CVC Capital Partners

Preparations are underway for the establishment of the first private university in Greece, which will be Cypriot.

It will be named University of Nicosia Greece Brance Medical Limited, or UNGBM Ltd.

CVC Capital Partners and the University of Nicosia (UNIC), Cyprus' largest educational institution, have inked a joint venture deal to construct a branch of the university in Athens. 

The agreement pertains to the possibility of establishing a medical school, which will begin operations in the first phase in the vicinity of the former airport at Elliniko in southern Athens. 

US investment fund CVC Capital is rapidly evolving into the biggest foreign investor in Greece, as it is currently in negotiations for the acquisition of an 80% stake in Ethniki, Greece's biggest insurer, for about 450-460 million euros.

CVC Capital has obtained full control of Greek food giant Vivartia through a 600-million-euro deal with owner Marfin Investment Group, following the MIG board's decision to approve the transfer.

US group Varde Partners has been added to the list of suitors for the 80 percent stake in Ethniki Insurance, Greece's biggest insurer.
According to sources, Varde Partners is among the bidders short-listed for the second stage of the tender, concerning binding offers.

CVC Capital Partners, known in Greece mainly due to its acquisition of the Hygeia and Metropolitan hospitals, has announced that its subsidiary CVC Capital VII has agreed to acquire the activities of D-Marin, a company serving yachts in the Mediterranean and the United Arab Emirates, from Turkish group Dogus. That means CVC is now a partner of Lamda Development.

Suitors for the 80 percent stake in Ethniki Insurance have until the end of January to submit their binding bids.

After Metropolitan Hospital, CVC Capital Partners and domestic associates on Thursday acquired a majority stake (97.2 percent) in Iaso General for 19.44 million euros.

The special-purpose vehicle named Hellenic Healthcare SARL, in which CVC holds a majority stake, is also undertaking Iaso General's loans, which add up to 28 million euros.

German perfume and cosmetics retailer Douglas has closed its 11 stores in Turkey because its market share is too small and unlikely to grow, a spokeswoman said on Dec. 5.

The spokeswoman was confirming a report in Germany's monthly Manager Magazin.

By Alexandra Kassimi

The first suitors for Hellenic Post (ELTA) have already started to appear, even though the privatization process has been postponed until a later date due to delays.