Poland

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.

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.

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.

Making good on a planned IPO announcement from parent company MCI Management last fall, ABC Data has begun in earnest the process which will see it listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE). The Polish IT company has tendered an issue prospectus to their government's Financial Supervisory Commission and hope to be ready for listing by mid-2010. MCI Management, which will retain control of ABC Data after the IPO, estimates the offering could be worth between PLN 50-100 million, utilizing both institutional and individual investors.

Boston-based private equity firm Advent International has made a public bid for WSiP S.A. The bid, for Poland's leading textbook publisher, offers PLN 16.35 per share which represents a 1.5% premium over the closing price for Nov. 5th. If accepted, the bid could amount to a total sale price of up to PLN 405 million. Advent has indicated it plans to de-list WSiP if it can obtain at least 80% of the formerly state-owned company. ING Securities is managing the offer and investors will have the opportunity to get in on the deal beginning in late November.

International investor EQT Partners has made the first move from its year-old Warsaw office in making an offer to acquire HTL-Strefa. EQT is offering PLN 13.71 per share based on the company's average share price over the last half-year. HTL-Strefa has been valued at just over PLN 885 million and EQT is interested in purchasing 100% of the shares. Three of the largest shareholders, who own a combined 77.76% of the company, have already agreed to the deal. The offer is good through the 26th of November.

Two of Poland's leading on-line retailers joined forces at the end of
September as bmp Media Investors sold its stake in SklepyFirmowe.pl to Nokaut.pl. The transaction gives Nokaut.pl 70% of the company while the remaining 30% will remain with current board members. The two companies have worked together since 2006 and have both received investment capital from bmp Media Investors.

Polish steel producer Zlomrex has divested itself from troubled Croatian subsidiary Zeljezara Split, selling its 95.86% stake to British firm Carlson Private Equity Limited. The deal was signed by both parties earlier in the month transferring more than 220,000 shares of stock to Carlson.

A new project from Warsaw based Resource Partners GP has passed concept review with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and awaits final approval in September. The project calls for the establishment of the Resource Eastern European Equity Partners I Fund with the EBRD making an initial contribution of € 25 million at first close. The EBRD will have the option to increase its investment at the time of subsequent closings.

eVenture Capital markets has chosen to make a big splash with its first Russian/Ukrainian internet investment by acquiring a stake in Mapia.ua, a Ukrainian startup offering online mapping and searching services.