Netherlands incorporated fund Blue Sea Capital has acquired Belgrade-based Serbian healthcare provider ‘Dom Zdravlja Dr Ristić‘. The deal came within Blue Sea’s EUR 15 mln investment limit, and the outpatient medical services company has a turnover of less than EUR 30 mln. Dom Zdravlja Dr Ristić (www.dr-ristic.com) Dom Zdravlja Dr Ristić was founded in 1994 and has since [...]

Bulgarian business accelerator, Eleven, a relatively new player, has invested EUR 25,000 in Serbian company VetCloud, a start-up company that is developing a cloud storage and document management platform for veterinarians. Eleven will receive an 8 per cent equity in the company in exchange for the funding. The company competes in a market that is [...]

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 [...]

Former investor in the Russian Union and Eastern Europe, Salford Capital Partners, has quit the dairy business in the form of an exit from Imlek and Mlekara Subotica. Salford’s stake in the dairy producers will be bought out by Dutch group FrieslandCampina according to the memorandum of understanding signed between the two parties. Imlek’s 79 [...]

K.D.S. Novi Sad, a local cable TV and broadband service operator in Serbia, has been picked up by Serbia Broadband (SBB). The acquisition entails a complete overhaul and upgrade of their infrastructure. The company’s ability to service its customers during the several months required for the work will be affected in the short-term. The company [...]

Expat Capital, a Bulgarian financial company, has purchased a 20% share of Eurohold Bulgaria. Eurohold is a local financial and industrial group. The sale took place on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange with shares selling for 1.215 leva per share. Total sale was valued at 26.4 million leva. StarCom Holding, Eurohold’s largest shareholder agreed to the [...]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has completed the purchase of a minority stake in the Russian bakery, Hlebprom. The EUR 10 million investment will be used to upgrade the cake and biscuit producer’s plants. which has developed its own national distribution system. The money will primarily be used to buy new ovens [...]

Citing what it calls painfully slow growth potential for the foreseeable future, Salford Capital is looking to exit its Balkan holdings within the next two years. The company believes the best hope of finding buyers is to court major players in the food industry such as Nestle, Danone, and others. The majority of Salford’s Balkan [...]

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 [...]

As Serbia’s state-owned JAT Airways continues to experience heavy financial losses, Greek investment firm Marfin Investment Group has expressed interest in acquiring the troubled airline. Marfin purchased Greek Olympic Airlines last March and would most likely merge it with JAT to create a strong regional airline. The firm also acquired a 50% stake in Switzerland’s [...]

Financially troubled Serbian newspaper distributor Futura Plus has a new owner that will hopefully settle its debt and turn the company around. Rus Press, a Russian company owned by billionaire Oleg Deripaska, has agreed to acquire 100% of Futura Plus for an undisclosed amount. The company has been owned by controversial Serbian businessman Stanko Subotic [...]

Danone, the French food products company known worldwide for its Danone Yogurt and Evian bottled water, is apparently interested in the Serbian dairy industry. Danone is currently talking with Salford Capital Partners, owners of Danube Foods Group, about acquiring two of its dairy companies in Serbia. Salford officials confirm the talks with Danone but say [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Independent media in Eastern Europe is taking a step forward as the EBRD announced it is investing in the eastern European operations of the WAZ Media Group. EBRD’s equity investment for a stake in the WAZ operations could be as much as €40 million. The WAZ Group’s work in developing high quality, professional, and politically [...]

Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (“SEAF”) has secured a €3 million commitment from private equity firm Finnfund, for the SEAF South Balkan Fund (SBF). Five other shareholders have already invested in the South Balkan Fund including the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), The Netherlands Development Finance Company [...]

Belgrade-based publishing house that issues Blic, 24sata and Alo! has been sold by Vienna Capital Partners to Swiss majority stakeholder Ringier. The deal includes a transfer of 25.1 percent of shares to Ringier. Further details of the transaction have not been revealed. Vienna Capital Partners will look for new investment opportunities in the Central European [...]

CapExit, an Austrian private equity company, acquired 100% of Serbian Bread & Co from Serbian agricultural company Fidelinka. Bread & Co. Bread & Co offers only the highest quality bread and bakery products, a broad range of snacks and a selection of beverages. Founded in 2007, the Serbian agricultural company Fidelinka opened the first three [...]

Dutch-registered Danube Foods, owned by Salford Capital Partners, acquired a majority stake in Mlekara Bitola. Mlekara Bitola Mlekara Bitola has a daily capacity to process 200,000 litres of milk and produces milk, cheese, juices and ice tea. Danube Foods Danube Foods already operates on the local market after it acquired Bucen Kozjak dairy last year. [...]

Mid Europa Partners acquired a controlling stake in Serbia Broadband from SEEF I, managed by Bedminster Capital Management. SBB is one of the fastest growing Cable TV operators in Europe, generating an annual growth rate of 60% over the past two years. SBB (www.sbb.co.yu) SBB is the leading cable TV and broadband internet player in [...]