Neopharmed Gentili is an Italian drugmaker founded by the Del Bono family. No financial terms were disclosed.
Nicolò Saidelli, Managing Director and Head of Ardian in Italy, added: “Today Neopharmed Gentili is well-known within the Italian pharmaceutical industry and is ready to begin expanding internationally, through important partnerships with global players such as Merck and Teva Pharmaceutical. We are pleased to support the Del Bono family in this new challenge, and we will do it with passion, thanks to the experience and skills that distinguish Ardian and the many development projects already followed in Italy together with entrepreneurs and managers at the head of family businesses.”
Ardian was advised by Bain, Gattai Minoli Agostinelli Partners, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Giovanelli e Associati, Gitti and Partners, and Rothschild. Neopharmed was advised by Four Partners and NCTM.
Corsair Capital invested in ZEDRA Group, the global specialist in trust, corporate and fund services. Bart Deconinck, currently Group Deputy Chairman, will become Group Executive Chairman. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Mr. Deconinck said, “Corsair’s investment and support is a strong endorsement of ZEDRA’s differentiated value proposition, blue-chip client base, and long-term prospects. Since our acquisition of Barclays’ offshore and onshore trust businesses a little over two years ago, ZEDRA has grown rapidly, building and strengthening our reputation for innovative and independent thinking. With Corsair’s partnership and operational support, we will be able to build on these foundations, while continuing to provide our clients with the service and solutions they have come to expect from ZEDRA."
Abraaj founder making final efforts to save the company.
Arif Naqvi, founder of troubled buyout firm Abraaj, is making a last-ditch effort to rescue the remaining business of what was once one of the largest investors in emerging markets. Naqvi has met limited partners and creditors in an effort to win back their support for a plan to restructure the debt of Abraaj Holdings and some of its older funds to avert liquidation for the Dubai-based firm, two sources told Reuters. So far only one creditor, Dubai-based Mashreqbank, is known to have responded positively to his proposal.
As liquidators began to break up the operations of the company, several bidders emerged for various Abraaj funds. TPG has entered into exclusive talks to take over the management of Abraaj’s health fund, while Actis, Brookfield Asset Management and Colony Capital are front-runners for other funds.
Lonestar hired Deutsche Bank to explore the sale of Evoca.
Lone Star hired Deutsche Bank to explore a potential sale of its Italian vending and coffee machine maker Evoca. The move comes at a time when the coffee sector is being reshaped by a raft of M&A deals. Several parties have already presented unsolicited bids for Evoca, said the company's CEO.
The group, which produces a wide range of coffee machines including Gaggia brand of professional equipment for bars and restaurants, could be valued at around €1.5bn ($1.7bn).
BC Partners looks to sell media firm Acuris.
The deal to sell Acuris, the financial news and data business which BC Partners acquired in 2013, could be worth as much as £1bn ($1.3bn). The company, formerly known as Mergermarket, was part of The Financial Times Group.
BC Partners is looking to start an auction process early next year and was working closely with the management team to prepare the financial documentation for potential bidders. The sale could draw interest from other buyout funds as well as some industry players.
BC Partners plans to sell Acuris follows a number of transactions in the financial data industry involving heavyweight investors.
Multiple funds in talks to acquire Eurasia Drilling.
Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are in talks to buy a 16% stake in Russian oil drilling firm Eurasia Drilling. "The deal is awaiting approval from a government commission" Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said at a conference in Moscow.
No details were disclosed about the deal value.
Advent looks to bid for French cosmetics maker L’Occitane.
French cosmetics maker L’Occitane International is drawing bids from private equity firms, including Advent International. The retailer, whose shares are listed in Hong Kong, may consider bids from other buyout funds and industry peers.
L’Occitane’s market value is currently $2.7bn. Any purchase of L’Occitane would allow a buyer to tap into the fast-growing market for cosmetics and skincare, which is booming thanks to an expansion of the middle class globally and an increase in the number of Chinese consumers traveling worldwide. Last year French cosmetics group L’Oréal sold The Body Shop to Brazil’s Natura Cosmeticos in a deal worth €1bn ($1.16bn).
