Southern Europe
ITALY - Blackstone eyes Italian industrial giants
Reports in the Italian press suggest that US firm Blackstone is ready to invest in Telecom Italia and its TIM mobile unit, as well as assets belonging to electricity provider Enel SpA. Rumour has it that Blackstone's president Tony James will partner...
SPAIN - Henderson Global Investors opens Madrid office
Asset management firm Henderson Global Investors continues its expansion in Europe with the opening of a new office in Madrid. George Giovannini will be the country manager of the new office. Giovannini, who has been with Henderson Global Investors since...
SPAIN - Catalana d'Iniciatives has a new Madrid director
Private equity firm Catalana d'Iniciatives has promoted Nicholas Ruiz to director of its Madrid office. Previously an investment director, Ruiz has worked in a number of operations at the firm's offices in Madrid and Barcelona.
SPAIN - Highgrowth invests in Solostocks
Fonsinnocat, the closed-end fund managed by Highgrowth Partners, has purchased a 10% stake in online stock shop SoloStocks for an undisclosed sum. Internet advertising group Intercom owns 80% of the company, while its managers hold the remaining 10%.
SPAIN - Javier Faus launches private equity firm specialised in the hotel sector
Javier Faus, the frontman of Patron Capital, is reportedly launching a private equity firm focused on the hotel sector. Based in Barcelona, the new firm, Capital Meridia, will invest in luxury hotels and has already raised EUR 150m to kickstart its operations....
SPAIN - Apax and Capital Hemisferio to float Vueling
According to press reports, low-cost airline Vueling is due to float 39% of its capital in the stock exchange in the next few days. The bidding period will run from November 17 - 29. The company's main shareholders, Apax Partners and Capital Hemisferio,...
ITALY - Permira to sell Grandi Navi Veloci to private equity consortium
According to press reports, Permira is said to have reached an agreement with a consortium including buyout house Investitori Associati, Charme and De Agostini to sell its portfolio company Grandi Navi Veloci for over EUR 750m. Two years ago, Permira...
ITALY/GERMANY - Mediaset leaves competition for ProSiebenSat
Mediaset, the broadcasting giant owned by ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, is no longer in the competitive process for German television network ProSiebenSat.1 Media.
ITALY - SG Capital Europe acquires majority stake in Modo & Modo
SG Capital Europe has acquired a 75% stake in Modo & Modo SpA, a manufacturer of paper stationery products under the Moleskine brand. The value has not been disclosed.
PORTUGAL - The Riverside Company acquires ONI
The Riverside Company has agreed to acquire ONI SGPS SA, the wire-line telecom unit of Portuguese utility Energias de Portugal. The deal is valued at EUR 160m, and is expected to close early next year.
ITALY - Allen & Overy to end activities in Turin
Law firm Allen & Overy (A&O) has decided to end its operations in Turin following the departure of Carlo Pavesio, the only A&O partner left in the city. Pavesio left to set up his own practice. From January next year, Pavesio & Associati will be fully...
SPAIN - ING and RBS on the lookout for partners forTelepizza's debt package
According to reports in the Spanish press, banks ING and Royal Bank of Scotland are currently searching for a partner to join in the long-term financing arranged for the Telepizza deal. The pizza chain was bought by Permira last September for around EUR...
ITALY/GERMANY - Berlusconi and private equity funds to compete for media giant
According to reports in the Italian press, Silvio Berlusconi's broadcasting empire Mediaset is planning to launch a bid for 50.5% of German television network ProSiebenSat.1 Media. It is understood that a decision will be made next Tuesday, when the group's...
SPAIN - A good year for private equity in the Basque Country
The Sociedad de Gestión de Capital Riesgo del País Vasco, entity managing the private equity activities in the Basque country, is forecasted to end the year of 2006 with investments in 15 companies, totalling EUR 11m. The entity was launched in 1985...
ITALY - Stroili Oro Group partners with Upim
Jewellery business Stroili Oro Group has recently signed an agreement with department store chain Upim to sell an 'accessible' line in its 50 shops, based all over Italy. Rumour has it that both businesses have planned a tailor-made approach to the alliance,...
SPAIN - First Tuesday to discuss financing for web-based companies
Financing for internet-based and 'new-tech' companies will be one of the topics discussed at the fourth Barcelona edition of First Tuesday, to be held tonight at the Carpe Diem Lounge Club. The agenda of the business networking forum also includes advice...
SPAIN - 3i director joins Magnum Industrial Partners
Inaki Echave has left 3i's London office to join Magnum Industrial Partners, a Spanish buyout firm recently launched by ex Santander Angel Corcostegui. The firm has begun the fundraising for its first fund, capped at EUR 750m. Echave's work at 3i included...
SWITZERLAND/FRANCE/ITALY - Argos Soditic's founder to leave the firm
According to press reports Edoardo Bugnone, founder of private equity firm Argos Soditic and a former chairman of the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA), is to leave the firm weeks after the closing of its latest fund.
ITALY - MPS Venture and Consilium exit M.F.U
Mps Venture SGR and Consilium SGR have announced the divestment of M.F.U. SpA. The value of the exit proceeds is undisclosed. M.F.U specialises in the supply of integrated logistic solutions. The purchaser is the Anixter Group, a multinational leader...
SPAIN - Nazca backs MBO of law information business
Private equity firm Nazca Capital has completed the acquisition of 100% of Corporación Empresarial El Derecho SA alongside its management. The deal value has not been disclosed.
ITALY - SanPaolo IMI Fondi Chiusi has closed another deal
SanPaolo IMI Fondi Chiusi, the private equity arm of the homonymous bank, has recently closed a new expansion deal in the specialty chemicals sector.
ITALY - AIFI releases private equity results for Q1 and Q2
The Italian private equity and venture capital association (AIFI) has recently released the industry results for the first half of 2006, marked by a lack of mega deals. Between January and June 2006, players invested a total of EUR 826m in 119 deals.
ITALY - Doughty Hanson acquires Zobele for EUR 300m
Doughty Hanson has agreed to purchase Trento-based company Zobele from its founders for around EUR 300m, according to reports in the Italian press. Zobele is active in the development of products and solutions for pest control, healthcare and household,...
SPAIN - Baring Private Equity Partners invests in the educational sector
Baring Private Equity Partners has taken a significant stake in multilingual school Estudios Agora for an undisclosed sum. According to reports in the Spanish press, the acquisition is the first step of a buy-and-build operation which aims to create a...