Southern Europe
SPAIN - Apax divests stake in LaNetro Zed
According to reports in the Spanish press, Apax Partners is reported to have sold its 32% stake in LaNetro Zed, a content developer for the mobile and internet industries.
FRANCE/SPAIN - Bakery business Panavi buys Ohayo
Catalan bakery group Ohayo has been sold by the brothers Jaume and Jordi Pasarell to private equity backed Panavi, a French company in the same sector. The deal value has not been disclosed.
SPAIN - Apax and FManagers sell stake in Everis to management
Apax Partners and FManagers have sold their combined 45% stake in consulting business Everis to its management.
ITALY - 21 Investimenti and Banca Leonardo buy stake in IVRI
21 Investmenti and Banca Leonardo have jointly acquired a majority stake in IVRI, a security and surveillance business, for an undisclosed sum. The Zané family, founders of the group, will maintain a minority stake.
PORTUGAL - Portugal Telecom deal about to close
After a year of negotiations, the five investment banks fronting Sonaecom's hostile takeover bid of Portugal Telecom are reported to be close to agreeing advisory fees as the deal reaches its final stages.
ITALY - Alitalia attracts interest from private equity firm
Reports in the Italian press suggest that Vestar Capital Partners could be interested in taking over troubled airline Alitalia.
ITALY - Bridgepoint acquires motor homes manufacturer
Bridgepoint has agreed to purchase SEA, a manufacturer of branded motor caravans.
SPAIN - Corpfin Capital acquires Restauravia Food
Corpfin Capital has acquired the restaurant chain Restauravia Food alongside its management team in a BIMBO valued at EUR 95m.
SPAIN - Banesto backs renewable energy business
Banesto ENISA SEPI Desarrollo has made an investment of EUR 1.5m in Aquaventus Energía SL in return of a minority stake.
SPAIN - Private equity funds acquire Global 3 Energía
Private equity firms Corpfin Capital, Ahorro Corporación and Impala Capital have acquired 74% of Global 3 Energía from US firm ArcLight Energy Partners.
ITALY - L Capital acquires 40% of Calligaris
Market sources suggest that L Capital has purchased a 40% stake in home decoration business Calligaris. The value of the transaction has not been disclosed.
ITALY/UK - Apax hands Damovo over to hedge funds
Apax Partners is reportedly being forced to hand over its telecom business Damovo to a consortium of hedge funds, in order to save the company from bankruptcy.
ITALY - Abacus Invest closes its first deal
Milanese Abacus Invest has completed its first deal yesterday by purchasing a 56% stake in Controls. The consideration was not made public.
SPAIN - Latham & Watkins to launch operations in Spain
US law firm Latham & Watkins announced Monday that it will open offices in Madrid and Barcelona on 1 January.
ITALY - Apax acquires healthcare factoring business
Pharmaceutical group Confarma is reported to have sold the majority of its shares in Farmafactoring to FF Holding, a vehicle entirely owned by Apax Partners.
SPAIN - 3i set to acquire 45% of Bouncopy today
According to reports in the Spanish press, 3i is due to close the acquisition of a stake in Bouncopy in the next couple of hours.
ITALY - Cognetas sells Azelis to 3i
Private equity frim Cognetas, formerly known as Electra Partners Europe, announced the sale of Azelis Group to 3i.
SPAIN - INova Capital backs DC Wafers
INova Capital has announced its invesment in industrial manufacturer DC Wafers. After the investment, completed via a capital increase, the private equity firm will control a 15% stake in the company.
SPAIN - Ahorro Corporación invests in Biodiesel Alicante
Ahorro Corporación has agreed to purchase 20% of Biodiesel Alicante from Grupo Nátura. The consideration has not been disclosed.
SPAIN - Caixaholding backs baby food producer
According to reports in the Spanish press, Caixaholding has purchased 35% of Nafree for approximately EUR 1.25m. Private equity firm Molins Capital Inversión is reported to have invested as well, providing a total of EUR 50,000.
SPAIN - Catalana d'Iniciatives divests stake in Ritz Hotel
Private equity firm Catalana d'Iniciatives has sold its 34.9% shareholding in Barcelona-based Ritz Hotel.
SPAIN - Doughty Hanson buys Avanza for EUR 600m
Doughty Hanson's Madrid branch has completed its first deal by acquiring transport group Avanza.
SPAIN - ERA Biotech raises EUR 1.4m from private equity investors
Bioproductivity company ERA Biotech has raised EUR 1.4m to finance its activities related to the manufacture of recombinant proteins in cultured cells.
EUROPE - EVCA publishes 2006 benchmarking study
EVCA has published its third annual benchmarking study, a piece of research which compares the tax and legal environments for private equity and venture capital across 25 European countries.