Southern Europe
SPAIN - Fund Marco Polo ceases its activities
The closed-end fund Marco Polo will end its activities in September. Companies such as El Corte Ingle, Indra and Union Fenosa, as well as banks Caja Madrid and Bancaja invested over EUR 100m in 2000. The fund was created right at the start of the internet...
ITALY - 21 Investimenti buys stake in B-Pack Due
Treviso-based private equity firm 21 Investimenti has acquired a share in the capital of B-Pack Due, a company producing packaging material for the food, textile and medical sectors, for an undisclosed sum.
ITALY - Electra Partners to sell Azelis
According to reports in the Financial Times Deutschland, Electra Partners has appointed BNP Paribas to handle the sale of Azelis, an Italian wholesaler of chemicals.
SPAIN - Ahorro Corporación acquires Axesor
The private equity fund Ahorro Corporación has agreed to buy Axesor, a company specialising in online corporate communication systems, from Capital Riesgo Internet. The final price is dependant on due diligence being carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
ITALY - Permira to float Ferretti for the second time
Permira is looking to re-list its portfolio company Ferretti, a manufacturer of high performance luxury motor yachts, on the Milan Stock Exchange this year or early in 2007.
ITALY - Permira looking to sell Grandi Navi Veloci
According to financial sources in Milan, private equity giant Permira is in talks with fund manager Investitori Associati to sell its portfolio company Grandi Navi Veloci for EUR 750m. The purchase is currently going through the due diligence on the ferry...
ITALY - Sisal SpA to be sold in EUR 1.3bn secondary buyout
The newspaper Il Sole 24Ore has reported that Sisal SpA, a portfolio company of private equity firm Clessidra, is due to be sold to another group in a secondary buyout that can reach the sum of EUR 1.3bn.
SPAIN - 3i sells its stake in TCB
Private equity firm 3i has sold its 30% stake in logistics operator Group TCB (Terminal de Contenidors de Barcelona), to the family Pérez Maura, owner of shipping management group Pérez y Cía. The deal value has not been disclosed.
ITALY - Carlyle and Finmeccanica sell Avio to Cinven for EUR 2.57bn
The Italian defence group Finmeccanica, and private equity giant Carlyle Group have sold aerospace engine maker Avio to Cinven. The enterprise value of the deal is EUR 2.57bn. Finmeccanica's stake of 30% will be sold for EUR 430m. At the same time, the...
SPAIN - Investindustrial exits Grupo Care
The Spanish branch of Investindustrial has agreed to sell its interest Grupo Care, a Madrid-based residential care company, to the Orpea Group for an undisclosed amount. Grupo Care has reported a turnover of EUR 15.6m last year and expects to reach EUR...
ITALY - Stirling Square backs MBI of Metroweb SpA
Stirling Square Capital Partners, the pan-European private equity firm, has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Metroweb SpA. from Milan-based utility AEM SpA. Stirling Square is backing a team of experienced telecom managers...
SPAIN - Carlyle courts Ason
The Carlyle Group and Layetana, a Catalan real estate company, are considering a bid for Spanish real estate group Ason, according to Spanish newspaper Cinco Dias. Bids are due next week for the firm, which is expected to be valued at about EUR 700m.
ITALY - Strategia Italia closes its first transaction
The private equity firm Strategia Italia SGR has recently concluded its first transaction as a lead investor, in partnership with specialist investor Piemonte High Technology. The consideration has not been disclosed.
ITALY - Argos Soditic closes partnership to expand in China
Private equity firm Argos Soditic has chosen private equity firm Value Partners to manage its activities in the Chinese market. The partnership will allow the Italian firm to provide support to its portfolio companies with interest in developing business...
SPAIN - Carlyle and Vista Capital acquire Iberostar for EUR 800m
Carlyle Group, which had already signed an agreement of intention to purchase tour operator Iberostar, has partnered with Vista Capital, the private equity firm backed by the Banco Santander, in an acquisition deal reportedly worth EUR 800m.
SPAIN - Mercapital sells its stake in Grupo Hospitalario Quiron
Private equity firm Mercapital has sold its 32% stake in Grupo Hospitalario Quiron, a hospital group to Portuguese firm Jose de Mello.
SPAIN - Advent acquires Euroloc
The global private equity firm Advent International has announced the acquisition of Euroloc de Maquinaria S.L., a leading equipment rental company serving the Spanish construction sector, from Fides Capital and family shareholders.
ITALY - Capitalia Sofipa acquires half of Lediberg’s capital
Capitalia Sofipa Sgr has recently acquired a stake in the marketing product manufacturer Lediberg via its funds Sofipa Equity Fund and Sofipa Equity Fund II, in a deal reportedly worth EUR 25m. The private equity firm has taken a 49.9% stake and the remaining...
ITALY - Private equity consortium to buy stake in Pirelli Tyre
Gruppo Banca Leonardo, the investment group formed by dealmaker Gerardo Braggiotti, is part of a banking association set to buy a 39% stake in Pirelli Tyre later this week.
ITALY - Permira set to list Ferretti
Luxury yacht group Ferretti has confirmed that it will be returning to the Milan stock exchange this year. The IPO, which is likely to happen in the autumn, had been widely anticipated ever since it was purchased by private equity fund Permira and subsequently...
ITALY - L Capital buys Piazza Sempione
L Capital, the private equity arm of the group LVMH, has acquired a majority stake in Piazza Sempione, a high-end fashion company, from its founding family. The consideration has not been disclosed.
SPAIN - All eyes on Pullmantur
A number of private equity firms are courting Pullmantur, one of the primary tourist divisions of the group Marsans. The travel operator, specialised in tours, cruises and charter flights is looking for a financial partner willing to buy between 30 and...
ITALY - Aletti acquires majority stake in Lovato
Aletti Private Equity has purchased 70% of Officine Lovato from its founders, via the Dimensione Network fund. According to reports in the Italian press, the transaction is worth around EUR 25m.
SPAIN - Bridgepoint buys Dorna from CVC
Bridgepoint has won the competitive auction to replace CVC Capital Partners as a shareholder in Dorna, a motorcycle sports business that promotes and manages MotoGP (the Motorcycle Road Racing World Championship). Other private equity firms involved in...