Funds
BeCapital closes first round of fundraising
Newly-launched fund BeCapital has raised €80.3m from more than 25 investors.
Renewable energy: When will activity match the spin?
There is clearly a buzz around the cleantech space in general and the renewable energy market in particular. And why not? After all if we are to face up to the challenges presented by global climate change we will need to invest massively in this area...
Industry veterans launch new Russia fund, Elbrus Capital
Three industry veterans are launching a new Russian private equity investment company, Elbrus Capital, after they bought out the assets of Renaissance Private Equity from the Renaissance Group at the end of 2009.
Fundraising: Funds trickle into the market
A raft of funds have recently closed, but it may come as a surprise to discover they broke their initial targets in a tough fundraising environment. HitecVision, Phoenix and Polaris have all successfully raised the capital they needed to start their latest...
Highgate launches UK tech fund
Highgate Associates and Enterprise Corporate Finance are raising a fund to invest in start-up high-tech companies in the UK.
Polaris closes third fund at €365m
Polaris has completed a final closing of its third fund at €365m, breaking its original €350m target.
HitecVision Asset Solutions closes on $420m
HitecVision has closed its latest fund at $420, more than $100 over its original target after four months of fundraising.
Phoenix's £450m fund reaches hard cap
Phoenix Equity Partners has reached the hard cap on its new £450m mid-market fund.
Spinouts: Private equity goes private
With the MBO of Barclays Private Equity from its listed parent bank Barclays underway, 2010 is likely to see at least one more spinout. This is the latest in a long line of private equity funds leaving their financial institutions to make their own way...
Morgan Stanley’s secondaries fund exceeds $500m target
Morgan Stanley's Global Secondary Opportunities Fund, has raised $585m, exceeding its $500m initial target.
BC Partners wins bid to extend fund investment period
BC Partners has been granted permission to extend the investment period of its latest fund, according to reports.
Lehman mezzanine unit spun-out to Neovara
Lehman Brothers European Mezzanine Partners has been spun-out by its management team.
Nazca nears final close; to hit €200m hardcap
unquote” has learnt Nazca Nazca Private Equity is nearing the final close of its third fund. The vehicle has been oversubscribed, surpassing its €150m target and hitting its hardcap – set at €200m.
LDC backs SMEs with new £100m commitment
Lloyds Development Capital has committed £100m over the next three years to back businesses in the South West and South Wales, the Thames Valley and the home counties.
Big Issue to raise £10m social enterprise fund
Big Issue Invest, the banking arm of weekly homeless magazine The Big Issue, is said to be nearing the first closing of its social enterprise fund with close to £3m in commitments.
Acton closes internet growth-equity fund at €150m
Acton Capital Partners has announced the final closure of its Heureka Growth Fund.
Carlyle CEE spin-out exceeds €100m mark
Carlyle spin-out Resource Partners has raised more than €100m towards its debut fund after teaming up with AXA Private Equity, which is contributing €50m. Resource, Central & Eastern Europe’s only first-time fund to raise money in 2009, overcame...
Partners Group Global Value 2008 closes on €537m
Partners Group has closed Partners Group Global Value 2008 on €537m, exceeding the target of €500m.
JP Morgan wins IFC's PE administration mandate
The International Finance Corporation's Assets Management Company (AMC) has appointed JP Morgan to provide private equity accounting and fund administration services.
Madison Dearborn soldiers on to close Fund VI
The Chicago-based buyout house takes well over two years to close latest fund at around 40% of its original target
Barclays puts stop to venture arm
Barclays has stopped any new investments under its private equity division, Barclays Ventures.
Conor reaches first closing on €46.5m
Finnish venture firm Conor Venture Partners has reached the first closing of its newest early-stage vehicle, Technology Fund II on €46.5m.
unquote" 4 May 2010
Buyout activity in the UK has been growing now for six consecutive quarters as the industry recovers from the financial crisis.