Mezzanine takes off in central Europe

Just a few years ago, mezzanine finance was very much an alien concept in central Europe. That changed in 2003 with the arrival of the region’s first dedicated mezzanine fund. Today, mezzanine provision is booming, and its proponents hope it can play a significant part in the leveraged buyout boom predicted for the region. Kathryn Wells reports.

When Mezzanine Management raised its €115 million Accession Mezzanine Capital fund in 2003, it was very much a trailblazer. Although Austria’s Erste Bank, among others, had provided forms of mezzanine through its Prague-based acquisition finance unit from as early as 1997, the new fund claimed the distinction of being the first dedicated mezzanine fund in central and eastern Europe.

AMC has made six investments to date: three in Poland, two in Bulgaria and one in Hungary.

Thanks for your interest in Euromoney!
To unlock this article: