The portfolio, purchased from Proudreed, spans 2.3 million square metres of urban warehouses located in France's largest cities, alongside land earmarked for development, according to people familiar with the deal. Logistics assets now account for more than half of Blackstone's European property holdings. The New York-based private equity giant began building exposure to the sector more than a decade ago, capitalising on the e-commerce boom that has driven rents and valuations higher. The transaction underscores Blackstone's continued conviction in warehouses as its largest European property strategy. Neither Blackstone nor Proudreed provided comment on the deal, which was first reported by Green Street News. Subscribe to our Newsletter to increase your edge. Don't worry about the news anymore, through our newsletter you'll receive weekly access to what is happening. Join 120,000 other PE professionals today....
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a case related to the Libyan funding of his 2007 presidential campaign. Sentenced to five years in prison, he is due to appear in court on 13 October to learn the date of his incarceration. The unprecedented ruling marks a turning point in the practices of the French justice, which has gradually freed itself from political power. It also enshrines the Republican principle of full and complete equality of citizens before the law, which was proclaimed in 1789 but long remained theoretical, writes Vincent Sizaire. As might be expected, the guilty verdict against Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday 25 September over the transfer of millions of euros of illicit funds from the late Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 election campaign, drew anger from a large part of the political class. It's perfectly legitimate to argue against the ruling on the grounds that is unfair and unfounded. This applies first and foremost to the defendants, who have every right to appeal the judgement. However, the context in which these outcries take place is a political tinderbox: indeed, in April, the leader of the far-right National Rally, Marine Le Pen, was already sentenced to a five-year ban on running for public office after she was found guilty of helping to embezzle '2.9m ('2.5m) of EU funds for use by her party. Following on its heels, Sarkozy's latest sentence provides yet another opportunity for a large section of the ruling classes to stir controversy over what the French describe as the 'government of judges' and others would dub 'juristocracy'....
The investment, structured as super senior bonds, forms part of a restructuring plan for Les Hotels de Paris approved by the Paris Commercial Court in July 2025. The plan combines reorganisation measures with selective asset disposals to reduce liabilities and provide growth capital. Les Hotels de Paris, part of the Machefert Group and listed on Euronext Paris, operates 18 hotels, including 17 in central Paris and one in St Tropez. The investment comes shortly after Bain announced the acquisition of the Pullman Paris Montparnasse Hotel. Rafael Coste Campos, Partner at Bain Capital, said: 'This investment is a natural extension of our hospitality strategy, reflecting our strong conviction in the enduring fundamentals of the European market and our ability to foster operational improvements and sustainable growth. We look forward to partnering with the talented Les Hotels de Paris team.' Kevin Machefert, CEO of Les Hotels de Paris, added: 'Partnering with Bain Capital marks an exciting new chapter for Les Hotels de Paris. With their support and expertise, we are optimistic about the future and confident in our ability to accelerate growth, reinforce our position in the French hospitality market and become the leading independent experiential and boutique hospitality player in the region.'...
The auction is being run with Jefferies Financial Group, and interest has already come from both private equity firms and strategic buyers. However, the company's opioid portfolio could pose challenges, as some bidders may face restrictions on acquiring those products. Based in Saint-Cloud near Paris, Ethypharm focuses on central nervous system disorders and opioid addiction treatments, producing three of the most widely prescribed molecules in substitution therapy and overdose reversal ' methadone, buprenorphine, and naloxone. It also manufactures injectable medicines used in intensive care units and emergency medicine, supplied in formats ranging from syringes and ampoules to freeze-dried vials. PAI bought Ethypharm from Astorg in 2016. The potential exit comes as private equity firms step up healthcare disposals to return capital to investors. Earlier this month, Bain and Cinven sold Stada to CapVest Partners for '10bn in Europe's largest leveraged buyout of 2025, while Advent International divested Zentiva to GTCR for $4.8bn....
