Southern Europe unquote
Spanish government attempts to boost alternative funding for SMEs
The Spanish government has announced its intention to facilitate investment in SMEs at a press conference after the Council of Ministers meeting, say reports in the local press.
Amadeus Capital Partners backs Bellco
Amadeus Capital Partners has entered the shareholding of Italian dialysis technology company Bellco, owned by Montezemolo & Partners.
Private equity-backed Eco Eridania bolts on three
Waste management firm Eco Eridania, backed by Fondo Italiano di Investimento, has acquired three companies: Paderno Energia, Elettrochimica Carrara and Technoplus, the waste management arm of Ghi.be.ca.
Clessidra loses out on Telecom Italia
Italian private equity house Clessidra has lost out on national television network Telecom Italia as the company entered into exclusive talks with media firm Cairo Communication, according to reports.
Argos Soditic buys FIS and Antex
Argos Soditic has acquired a majority stake in Italian firms FIS and Antex, which operate human resources and finance and administration outsourcing services, through the newco Fahr Servizi.
Blackstone appoints new MD for Iberia
Blackstone has appointed Inaki Echave as managing director, with a primary focus on Spain and Portugal.
Suma Capital launches new fund
Spanish GP Suma Capital has launched a new fund to support Catalonian SMEs.
Greylock Partners backs Social Point
US venture capital investor Greylock Partners has reportedly injected $2.9m into Spanish online games producer Social Point.
Mercapital sells Lasem Group to management
Spanish GP Mercapital has sold its 41% stake in Catalan company Grupo Lasem, which operates in the baking and confectionery industry, according to reports.
CRB and Inveready back Amadix
Spanish VC investors CRB Inverbio and Inveready have injected €2m into biotech firm Amadix.
Southern Europe unquote” February 2013
“The 2006 acquisition of Avio represented what today remains the largest leveraged buyout ever completed by a single private equity house in Italy,” says Roberto Italia, partner at European buyout house Cinven.
Ambienta plans €300m fund
Italian environmental investor Ambienta is looking to raise €300m for its second fund, according to reports.
Cerberus buys loan portfolio from Liberbank
US private equity house Cerberus Capital Management is understood to have acquired a portfolio of loans worth €574m from Spanish lender Liberbank.
Carlyle-backed Applus buys EDI
Testing firm Applus, backed by Carlyle and Investindustrial, has bought Chinese engineering firm EDI.
Italy: Diamond in the rough
Diamond in the rough
Cofides supports Agrovin with €3m
Cofides has injected €3m into Agrovin, a Spanish manufacturer and distributor of wine products.
N+1 buys Probos from Explorer
N+1 Private Equity has acquired Portuguese plastic band manufacturer Probos in a €75m SBO from Explorer.
21 Partners backs Farnese Vini
21 Partners has acquired a majority stake in Italian wine producer Farnese Vini, according to reports in the local press.
VenturCap launches new fund
Catalonian VC investor VenturCap has launched a new fund, VenturCap II.
Video: Private Equity Partners' Fabio Sattin
Amy King talks to Fabio Sattin, founder and chairman of Private Equity Partners, about why Italy has struggled to attract foreign investment.
Axa and Permira’s Odigeo completes refinancing
Odigeo, the online travel agent backed by Permira and Axa Private Equity, has placed €325m worth of five-year secured bonds to refinance its senior debt.
Oonair raises €600,000 from Spanish VCs
Social video solutions provider Oonair Mobile Technologies has raised €600,000 from existing and new backers.
Principia backs Simplicissimus with €2m
Italian venture investor Principia has injected €2m into Simplicissimus Book Farm, a digital solutions provider for the publishing sector.
Partners Group poised to buy stake in Softonic
Switzerland-based GP Partners Group is set to buy a 40% stake in software download portal Softonic – Spain’s most visited website – for €110m, according to reports in the local press.