Poland
Posted Tue, 31/08/2010 - 23:15
Counting on the expectations of a bright future for financial products comparison web sites, Poland's Helix Ventures Partners (HVP) has invested in eBroker.pl. The deal opens new opportunities for eBroker.pl to attract more customers, provide better information, and more accurately match users to financial institutions. It will also aid in the site's future development plans.
Posted Fri, 13/08/2010 - 12:38
In a bold move described as a "clear signal" of the EBRD's commitment to it's partners, the bank has approved a €10 million loan to the Ukrainian subsidiary of Polish flooring manufacturer Barlinek, SA.
Posted Fri, 30/07/2010 - 23:47
Enterprise Investors has completed a partial divestment of Poland's Harper Hygienics through an IPO on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The transaction, which consisted of just over 25% of Harpers, or 13 million shares, netted Enterprise's Polish Enterprise Fund V a total of PLN 53.3 million at PLN 4.1 per share.
Posted Fri, 30/07/2010 - 22:59
After receiving approval from Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection this past May, Penta investments has announced the completion of a deal to acquire 100% of Iglokrak Group, a producer of frozen foods and ice cream. Penta's goal since the process began earlier this year has been to consolidate what it sees as a fractured frozen foods market.
Posted Thu, 08/07/2010 - 00:36
Enterprise Investors (EI) has added a seventh SME to the portfolio of its Enterprise Venture Fund I (EVF) with the investment of PLN 7.3 million in Euro-Tax.pl. The buy-out deal with the Polish income tax service gives EI a 25% stake in the company.
Posted Sat, 19/06/2010 - 17:44
The recent announcement by the Polish government of its intention to sell a majority stake of state-owned power company Energa SA has brought out some of the industry's heavy hitters in what could shape up to be a very interesting bidding war. The Treasury Ministry has received initial bids for 83% of the utility from eight groups, including the Czech Republic's Penta Investments and CEZ, and PGE SA and Kulczyk Investments from Poland.
Posted Sat, 19/06/2010 - 17:19
Making good on plans announced last year, MCI Management has now completed its exit from S4E through the sale of its remaining shares in the company in April. MCI sold the 40.09% stake to Ingalil Holdings Limited and current Supervisory Board president Roman Pudełko, at a price of PLN 6.25 per share. MCI originally entered S4E through an acquisition of nearly 91% in 2001. During the life of the unusually long investment period, the average annual rate of return was about 17%. MCI executed a partial exit in 2007 through an IPO which brought a 35% return.
Posted Mon, 14/06/2010 - 19:57
Enterprise Investors (EI) has signed a deal to acquire a 49% share of Dino, a move that will help the Polish supermarket's plan to expand its operations. The €50 million investment, which will be made as a capital increase through EI's Polish Enterprise Fund VI, now awaits approval from Polish authorities.
Posted Fri, 28/05/2010 - 11:20
After more than two years of holding a majority share of Polish financial advisor Expander Advisors, the consortium led by Innova Capital has acquired the remaining shares from GE money to become the company's sole owner. The Innova consortium first invested in 2007, acquiring 60% while GE Money retained a 40% stake.
Posted Fri, 28/05/2010 - 10:00
Fresh off its recent purchase of Bank of America Merrill Lynch interests, AXA Private Equity is extending its reach into Central and Eastern Europe through an affiliation agreement with Poland's Resource Partners. The agreement will give Axa access to Poland and the Baltic States where the firm has pledged €50 million for investment in mid-sized agricultural and food companies.
Posted Sun, 09/05/2010 - 20:13
Penta Investments and Polish frozen food company Iglokrak reached an acquisition deal in late February which was put on hold pending government approval. The deal can now go through as the Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) and the Slovak Republic's Antimonopoly Office have given the geen light. The acquisition is especially important in the Polish market where many of the players believe the frozen foods industry is too fragmented.
Posted Sun, 09/05/2010 - 20:01
Poland's AmRest has found a new financing partner in American private equity firm Warburg Pincus, securing a deal to help fund the acceleration of company expansion plans. The independent restaurant operator had been approached by several other interested investors over the last year but chose Warburg Pincus due to its experience and commitment.
Posted Wed, 14/04/2010 - 21:07
After more than a year of negotiations and financial hurdles, CEE private equity firm Abris Capital Partners has reached a deal to acquire Masterlease Polska from U.S.-based GMAC. As part of the financing package Abris was able to secure €129.3 million in corporate bonds just recently made available on the Warsaw Stock Exchange under its new Catalyst program. The company was acquired by GMAC in 2001 and made part of their global financing group while the original management team continued to operate the business.
Posted Thu, 25/03/2010 - 11:46
WestLB, the German financial institution owned in a partnership between North Rhine-Westphalia and a group of local banks, has agreed to sell its Polish operations as part of a restructuring effort needed to secure EU financial assistance. Purchasing WestLB Bank Polska will be IDM Brokerage House and Abris Capital Partners via PL Holding Sarl (PHS). The sale price, which is tied to the bank's net book value, is expected to be around PLN 250 million.
Posted Wed, 17/03/2010 - 20:33
Polish road construction firm Poldim S.A. will become a portfolio company of Lithuania's Tiltra Group now that the Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection has issued its approval for the transaction. The deal gives Tiltra a 71% interest in Poldim for an undisclosed amount.
Posted Wed, 24/02/2010 - 19:54
Anglo American plc has announced the sale of Polish concrete products manufacturer, Libet, to Innova Capital. The acquisition was made through Innova's fourth fund, Innova/4, and gives the firm 100% ownership.
Posted Fri, 19/02/2010 - 21:45
Mail.ru co-owners Digital Sky Technologies (DST) and Naspers appear to be engaged in talks that could result in a merger of the two companies' social networking holdings in Poland. Russian-based DST owns a 75% stake in Nasza-Klasa.pl while the South African-based Naspers owns the Gadu Gadu instant messaging service.
Posted Thu, 18/02/2010 - 19:38
Berlin-based bmp Media Investors has reached an agreement allowing it to fully exit Nokaut.pl, the e-commerce platform which has been part of the bmp portfolio since early 2006. The firm will sell its 34.26% stake to TFI Investors' LBO fund for a price of PLN 5.4 million. The deal is contingent upon the conditions of precedent, including due diligence and the approval of shareholders from both companies. Completion is expected by the end of February.
Posted Mon, 15/02/2010 - 13:08
Upon acquiring Czech opthalmology company Lexum Group last year, ARX Equity Partners pledged to work with Lexum founder Marc Filipec to expand the company within Central and Eastern Europe. Holding to that pledge Lexum recently announced the acquisition of Intermedica, a leading player in Poland's opthalmology clinic market, for an undisclosed price.
Posted Mon, 01/02/2010 - 13:30
Austrian asset and investment management firm CRG Capital has reached a deal with Wosana S.A. majority owner, Mr. Pawel Lyson, enabling it to fully exit from the Polish beverage producer after three years of involvement. The firm agreed to sell the 41.8% stake to Lyson in early December despite looking at bids from several other unidentified investors.