Southern Europe unquote
Star Capital SGR holds first closing
Italian investor Star Capital SGR has held a first closing on more than €70m for Star III, a fund aiming to back Italian SMEs.
Inveready launches €15m technology fund
Spanish investor Inveready has launched a €15m fund to back technology companies.
Alto Partners backs MBI of Virosac
Alto Partners has backed the management buy-in of environmentally-friendly household products company Virosac.
Sator and Palladio appeal rejected by courts
Italian private equity houses Palladio and Sator have had their appeal against the proposed merger of Unipol and Fondiaria-SAI rejected by the national courts.
Fondo Italiano backs Megadyne
Fondo Italiano di Investimento has invested €20m in Italian belts and pulleys manufacturer Gruppo Megadyne in exchange for a minority stake.
3i-backed La Sirena completes refinancing
La Sirena, a Spanish frozen foods firm backed by 3i, has completed its refinancing plan.
3i sells Esmalglass to Investcorp
3i has sold ceramic and enamel producer Esmalglass-Itaca to Investcorp in a deal understood to be worth around €200m.
Spain sees opportunity in disaster
Opportunity in disaster
Fondo Italiano backs Mape
Fondo Italiano di Investimento has completed its twenty-fifth investment with a €10m injection into Italian automotive parts manufacturer Mape.
Spain's CDTI to launch two venture vehicles
Spain’s Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) will soon launch two venture capital vehicles with capital commitments totalling €150m, according to reports in the Spanish press.
N+1 makes 3.5x on ZIV sale
N+1 Private Equity has sold its 75% stake in Spanish digital equipment and services provider ZIV Aplicaciones y Tecnología to trade player Crompton Greaves for €150m.
Fondo Italiano provides capital to Hat Holding
Fondo Italiano di Investimento has committed capital to Italian investment company Hat Holding, allowing the firm to shift its focus from club deals to investments from a closed-end fund.
€1.7bn bid for Rottapharm stalls
The bid launched by Clessidra Capital Partners and Avista Capital Partners for Italian drugmaker Rottapharm has ground to a halt due to share governance issues and fundraising difficulties.
Vertis backs Blomming
Italian investor Vertis has backed social network e-commerce site Blomming.
Italian and Russian banks to launch joint venture
Italian banking group Intesa Sanpaolo and Russian bank Gazprombank have signed an agreement to make private equity investments in medium-sized local companies.
Espiga sells Invesa to Animedica
Espiga Capital Gestión has sold Industrial Veterinaria (Invesa), a Spanish pharmaceutical products manufacturer for the veterinary industry, to German firm Animedica Group.
Mercapital makes €100m on Gasmedi sale
Mercapital has sold Spanish respiratory home therapies firm Gasmedi to French gas company Air Liquide for €330m.
N+1 Mercapital aims for €1bn fund
N+1 Mercapital is hoping to raise a €1bn fund when it launches next year, subject to the completion of regulatory approvals.
Fondo Italiano injects €5m into Antares
Fondo Italiano di Investmento has acquired a minority stake in Italian artificial vision systems producer Antares Vision via a €5m investment in holding company Imago Technologies.
Spain continues to outperform Italy in deal volume
Despite the country's dire economic state, Spanish private equity activity has continued to outpace that of Italy continuously over the past 24 months - although the latter showed more resilience last year.
3i to restructure La Sirena debt
3i has asked lenders to restructure a partially amortised loan worth €90m for Spanish frozen foods retailer La Sirena.
Permira sells Valentino to Qatari investors
Permira has sold Valentino Fashion Group to Mayhoola for Investments, a vehicle backed by a Qatari private investor group, in a deal believed to be valued at around €700m.
Fondo Italiano invests €10m in EMARC
Fondo Italiano di Investimento has injected €10m into italian industrial group EMARC in exchange for a minority stake.
Idinvest leads €6m round for Social Point
Idinvest has led a €6m series-B financing round for online games producer Social Point, alongside BBVA and Nauta Capital.