Hedge fund CVC reduces stake in Italian data provider Cerved

(Adds official statement from CVC (Taiwan OTC: 4744.TWO - news) )

MILAN, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Hedge fund CVC Capital Partners sold 14.87 percent of the share capital of Italy's Cerved, reducing its stake in the financial data provider to 24.4 percent, CVC said on Wednesday.

The shares were sold to institutional investors in Italy and abroad through an accelerated bookbuilding at a final price of 6.55 euros each, the hedge fund said in a statement, confirming what sources said earlier.

Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) in Cerved were down 5 percent at 6.71 euros by 0844 GMT, underperforming a 1.7 percent rise in Milan's all share index, but above the price of the placement.

The hedge fund will pocket 190 million euros ($212 million)from the transaction that comes just over a year after Cerved's listing on the Milan stock exchange.

CVC bought 100 percent of the data provider from two hedge funds for 1.13 billion euros in 2013 and encouraged its market debut in June last year at an initial public offering (IPO) price of 5.1 euros per share.

CVC, which owns shares in Cerved through investment vehicle Chopin Holdings, has agreed a lock-up period of three months before selling further shares in the group.

JP Morgan acted as bookrunner for the placement, while law firm Latham & Watkins advised Chopin in the deal. ($1 = 0.8949 euros) (Reporting by Paola Arosio, Elisa Anzolin; writing by Francesca Landini)