant business, to sector player Comess Group.
ITALY - Z-Cube invests in pharma business
As a lead investor, Z-Cube has invested EUR 3.2m in pharma business PharmEste alongside Quantica SGR, Zernike Meta Venture and State Street Global Investment SGR (SSGI).
SPAIN - MCH, Corpfin and Carlyle compete for tour operator
According to press reports, private equity firms MCH, Corpfin and Carlyle are among the bidders for tour operator Catai Tours.
GLOBAL - Bear Stearns acquires private equity placement agent
Bear Stearns has strengthened its private equity fundraising services with the acquisition of Crane Capital Associates’s fund placement business.
SPAIN - Doughty Hanson boosts its real estate team
Fernando San Juan has recently joined Doughty Hanson's real estate team in Madrid.
SPAIN - Another transport player for Doughty Hanson's fleet
After closing its first deal in Spain by acquiring transport group Avanza, Doughty Hanson is said to be considering a bid for another transport company.
ITALY - Bridgepoint to bid for World Superbikes' organiser
Press reports suggest that Italian FG Group, the company holding the rights to motorcycle championship World Superbikes, is up for sale for around EUR 70m.
ITALY - Alto Partners' new fund closes its first deal
Alto Capital II, a fund closed recently on EUR 165m, has completed its first deal.