As 2012 comes to a close, the EBRD has effected what will be the largest syndicated deal this year in South East Asia via a financial package for existing client Atlantic Grupa, worth EUR 307 mln. The package is critical for the region, which is still undergoing the backlash effects of the economic crisis; the agreement [...]

If you thought the investment landscape was drab and dreary, how about a mash-up between Facebook and Farmville? Farmeron, a Croatian company developing software for keeping profiles of farm animals, has just bagged a round of investment from 500 Startups. The company’s web-based farm management application helped them be a finalist at this year’s Seedcamp [...]

Croatia-based startup WhoAPI, founded by Edi Budimilic and Goran Duskic, has raised seed investment worth EUR 40,000

KBW, a U.S. investment bank, along with Enterprise Investors, a Poland based group, announced that they are interested in acquiring several small Croatian banks. Some of the banks that are listed as possible acquisitions include: Centar Banka, Jadranska Banka, Karlovacka Banka, Istarska Kreditna Banka, and Varazdinska Banka. Centar Banka (www.centarbanka.hr) Centar Banka is a commercial [...]

Bancroft Private Equity, a firm that focuses on Central and Eastern European companies, has acquired Croatian mail service company CityEx. CityEx currently delivers parcels and documents throughout Croatia, and is trying to expand to other countries. CityEx (www.cityex.hr) CityEx was founded in 2008, at a time when the Croatian government just began to loosen its [...]

Nexus Private Equity Partners has moved to help consolidate the Croatian document handling sector through the acquisition of controlling stakes in two local companies. Nexus has paid a total of € 3.5 million to acquire 51% stakes in both Hitra Produkcija Dokumenata and Trigger. The deal, which was brokered by Ascendant Capital Advisors, will allow [...]

As Austria’s Burgenlaendische Elektrizitaetswirtschafts-AG (Bewag) regional utility seeks to sell Croatian telecom operator B.net Hrvatska. Telekom Austria seems to have emerged as the leading bidder. Although the existence of other bidders has been implied in various news reports, no verifiable list of names has been released. Industry speculation indicates that Bewag could realize as much [...]

Oaktree Capital Management is preparing to divest itself of Stock Spirits, the Central European alcoholic beverage producer. Although Oaktree appears to be planning for auction, the company has not specifically indicated that selling Stock Spirits to another private equity investor is definitely the plan. Oaktree appears to also be considering an initial public offering if [...]

More than four years after acquiring Calucem from Heidelberg Cement, Mid Europa has sold the company and its assets to Argus Capital Partners. The sale includes Calucem’s operations in Croatia, Germany, Singapore, and the U.S. Calucem (www.hca.com) Calucem, Inc. produces quick setting cements and calcium aluminate cement for use in the chemical, fertilizer, mining, and [...]

A handful of investors in Slovenian food supplier, Mercator, are looking to sell their shares in the company to Mid Europa Partners. Slovenian bank, Nova Ljubljanska Banka, is reportedly talking with Mid Europa about a deal to sell their 10.75% stake. Arkas, the Ljubljana-based financial adviser managing the sale, has indicated that four other banks [...]

After ordering the sale of fuel retailer Corbenz last year, Croatia’s anti-trust agency has approved Russia’s Lukoil as the purchaser. AZTN originally ordered the sale after Corbenz’ largest shareholder increased its stake to 47%, making their total interest in Croatia too large in combination with similar holdings. A small enterprise with only 14 petrol stations [...]

CEE private equity firm Penta Investments appears to be planning for new opportunities this year with a target of as much as €800 million in acquisitions. The company has been struggling as of late in identifying and approaching new targets, due to Czech banks having eased off on delinquent borrowers. The banks are apparently willing [...]

Acting on a request from its nation’s government, Croatian oil company INA has agreed to sell the Crobenz petrol chain to Progress Trading of Slovakia, associated to Slavia Capital. The government request was issued by the Croatian anti-trust agency after MOL increased its INA stake to 47% last year, making the company’s total market share [...]

Konzum, the Croatian supermarket chain and subsidiary of Ivica Todoric’s Agrokor, has sold 100% of its Kozmo operations to private open-end investment firm Nexus Alpha. Though little is known about the deal, there is speculation that Todoric put the retail drugstore chain on the block due to difficulties in remaining competitive with Drogerie Markt (DM), [...]

Slovenian retail giant Mercator has decided to begin the process that would allow it to complete a capital share increase of about 20%. The company’s Board has planned to offer new shares of Mercator in order to raise cash for future expansion activity. According to a 2007 Shareholder resolution, Mercator is free to issue the [...]

Nexus ALPHA, the initial fund of Croatian firm Nexus Private Equity, has announced the completion of its first investment; expansion capital provided to Promotehna d.o.o. The new capital will allow the automotive equipment and products distributor expand its business while also strengthening its market position. Nexus believes the current economic crisis will increase the demand [...]

The potential sale of Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Central and Eastern European brewing assets is heating up after five private equity firms expressed interest in looking at a possible deal. Although none of the private equity firms has made comments publicly, the group of five includes Cinven, CVC Capital Partners, KKR Private Equity, TPG Capital, and Warburg [...]

Speculation has risen that FiberNet Communications, a Central and Eastern European cable television operator may be for sale. Possible purchasers could include other private equity firms or cable operators. Since FiberNet has begun receiving unsolicited inquiries, they have retained the services of Morgan Stanley to look at any informal offers that may be made. Details [...]

Nexus Private Equity Partners announced that it has raised EUR 35.8 million (HRK 254.5 million) for its first private equity fund, Nexus ALPHA. Nexus Private Equity Partners (www.nexus-pe.hr) Nexus Private Equity Partners, based in Zagreb, Croatia, was founded in 2008 and will focus its investments on the Croatian and greater Southeastern Europe markets. Nexus Private [...]

Croatia’s financial group Proficio has sold a majority share in Net.hr to Czech Republic based Centrum Holdings for an undisclosed price. Centrum Holdings acquired 75% of the shares in Net.hr, while Proficio has retained 25% and will continue to help develop the online portal. Adriatic Media d.o.o. (www.net.hr) Net.hr is the largest portal in Croatia, [...]