Southern Europe unquote
EIF and Oquendo to launch €100m Iberian fund
Spanish bank Banca March, the European Investment Fund (EIF) and Spanish Iberian mezzanine provider Oquendo Capital are to raise a fund to back local SMEs, according to local reports.
Orlando Italy buys struggling Fnac division
Orlando Italy has acquired FI Holding, the holding company of music and book retailer Fnac Italia, from parent company PPR.
Mercapital injects €40m into Betapack group
Spanish GP Mercapital has secured an 80% stake in Spanish plastic caps group Betapack in exchange for a €40m investment.
Spanish private equity’s 2012 highlights
While Spain faces deep economic problems, ranging from mass unemployment, a burst housing bubble and crippling public debts, its private equity industry has soldiered on, even attempting to improve its fortunes on the back of close ties to lucrative markets...
OpenFund leads €600,000 investment in WorkableHR
Greek venture capital investor OpenFund has injected €600,000 into recruitment platform provider WorkableHR.
Advent’s Maxam completes €280m refinancing
Maxam, a Spanish explosives manufacturer backed by Advent International, has taken out a €280m syndicated loan to refinance debt and fund expansion.
Italian private equity’s 2012 highlights
2012 in review: Italy
Fondo Italiano backs Surgital with €11m
Fondo Italiano di Investimento has invested around €11m in frozen foods firm Surgital.
CVC buys Cerved from Bain Capital and Clessidra for €1.13bn
CVC Capital Partners has acquired Italian business intelligence provider Cerved from Bain Capital and Clessidra for €1.13bn.
Fondo Italiano backs Marsilli
Fondo Italiano di Investimento has injected €10m into winding and automatic assembly systems provider Marsilli & Co in exchange for a minority stake.
Fondo Italiano and EdRIP back Unitedcoatings Group
Fondo Italiano di Investiment and Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRIP) have injected €20m into coatings company Unitedcoatings Group.
Cinven sells Avio aviation unit to GE for €3.3bn
Cinven has sold the aviation business unit of Avio to General Electric for €3.3bn.
Spanish GPs set sights on Latin America
Latin America
British PE firms circle Italy's Cerved
CVC and Permira have shown an interest in acquiring Milan-based corporate intelligence and rating agency Cerved, according to reports.
Southern Europe unquote" December 2012/January 2013
The sixth annual unquote” Italia Private Equity Congress took place in November at the Four Seasons in Milan, bringing GPs, LPs and advisers together to discuss the issues shaping the industry.
Carlyle and Vista sell Orizonia for mere €141m
Carlyle and Vista Capital have sold Spanish tour operator Orizonia to tourist group Globalia in a deal valued at €141m, six years after buying it for more than €800m, according to reports.
Video: AIFI's Innocenzo Cipolletta
Video: AIFI's Innocenzo Cipolletta
Futurimpresa backs Objectway with €10m
Italian investor Futurimpresa has made a €10m equity injection into Objectway Financial Software, a provider of software and services to the financial industry, in exchange for a 30% stake.
Italy is different
While the doom and gloom settles in the rest of Europe, Italian private equity professionals advertise a cautious optimism despite decreasing activity in the country.
Principia backs MoneyFarm
Italian VC Principia has injected €2.65m into online investment advisory firm MoneyFarm.
Cabiedes & Partners leads funding round for Floqq
Cabiedes & Partners has led a €405,000 funding round for Madrid-based Floqq, an online education platform designed for those seeking employment.
GPs tackle Italy’s PR problem
Italy’s PR problem
Alto makes 2x on Monviso SBO
PM & Partners Private Equity has acquired Italian food producer Monviso from Alto Partners.
Principia backs Itsworld with €2m
Italian VC firm Principia has injected €2m into Itsworld Sicilia in exchange for a 28% stake in the firm.