Benelux
Mezz gets set to face challenges
With financing options remaining limited, many continue to assert that there are opportunities aplenty for mezzanine houses in the current market. However, there are still a range of obstacles to be overcome, writes Ashley Wassall
BELGIUM - PE drops out of Alpro auction
Reports suggest that the private equity firms initially interested in acquiring Alpro, the soy division of Gimv-backed Belgian food group Vandemoortele, have withdrawn form the process leaving only trade buyers in the auction.
BELGIUM - Gimv leads EUR 3m Eclipse investment
Gimv has invested EUR 2m as part of a EUR 3m series-A funding round for software business Eclipse International NV, alongside the Vlaamse Innovatiefonds Vinnof (Flemish Innovation Fund) and management.
GLOBAL - First Reserve closes Fund XII on $9bn
US-based energy dedicated private equity house First Reserve Corporation has closed its twelth fund just short of $9bn - significantly below its $12bn target. The fund had a previous closing in July 2008.
GLOBAL - Morgan Stanley raises $1.14bn fund
Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners (AIP), the fund-of-funds division of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, has raised Private Markets Fund IV, a $1.14bn vehicle.
EUROPE/US - Portfolio Advisors closes fifth fund above $1bn
Portfolio Advisors has closed its latest private equity fund-of-funds, Portfolio Advisors Private Equity Fund V, on just over $1bn.
GLOBAL - CP Eaton Partners appoints Rinaldi
Global placement agent CP Eaton Partners has appointed Dawn Rinaldi as chief operating and chief financial officer.
EUROPE - AlpInvest partner joins Apax board
AlpInvest managing partner Wim Borgdorff has joined Apax Partners' board of advisers.
GLOBAL - Goldman raises $5.5bn secondaries fund
Goldman Sachs has reportedly closed its new secondaries fund, GS Vintage Fund V, on $5.5bn - ahead of its $5bn target.
Only fools rush(ed) in
Many in the financial sector are finding out that what can appear to be initially a good (cheap) idea can come back to haunt you and turn out to be an expensive ordeal. Some of the larger buyout houses are obviously feeling this, as they see some of their...
The Dutch downturn in numbers
Francinia Protti-Alvarez explores the decline of the Dutch private equity market in search of some glimmers of optimism
EUROPE - BPE spin-off – still no firm agreement
Following speculation since before Christmas, unquote" can confirm that Barclays Private Equity is indeed inching closer towards independence. Though the firm is "sounding out views of its investors", there is as yet still no agreement in place, according...