Funds
Baird looking to raise £250m
UK-based mid-cap investor Baird Capital Partners Europe is currently raising a £250m fund, according to a source close to the situation. The firm's previous vehicle closed on €204m in 2005.
Index Ventures closes life sciences fund at €150m
Index Ventures has closed its latest life sciences fund, raising €150m from LPs and pharmaceutical companies.
Apax fund reaches €4.3bn first close
Apax Partners has raised €4.3bn for its eighth buyout fund in just 10 months, according to media reports.
Wellcome Trust launches £200m start-up fund
UK-based health charity the Wellcome Trust has launched a £200m fund to invest in emerging biotechnology businesses.
MMC Ventures announces second venture capital fund
MMC Ventures launches its second venture capital fund for young investors. The MMC Growth Generation Fund is available to investors aged 18-35 with £2,500 to £10,000 to invest.
€30m first close for TCR Capital
French GP TCR Capital has raised around €30m for its latest fund, a small-cap buyout vehicle.
Rethinking LP funds
Alternatives to LP funds, such as listed private equity and deal-by-deal, are all gaining in popularity as their merits become more obvious in today's backdrop. Kimberly Romaine reports
Kinetic Partners expands into Luxembourg
Advisory firm Kinetic Partners has acquired Luxembourg-based fund advisory firm AB Fund Services.
France Télécom and Publicis team up with Iris
French companies France Télécom and Publicis have partnered with VC firm Iris Capital Management to set up a €300m corporate venture initiative.
Arcano closes secondaries fund on $700m
Madrid-based Arcano Capital has closed its third fund on $700m.
L Capital closes latest vehicle on €400m
French mid-cap investor L Capital Management has closed its L Capital 3 FCPR fund on €400m, above the initial €350m target.
CGS III holds first closing on CHF 55m
CGS Management giesinger gloor lanz & co. has held the first closing of its third fund CGS III with total commitments of CHF 55m.
BC European Capital IX closes at €6.5bn hard-cap
BC Partners has closed its ninth European Capital fund at the vehicle's €6.5bn hard-cap.
Danske fund-of-funds PEP V in €534m first close
Danske Private Equity Partners has announced the first close of its fund-of-funds Danske PEP V on €534m.
Constellation closes new fund
Switzerland-based private equity firm Constellation Capital has closed Constellation III German Asset Light SICAV-FIS (Luxembourg) Private Equity Fund with the possibility of raising further commitments at a later date.
DACH venture scene remains on top form
While the rest of Europe has suffered from a low deal volume in 2011, the DACH early-stage sector is going strong. Considering the well-established venture scene, it is not surprising that this region has dominated early-stage in Q4 2011.
Dodd-Frank fears "overblown"
The extensive requirements and wide reach of the US's Dodd-Frank Act has stirred up fears among European GPs. But law firm DLA Piper downplays worries, pointing to a number of available exemptions. Sonnie Ehrendal investigates.
Market consolidation forcing FOFs to evolve
Funds-of-funds are an endangered species, with many shedding the title. Kimberly Romaine finds that today it’s all about diversification and tailoring your offering to prospective clients.
E-Capital III breaks target for second close
E-Capital's latest fund has held a close of its latest fund above target at €95m.
MTI launches fund for university spin-outs
MTI has launched the Orion Fund to support spin-outs of top-tier technology universities in the UK.
Troika launches technology venture fund
Troika Ventures, backed by parent company Sberbank of Russia, has launched a $100m technology venture fund.
Euro breakup should be orderly - Dunedin CEO
The ongoing eurozone crisis is a concern on the mind of many PE players, potentially threatening access to financing and the growth prospects of portfolio companies. But, in what could prove to be a controversial view, Dunedin CEO Ross Marshall foresees...
2011 a bumper year for Nordic fundraising
Fundraising activity declined slightly in 2011 compared to the previous year, as the market remains tough and LPs selective. Not all European regions fared equally though, with the Nordic countries and France attracting significant amounts of capital....
Could mega fundraisings cause Nordic dry powder problem?
International investors have driven Nordic fundraising to unprecedented levels, but will deal flow keep up with the dry powder? Sonnie Ehrendal investigates.