GPs
BELGIUM - KBC to divest PE unit
According to reports, Belgian banking and insurance group KBC is to divest its private equity unit as part of the group's overall restructuring plan.
Q&A - Lynsey Register, Investment Manager, Hermes Private Equity
Deborah Sterescu speaks to Lynsey Register, investment manager at Hermes Private Equity, about the importance of caution and tracking more than just GPs' stats
Q&A - Sergio Jovele - Vice president, Partners Group
Deborah Sterescu speaks to Sergio Jovele, vice president of Partners Group, about portfolio diversity, secondaries and the importance of delving into details
PAI partners still on the rocks
The PAI partners saga looks set to drag on at least until 20 November, when LPs will vote on the beleaguered private equity house's proposal to reduce its fifth fund by 50%. The implications of the final agreement are anticipated with baited breath, writes...
GLOBAL - Blackstone's shares increase by over 7%
Shares of Blackstone rose by above 7% yesterday, largely a result of the expected positive earnings report to be released on 6 November.
FRANCE - Natixis to restructure private equity activity
According to reports, Natixis has mandated Oddo Corproate Finances to help reorganise its private equity division. The bank will not look to sell is private division.
GLOBAL - Blackstone investors look to raise commitments
Reports suggest that investors in Blackstone's sixth fund, Blackstone Capital Partners VI, are looking to increase the size of their original commitments to the vehicle, which launched in January 2008.
US/EUROPE - First Reserve Corp adopts UN's PRI
Energy-focused investor First Reserve Corporation has today announced that it has adopted the United Nations' Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), becoming the first energy-related private equity firm to do so.
GLOBAL - KKR finally completes KPE merger
After over a year of delays and revisions, US-based private equity giant KKR has now completed its merger with its Amsterdam-listed affiliate, KKR Private Equity Investors.
A long and winding road
Rikke Eckhoff talks through 20 years of private equity with industry pioneer and veteran Bjorn Saven, founder and executive chairman of IK Investment Partners
Q&A - Neil Harper
Head of European Investments, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners
FRANCE - PAI offers investors to halve commitment
PAI Partners has offered to return up to 50% of undrawn commitments back to investors in its fifth fund, following the departure of chief executive Dominique Megret and his right hand man Bertrand Meunier, which triggered a key man clause.
EUROPE - ML Capital launches alternative assets advisory service
ML Capital has today launched an alternative assets advisory and business solution service, dedicated to advising private equity and hedge fund managers on how to meet current market expectations.
DACH - German Private Equity Partners in liquidation
German Private Equity Partners, which was founded in August 2007, is being liquidated.
GLOBAL - KKR to delay launch of next buyout fund
Reports suggest that KKR is delaying the launch of its next buyout fund until next year, after having already invested 70% of its previous $17.6bn vehicle that closed in 2007.
FRANCE - Investors discuss future of PAI fund
PAI partners' investors are meeting up today in Paris to discuss the future of the investment house. The meeting follows the departures of chief executive Dominique Mégret and executive committee member Bertrand Meunier which triggered the key-man clause...
EUROPE - Entertainment Capital Advisers launched
Premila Hoon, former global head of media and entertainment structured finance at Societe Generale, has co-founded Entertainment Capital Advisors (ECA), a specialist media and entertainment strategic and financial advisory firm.
Q&A - Martin Day, Managing director, OMERS Private Equity
Deborah Sterescu speaks to Martin Day, managing director of OMERS Private Equity about what went wrong during the boom years and what both LPs and GPs are doing better now
CZECH REPUBLIC - Enterprise Investors opens in Prague
CEE-focused private equity house Enterprise Investors (EI) has opened a new office in Prague, which will be headed up by Ivan Jakubek.
EUROPE - Candover reports further NAV decline; Buffin steps down
Bealeagured buyout firm Candover today released its interim management statement, which reveals a further 12% decline in NAV and sweeping changes to the firm's management.
Global - BC Partners writes up value of 2005 fund by almost 25%
Private equity firm BC Partners has reportedly marked up its current fund by almost a quarter in the first half, restoring it to face value.
GLOBAL - KKR to merge with KPE
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) and Amsterdam-listed vehicle KKR Private Equity Investors LP (KPE) has obtained the necessary approvals to go through with the merger reported on unquote" news last month.
CEE/AUSTRIA - Capexit dissolved; Kaltenegger leaves AVCO board
The industry shakedown has claimed a prominent victim in Austria: Capexit, the private equity arm of Erste Group that invested primarily in the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovakia, has discontinued operations, with the portfolio now in the hands of the...
EUROPE - AXA PE signs UN responsible investment principles
French mid-market buyout house AXA Private Equity has signed the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) initiative, issued by the United Nations.