Italy
First-time challenges in southern Europe
First-time funds may still be facing a tough road in southern Europe, but GPs are getting increasingly skilled at selling a compelling story
Bregal Milestone backs Italian gift cards provider Epipoli
GP deploys capital from its €400m vehicle, which held a final close in July 2018
ArchiMed carves out Diesse from PZ Cormay
Diesse was acquired from Orphée, the Swiss subsidiary of Warsaw-listed diagnostics group PZ Cormay
Baird Capital exits Clearwater in £11m deal
Sale ends a four-year holding period for the GP, which bought the company via its BCPE Fund II
Assietta backs cosmetics specialist Effegilab
GP invests in the company by deploying capital from its APE III fund, closed on €48m in 2015
Charme Capital exits Atop in €380m deal
Sale ends a two-year holding period for Charme, which acquired the company via its third fund
Zouk Capital invests in PE-backed Be Power
As part of the deal, the GP appoints Paolo Amato as president and Paolo Martini as CEO of Be Power
Wise-backed Tapì buys Les Bouchages Delage
Management led by CEO Delage will continue to run the company, which will operate independently
Sella Venture Partners to launch €150m VC fund-of-funds
Vehicle will make around 20 investments and will target Europe, the US and Israel
Indaco Ventures leads $6m series-B for Mainstreaming
Existing investor United Ventures also takes part in the round, alongside Sony Innovation Fund
Consilium to launch €200m fourth buyout fund
Fund IV will acquire majority stakes in Italian companies operating in a wide range of sectors
Alto Partners backs Olimpia Splendid
GP invests via its Alto Capital IV fund, which closed on its €210m hard-cap in April 2018
Gradiente exits Coldline
Sale ends a holding period of only one year for Gradiente, which bought the company via its second fund
Alkemia exits Taplast to trade
US-based Trimas also acquires the majority stake owned by Taplast CEO Paolo Santagiuliana
HIG buys Cadica from Gradiente, builds new group
In addition to Cadica, HIG also buys Tessilgraf and Bernini, which will be merged into a new group
Consilium, Progressio buy Gelit
GPs deploy capital from their funds Consilium Private Equity III and Progressio Investimenti III
Bencis-backed Abriso eyes Airpack
Abriso plans to buy at least 50% of Italian peer Airpack according to a regulatory filing
Indaco, Invitalia in €8m round for rental startup Sweetguest
Indaco invests via its Indaco Ventures I fund, while Invitalia deploys capital from Italia Venture I
HIG WhiteHorse invests in Italian retailer Risparmio Casa
HIG intends to support the company in further strengthening its market position in Italy
PE-backed Garda Plast sells division to trade
Gruber Logistics buys the transportation and logistics activities of Progressio's Garda Plast
Buy-and-build opportunities thrive in Italian market
In addition to the strong activity recorded on the buyout side, 2018 was also a busy year for Italy in the consolidation space
Alpha acquires ceramics specialist Laminam
GP invests via its Alpha Private Equity Fund 7, which held a final close on €903m in June 2017
Alto Partners buys OFI
Italian GP Alto Partners buys a majority stake in dermo-cosmetic business via its fourth fund
Nexi raises €2.3bn in IPO
Initial listing gives Nexi a market capitalisation of €5.7bn and an enterprise value of €7.3bn