Industry
Venture 2010: Simple but effective
Rikke Eckhoff talks to Index Ventures' Ben Holmes about his predictions for venture in 2010.
UK - Blackstone applies for British banking license
Blackstone has reportedly applied for a British banking license as part of its plans to open a new bank called The Home and Savings Bank.
EUROPE - Law firms Buse Heberer Fromm and Spitzweg to merge
European law firms Die Buse Heberer Fromm and Spitzweg have agreed to merge, effective 1 April 2010.
US/EUROPE - Atlas Venture to consolidate in Boston
Atlas Venture has announced that during 2010, the firm will streamline all of its operations from a new office in Boston.
EUROPE - London to be worse hit if AIFM goes through
The call for tighter regulation of the private equity markets, is likely to "hit London far more than anywhere else" says Clare Grayston, partner at Nabarro in a recent video interview with unquote". See the video on www.unquote.com .
SPAIN - Apax opens Barcelona office
UK-based private equity firm Apax has opened a new office in Barcelona, over two decades after opening its Madrid practice in 1989.
Carlyle makes senior promotions across Europe
Buyout house Carlyle has promoted 33 professionals to senior positions across its offices globally, with four in the firm's London office.
GLOBAL - Big Apple pensions ripe for private equity
New York City, which boasts a pension pot of $96.4bn, is reportedly naming a private equity veteran to look after its investment, triggering conjecture that the city may put more money to work in the asset class which spent most of last year plagued by...
US/EUROPE - US Fidelty Ventures team forms Volition Capital
The US operations of Fidelity Ventures has spun out into Volition Capital, an independent growth equity firm that invests in founder-owned technology companies.
Riverside makes European promotions
The Riverside Company has promoted Juan Barnechea to head of its European deal origination team.
LUXEMBOURG - Argentius to open offices in Luxembourg
Augentius Fund Administration Group has received regulatory approval for the opening of its office in Luxembourg.
2010: Leverage renaissance
"Good deals this year shouldn't fall through because of lack of financing as there is enough debt around to service the expected volume of transactions," says Lloyds' Ian Sale, who is optimistic about the prospects for leveraged buyouts in 2010.
EUROPE - 2010: Leverage renaissance
"Good deals this year shouldn't fall through because of lack of financing as there is enough debt around to service the expected volume of transactions," says Lloyds' Ian Sale, who is optimistic about the prospects for leveraged buyouts in 2010.
Firms to watch in 2010
For many, the heads-down approach of 2009 will continue into this year. But for a notable few, this may be a busy year. Here is unquote's list of firms to watch for 2010, based on input from our readers as well as research from unquote's proprietary database...
82% of GPs convinced dealflow improving
The vast majority of GPs in Europe feel dealflow will improve in 2010, with slightly more than half also more upbeat on the quality of those deals
Predictions from deal doers
The industry shares its - mostly optimistic - views on 2010
Top equity providers over the years
LDC consolidates its position atop the activity throne, long ago abdicated by 3i
First Reserve Corp promotes Deulina to director
Energy-focused investor First Reserve Corporation has promoted Anastasia Deulina to director.
Parish Capital holds $73m first close of European fund-of-funds
Parish Capital has held a first close of $73m for Parish Europe II, a Europe-focused fund-of-funds vehicle with a EUR250 million target.
Adapt to survive
Despite recording a steep decline in investment activity over 2009, delegates at the 2009 unquote" Italia Private Equity Congress remained optimistic that Italy is well placed for future growth. Francinia Protti-Alvarez reports
Balance of power
Investors are putting a significant amount of pressure on buyout houses, pushing for better terms and in some cases scaling back commitments