Italy
CAPE-backed Chromavis acquires Durlin France
Cimino e Associati Private Equity (CAPE)-backed B2B cosmetics company Chromavis has wholly acquired Durlin France from de Bergerac NC (which is in turn state-owned via the Societe Nationale des Poudres et Explosives).
Alto acquires 40% stake in Drogheria e Alimentari
Alto Partners have acquired a 40% stake in food manufacturer Drogheria e Alimentari through a capital increase from their Alto Capital II fund.
Ambienta in €17m capital increase for ICQ Holding
Dedicated environmental investor Ambienta SGR will invest €17m in renewable energy developer ICQ Holding in a capital increase, through its fund Ambienta I Rinnovabili (A1R).
Private equity consortium looks to take Sorin private
A consortium comprised of Ares Life Sciences AG, Essex Woodlands Health Ventures UK, Intesa SanPaolo and Alpha Private Equity Funds has requested permission to carry out an exclusive due diligence process on healthcare business Sorin Group.
Italy launches €1bn fund for SMEs
The Italian government and a group of private investors including Confindustria, the Italian Association of Banks (ABI) and the country’s three main financial institutions –Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit and MPS- have launched a €1bn fund to support...
Intesa and Innogest in €5m round for Silicon Biosystems
Atlante Ventures, the Venture Capital Fund of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, and Innogest Capital have co-led a €5m round of financing for Silicon Biosystems SpA.
Finlombarda invests €1.5m in Microcinema
Finlombarda Gestioni SGR has invested €1.5m in Italian digital distribution network of film and digital content Microcinema, taking a minority stake in the business.
Alto Partners takes 51% stake in IPE Cavalli
Alto Partners has acquired a 51% stake in design furniture business IPE Cavalli.
3i loses control of Global Garden Products
3i has lost control of its Italian lawnmower manufacturer Global Garden Products (GGP), which has been taken over by its senior lenders during the company’s restructuring process.
Foresight boosts European solar team
Foresight Group, a dedicated environmental investor, has appointed Federico Giannandrea as investment director.
SICI and FidiToscana back Montalbano Technology
Sviluppo Imprese Centro Italia (SICI) and the Tuscan financial agency FidiToscana have invested €2m in Montalbano Technology, taking a 24% stake in the business.
Q&A: Environmental sector opportunities and challenges
Nino Tronchetti, co-founder and CEO of environmental investor Ambienta talks to unquote" about opportunities in the sector.
KKR nears NYSE listing; releases fourth quarter results
Private equity behemoth KKR is moving closer to listing on the New York Stock Exchange, as the firm has confirmed the move yet again in its financial results report for the fourth quarter, released yesterday.
3i-led consortium favourite bidder for E.ON Italian gas grid
According to reports, a 3i-led consortium, which includes Italian gas supplier Erogasmet, has been selected by E.ON for the acquisition of its Italian gas grid; the deal has been estimated at over €300m.
Denham divests SunRay
Denham Capital Partners have divested SunRay Renewable Energy an solar photovoltaic developer to US-based trade player SunPower, the total consideration for the acquisition is approximately $277m, including $235m in cash and $42m in a letter of credit...
Q&A: Intermediate on high ground
Deborah Sterescu speaks to Christophe Evain, managing director of ICG, on expectations for recovery and why high-yield is not a long-term threat for mezzanine.
Cape in €900m proposal to build cars in Sicily
Cimino & Associates Private Equity (Cape), has presented an offer to the Italian government to build electric cars in Sicily.
Pantheon acquired by AMG
Fund-of-funds manager Pantheon Ventures is to be acquired by US-based Affiliated Managers Group (AMG) for $775m.
PE hunts down bank bargains
Private equity is swooping in on banks' saleable assets in a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' to create a new banking platform. Deborah Sterescu reports.
Italy’s solar market heats up
Earlier this week UK-based investor Amplio Group connected two solar PV plants in Italy and plans to connect an additional four by the end of the month – all in all a €13m deal.
Amplio invests in solar project
Dedicated environmental investors The Amplio Group has completed and connected two plants of 1MW each expecting to connect four additional 1MW plants by the end of the month.
Banca Leonardo shuts down PE activities
The wave of structural reorganisations has hit Italy’s Banca Leonardo, which is one of the recent banks to decide to re-focus its activities, towards its advisory and wealth management and away private equity division.
Adapt to survive
Despite recording a steep decline in investment activity over 2009, delegates at the 2009 unquote" Italia Private Equity Congress remained optimistic that Italy is well placed for future growth. Francinia Protti-Alvarez reports
ITALY - Market remains strong despite downturn
Speaking at the unquote" Italia private equity congress, Mara Caverni of PricewaterhouseCoopers argued that the Italian private equity market remains in good health despite the big declines witnessed in the last year, emphasising that "activity has,...