Industry
UK/US - CVC to buy iShares for £3bn
CVC Capital Partners has entered exclusive negotiations with Barclays to purchase the derivatives investment business from the bank's subsidiary iShares, in a deal reportedly worth around ТЃ3bn.
UK - Baugur to offload Debenhams stake
Islandic investor Baugur Group has mandated HSBC to sell its 13% stake in retailer Debenhams through a placing priced at 40-45 pence per share.
UK - Bridgepoint takes over £550m Hermes direct investment portfolio
Bridgepoint has been appointed to become the manager of Hermes Fund Managers' direct investment portfolio, which comprises two funds totalling ТЃ550m: Hermes Private Equity Partners II and Hermes Private Equity Partners III.
EUROPE - Silverfleet's Paramount trouble a blip
Silverfleet Capital has called in debt advisers for its portfolio company Paramount Holdings, a UK-based restaurant group which saw its pre-tax loss increase to ТЃ27m in the year to June 2008, up from ТЃ12m the previous year.
UK - TTP Group buys back 3i stake
Technology company TTP Group has bought back the stake held by 3i for an undisclosed sum.
UK - Foursome becomes Frog; increases funds under management
UK-based early-stage and growth investor Foursome Investments has re-branded as Frog Capital and increased the size of its fund from EUR 60m to EUR 100m - a move almost unheard of in this economic climate.
GERMANY - Candover and Cinven to divest Springer
According to reports, Candover and Cinven have appointed UBS and Goldman Sachs to approach potential buyers for publisher Springer Science and Business Media, in a deal that could fetch up to £2bn.
UK - Principle Capital to be liquidated
According to reports, shareholders in Principle Capital Investment Trust (PCIT) have voted to liquidate the listed vehicle and remove founding CEO Brian Myerson, along with directors Alan Clifton, Brian Padgett and James Roe.
EUROPE - 3i Infrastructure stays solid
Following the stark pre-close period statement released by 3i Group plc yesterday the firm's infrastructure arm published a contrastingly bright statement today, revealing steady investment activity and strong performance.
RUSSIA - JP Morgan to manage Marshall fund
It is understood that JP Morgan has been awarded the mandate to manage Russian private equity firm Marshall Capital Partners' fund.
Taking Stock
Market conversations currently indicate that the public markets are the place to go shopping for bargains, but will the discussion turn into deals? Ashley Wassall investigates
Facing the fear
Private Equity Fund Managers in the Recession. By Gawain Hughes , head of investment funds at CMS Cameron McKenna
Bear Market
For much of the current crisis Russia's fast-growing economy has bucked the downward trends of its Western rivals, but recent events refute the decoupling theory. By Taraneh Ghajar
Southern Europe Sunshine
As Europe licks its fresh wounds Italy and Portugal are making hey, but can the sunshine last in Southern Europe or will the storm clouds from the rest of Europe blow in? By Francinia Protti-Alvarez
EUROPE - 3i licking wounds – to aide healing?
3i Group today released its pre-close period trading update, warning the markets of stark writedowns ahead and revealing the scale of its de-leveraging operation.
UK - Rutland relocates
Rutland Parters is to move offices and can be found at a new address from 30 March 2009.
FRANCE/NETHERLANDS - Crédit Argicole PE sets up three partnerships
Crédit Argicole Private Equity has set up partnerships with Soridec, BioGeneration Ventures and Objectif Gazelles to support developing companies.
SWITZERLAND - Nordic Capital may fetch EUR 10bn for Nycomed
Nordic Capital portfolio company Nycomed, a Swiss drugmaker, has been put on the block and may fetch up to EUR 10bn.