Investments
PE activity flourishes in Portugal as economy picks up
Companies with strong export focuses and internationalisation strategies are attracting investment from institutional fund managers
UK and Ireland small-cap soars amid general buyout lag
Overall UK buyout activity in Q1 is down by almost a third year-on-year, though dealflow in the small-cap space remains near record levels
CEE exit activity picks up in Q1 as buyouts drop
First quarter saw a significant drop in both buyout volume and aggregate value in the region, though the number of exits is up, year-on-year
Nordic buyout market soars in Q1
Acquisitions in the region reached the highest aggregate value ever recorded in the first quarter of the year
Benelux's biotech and pharma buyouts market in rude health
Buyout houses are becoming more attracted to assets in the Benelux biotech and pharma spaces, typically the preserve of venture capital investors
Stocking up: the rising number of UK buyout-backed companies
Unquote breaks down the current population of UK buyout-backed firms
Consumer uncertainty sees retail feeling the pinch
PE-backed retailers are increasingly following casual dining chains in showing signs of struggling under the downturn in UK consumer confidence
Secondary buyouts hit 10-year low in Q1
Proportion of deals sourced from fellow PE firms has ebbed back to the level last seen in 2007, according to Unquote Data
European entry multiples hit new high in 2017 despite Q4 cooldown
Average EBITDA multiple increased to 10.4x in 2017 compared with 10.2x in 2016, according to the latest Clearwater Multiples Heatmap
Mega-buyout volumes hit post-crisis Q1 high
Combined with Q4 2017, the past six months have represented the most active consecutive quarters for €1bn-plus buyouts since 2007
Annual Buyout Review: Lower-mid-market momentum lifts dealflow
Unquote's lastest Annual Buyout Review is now available to download for subscribers, offering in-depth statistical analysis of 2017 activity
European LPs hungry for more co-investment, secondaries
Demand for primary deployment was also positive, with 37% of European LPs expecting to do more
Summa's Reynir Indahl on Nordic fundraising, ESG
Ahead of the upcoming Mergermarket Nordic M&A and Private Equity Forum on 15 March in Stockholm, Summa Equity co-founder and managing partner Reynir Indahl talks to Unquote about fundraising, and value creation in ESG strategies in the region
European corporates eye UK sales processes
International trade buyers are flexing their muscles in the UK market, with European corporates particularly active
Investindustrial’s Valtur files for insolvency
Investindustrial bought Valtur in 2016 in an all-equity deal valued at around €100m
Brait's New Look proposes CVA with closure of 60 stores
High street fashion retailer will look to renegotiate its rental and debt agreements
Italian venture moves upmarket as overall activity dips
Venture dealflow and aggregate value decreased in 2017 following five years of growth, as VCs turned their attention to later-stage rounds
Q&A: Rutland’s Craddock on Aston Barclay and making partner
Special situations investor's newly appointed partner discusses the firm's evolution and its recent investment in the UK-based car auction business
Techwald's SPAC Life Care Capital to trade on AIM Italia
SPAC will invest in non-listed medium-sized Italian companies active in the healthcare sector
TPG's Prezzo to close 94 restaurants following CVA
Casual dining chain suffered an 8.1% drop in like-for-like sales in 2017 and owes £220m to creditors
Deals accelerate in German online marketplaces
Three transactions in the space within the first two months of 2018 saw PE firms invest a combined €500m and cash out more than €700m
Large-cap deals drive strong start to 2018 for European PE
GPs deploy an extra €7bn in aggregate value across European buyouts in the first two months of the year compared to 2017
Casual dining: overbooked and undercooked
British PE owners are facing challenges as the sector shows signs of strain due to oversupply and macroeconomic headwinds
European PE in 2017: Scaling new heights
Buyout activity and fundraising reached a new peak in 2017, with mega-buyouts and small-cap deals fueling dealflow and French funds popular among LPs
