LPs
LP allocations still solid ... for now
Francois Rowell speaks to Helen Steers of fund-of-funds Pantheon Ventures, Antoine Drean of placement agent Triago, John Gripton of Capital Dynamics and Charles Diehl of Activa Capital Partners about current LP sentiments
Limited partner concerns
LPs are cautious yet still enthusiastic about the return potential of private equity. By Nathan Williams
RUSSIA/CIS - EBRD to commit USD 50m to TCP Growth III
EBRD is to commit USD 50m to TCP Growth III, a fund launched by Troika with a target of USD 850m.
The problem with pension funds
With pension liabilities increasing buyouts of pension funds are on the rise, but what are the implications for private equity? By Ashley Wassall
UK - USS commits £383m to US buyout fund
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), the UK's second largest pension fund, is planning to commit ТЃ383m (USD 750m) to the maiden fund from Boston-based private equity fund-of-funds group Constitution Capital Partners.
UK - Somerset CC pension fund issues £30m tender
Somerset County Council pension fund will issue a ТЃ30m tender for a private equity fund-of-funds manager.
UK - SWFs consider investment in Barclays
Several Sovereign Wealth Funds, among them Singapore's Temasek Holdings and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), are considering backing a share issue by Barclays.
GLOBAL - LPs concern over GP strategy shift
According to a global barometer by Coller Capital, global LPs are worried about recent GP strategy shifts as the credit crisis continues to bite.
CEE - EBRD to invest USD 94m in Kazakh private equity fund
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is to invest up to USD 94m in Kazakh private equity fund The Kazakhstan Growth Fund for a maximum holding of 50% minus one share.
New sweetspot for LPs
Current market conditions are driving institutional investors away from mega-funds. But instead of leaving the asset altogether, LPs will suss out new fund managers to rendezvous with By Kimberly Romaine
European LPs: optimism, naivety or realism?
Despite the recent credit crisis, there appears to be relative optimism among European LPs compared with their North American and Asian counterparts. Would the immaturity and naivety of the European private equity industry be the cause of this so called...
UK - Barclays invests £5m as cornerstone investor in Catalyst
Barclays has announced its intention to invest ТЃ5m into a new social investment fund managed by Catalyst Fund Management and Research, which is targeting a final close later in 2008 in excess of ТЃ25m.
Coller Capital Research
LPs sceptical about buyout returns
UK - Parallel Private Equity commits £70m to Greenhill fund
Parallel Private Equity has committed ТЃ70m to Greenhill & Co's first European fundraising effort. The money is structured as a ТЃ70m draw-down facility over five years. Greenhill announced the final close of the fund on ТЃ191m in December 2007.
LPs agree to tell all at London conference…
Institutional investors and GPs from across Europe have signed up for the second annual London LP Congress organised by Incisive Media and Unquoteт, which takes place this Thursday and Friday.
Investor appetite for private equity accelerates, says Coller
Institutional investors (LPs) expect almost every aspect of private equity to grow in the coming year, according to Coller Capital’s latest Global Private Equity Barometer, but they are worried by levels of competition in established markets and plan...
Limited Partners' reactions to the new valuation guidelines
Last month saw the EVCA, AFIC and BVCA publish the first combined valuation guidelines for private equity fund managers.