Benelux
NETHERLANDS - PE-backed NXP to sell wireless chip division
Semiconductor business NXP, which is backed by KKR, Bain Capital, Apax Partners, AlpInvest Partners and Silver Lake Partners, is understood to have sold its wireless chip services business to French smart card provider Gemalto.
EUROPE - Allen & Overy to cut back banking teams
Law firm Allen and Overy, which earlier this year announced that it was to make a series of redundancies as part of a wider restructuring, is reportedly planning to substantially scale back its banking teams worldwide, which could lose as much as a third...
GLOBAL - Riverside promotes 12 and hires four
International private equity firm The Riverside Company has promoted 12 employees and hired three investment professionals as well as a new assistant director of marketing and communications.
Beauty or the beast?
Private equity's bad rap has spread from trade unions to vendors to Brussels. The industry will overcome this for myriad reasons: its attempts to stave off negativity; its ability to efficiently execute deals and, most of all, the fact that sellers may...
NETHERLANDS - Waterland invests EUR 36m into BioMCN
Private equity firm Waterland has co-invested EUR 36m into alternative fuel manufacturer BioMCN as part of a co-investment in the business with sustainable energy company Econcern.
NETHERLANDS - BioGeneration and CAPE back FlexGen
BioGeneration Ventures and Crédit Agricole Private Equity have participated in a new round of financing for Dutch biotech company FlexGen.
GLOBAL - Blackstone writes down fifth fund by 35%
According to reports, Blackstone Group has written down the value of the portfolio in its $21bn fifth fund, Blackstone Capital Partners V, by 35%.
EUROPE - Index Ventures V closes on EUR 350m
Index Ventures has held a final close of its fifth fund, Index Ventures V, on EUR 350m.
BELGIUM/UK - CVC-backed Belgian carrier shows interest in Royal Mail
According to reports Belgian postal service De Post-La Poste, which is minority owned by UK-based buyout house CVC Capital Partners, is likely to throw its hat in the ring to acquire a 30% stake in UK postal operator Royal Mail.
BELGIUM - Waterland invests EUR 50m into Enfinity
Private equity house Waterland Private Equity has invested EUR 50m into Belgian renewable energy developer Enfinity.
EUROPE - Candover reveals full extent of downturn
Candover Investments Plc today announced its final year results for 2008, revealing a sharp aggregated writedown of more than 50% in NAV following five successive years of increases.
EUROPE - Baird bolsters business services team
Baird has strengthened its investment banking advisory business with the hire of Jonathan Harrison as a director within its European business services sector team.
UK/ITALY - Candover writes off Ferretti investment
Candover is opting out of the restructuring of portfolio company Ferretti, an Italian yacht manufacturer, completely writing off its investment in the business.
SICAR amendments are good news for GPs
In October 2008, Luxembourg's dedicated regime for private equity funds was updated. The possibility to create subfunds and the significant enhancement of the Luxembourg Limited Partnership are the two key innovations
EUROPE - Commission holds hearing on PE regulation
The EU Commission is today in Brussels holding its hearing into private equity regulation and conduct in Europe, in what should be a significant step towards a conclusion of the long running political debate. Prior to the conference, an industry "task...
GLOBAL - Lehman sells venture capital arm
Lehman Brothers has fully divested its US-based venture capital arm Lehman Brothers Venture Partners through a sale to the current management team, backed by HarbourVest Partners.
GLOBAL - GIC and Future Fund acquire 7.7% of Apax
Apax Partners has sold nearly 8% of it its management company and future carried interest to GIC Special Investments and Future Funds, two Asian-Pacific investors.
EUROPE – 3i Group acquires 3i Quoted
3i Quoted Private Equity today agreed to be acquired by 3i Group in a deal that values 3i QPEP at £355.2m. The acquisition will be effected through a solvent liquidation of QPEP, allowing 3i to acquire the 55% stake in 3i QPEP it did not already own.
EUROPE - 3i sells stake in Infrastructure
Listed private equity firm 3i has reduced its stake in its infrastructure fund to a third after selling 77 million shares. The placing raised £61m towards the £2bn debt pile the investor has accrued; half of which is due in the next three years.