Southern Europe unquote
Monti lays out plans to bolster Italian VC market
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has introduced changes to the rules regarding venture capital investments in SMEs. Amy King reports
Ade Gestion exits Jamones Burgaleses
Ade Gestion Sodical has exited processed meats producer Jamones Burgaleses, selling its 20% stake to Campofrio Food Group (CFG).
La Caixa backs vLex
La Caixa has led a €4m investment in online legal research platform vLex alongside reinvestment from shareholders, public money from the Spanish government’s Plan Avanza initiative and the European Network and Information Security Agency. La Caixa...
Axis invests in Industrias Hidráulicas Pardo
Axis Participaciones Empresariales has invested an undisclosed amount in hospital equipment manufacturer Industrias Hidráulicas Pardo, part of the Grupo HCS and a portfolio company of MCH Private Equity.
Gestión de Capital Riesgo backs Kondia Me Taldea
Gestión de Capital Riesgo del País Vasco (GCRPV), the venture arm of the Basque Country government, has injected €750,000 into machine tools manufacturer Kondia Me Taldea in exchange for a 22.5% stake.
Baring exits Centro Inmunológico de Cataluna
Baring Private Equity Partners has completed the exit of medical diagnostics company Centro Inmunológico de Cataluna (CIC) through a trade sale to French medical diagnostics company Labco.
Cabiedes & Partners reinvests in Uvinum
Cabiedes & Partners has led a second round of funding for online marketplace for alcoholic beverages and gourmet products Uvinum, investing a total of €830,000 from its fund and business angels.
Ventizz and Partners Group acquire Rioglass from GED
Ventizz Capital Partners and Partners Group have acquired solar reflectors manufacturer Rioglass Solar Holding SA from private equity firm GED.
Active Venture backs Whisbi
Active Venture Partners has backed start-up online communications service provider Whisbi.
Vector exits Efectivox
Vector Capital has sold its 27.67% stake in cash handling and transportation services provider Efectivox, previously known as Blindados Grupo Norte, to Swedish cash handling company Loomis. Financial details of the exit remain undisclosed.
Concerns over “unfair” Fondo Italiano
Italy’s Fondo Italiano has been on a roll in recent weeks, completing five deals in just seven days over the festive period. But mid-market professionals in Italy are concerned the government-backed fund could be introducing unfair competition. Amy...
PEP invests €18m in Allsystem
Private Equity Partners SGR (PEP) has injected €18m into Italian security company Allsystem Group in exchange for a significant minority stake. Investment took place through Private Equity Partners Fund IV, which closed on €300m in 2007.
Moleskine attracts PE buyers
Private equity players are thought to be circling Syntegra and Index-backed Italian notebook and diary brand Moleskine.
Buyers circle Permira-backed Valentino
Permira-backed Valentino Fashion Group has attracted the interest of potential buyers following its successful turnaround, according to reports in Il Sole 24 Ore.
Fondo Italiano to invest in venture capital funds
Fondo Italiano di Investimento has pledged to boost start-up growth in Italy by investing in venture capital funds. The fund is set to make investments of up to €50m from its €1.2bn of assets under management to help young Italian companies grow.
Fondo Italiano-backed Arioli acquires Brazzoli
Fondo Italiano di Investimento has reinvested in textile machinery manufacturer Arioli to facilitate the company’s acquisition of 100% of Brazzoli, a manufacturer of textile dyeing machines. Varese Investimenti provided co-investment.
Suma acquires 48% of GEC and takes control
Spanish private equity firm Suma Capital has acquired a further 48% of Barcelona-based e-learning company Gestión del Conocimiento (GEC) from Caixa Penedès, increasing its stake in the business to 98%.
Fondo Italiano invests €20m in Zeis Excelsa
Fondo Italiano di Investimento has invested €20m in footwear and clothing supplier and manufacturer Zeis Excelsa SpA.
Fondo Italiano backs Rigoni di Asiago
Fondo Italiano di Investimento has completed its 16th transaction to date with a €14m investment in organic fruit confectionery and spreadable goods producer Rigoni di Asiago.
Fondo Italiano makes €20m investment in TBS
Fondo Italiano di Investimento has invested €20m in integrated clinical engineering and health services provider TBS Group. The public-private government-backed vehicle has acquired a 13.17% stake in the listed company through a capital injection of...
Fondo Italiano injects €12m into Sira Group
Government-backed vehicle Fondo Italiano di Investimento has backed steel, aluminium and die-cast radiator producer Sira Group SpA with €12m in exchange for a minority stake.
Fondo Italiano invests in Gruppo La Patria
Fondo Italiano di Investimento and PM & Partners have made an equity investment in security services provider Gruppo La Patria.
Fondo Italiano completes five investments in one week
Fondo Italiano d'Investimento has made five investments in Italian companies over a seven day period, increasing the number of transactions completed by the public-private fund to 17.
Sun European Partners acquires Elix
Sun European Partners has acquired plastics business Elix Polymers for an undisclosed amount.