Benelux
Fortino Capital Partners holds first close on third fund
LPs backing the €45m first close comprise existing investors following the launch in Q1 2020
EC launches €300m platform Escalar
In its pilot phase, Escalar will provide up to тЌ300m, backed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments
Crescent European Specialty Lending Fund II closes on €1.6bn
CESL II invests in a diversified portfolio of private secured debt issued by European companies
Secondaries players hold fire despite copious dry powder
Market is likely to pause until Q2 2020 valuations are released, potentially leading to a flurry in Q4
StepStone closes fourth secondaries fund on $2.1bn
SSOF IV's investment strategy focuses on the inefficient segments of the secondaries market
Q&A: Cambridge Associates' Featherby on PE's time to shine
Very few managers will have net benefited from this crisis, says Featherby, but PE could still showcase its ability to outperform
Insight Partners XI closes on $9.5bn
Fund deploys equity tickets in the $10-350m range in startups operating across the software industry
Main Capital-backed Obi4wan buys HowAboutYou
With the support of Main Capital, the group plans to build a software platform and expand internationally
Holland Capital invests in Eshgro
GP first invested in the cloud software provider in 2017 and owns a majority stake in the company
The Deals Pipeline
A fortnightly highlight of deal processes underway and involving PE, either on the buy- or sell-side, across Europe
Welcome aboard: PE recruitment amid coronavirus
PE-focused recruiters and some GPs themselves are figuring out ways to progress recruitment processes, but challenges remain
Consortium backs $112.5m round for Collibra
Data software company was valued at $1bn post money in its 2019 round and is now valued at $2.3bn
VC, growth activity collapses in March amid Covid-19 outbreak
European VC and growth capital dealflow was no more sheltered than its buyout counterpart
Unquote Private Equity Podcast: Covid-19 special
The team gathers for its first remote podcast, discussing how the early stages of the outbreak have disrupted the European PE landscape
Tech, business services power through amid Covid-19 rout
Of the 53 deals seen in March, 28 came from technology and business services
Debut managers to face daunting fundraising market in 2020
Debut managers out to market are unlikely to hold closes in 2020, and very few new teams are likely to launch funds
Several funds seeking to close in H1 face delays, says Cebile
LPs' reluctance to commit is likely to lead to a number of delays come Q2
Cowen Healthcare in €47m extension round for AM-Pharma
Round comprises €23m in equity and a €24m finance facility provided by the European Investment Bank
Turnaround funds eye European companies hit by Covid-19
Turnaround players have raised at least $5bn overall in Europe in recent years
PE examines portfolio liquidity options as coronavirus halts dealflow
Managing financial and liquidity risk is front of mind as managers fret over the potential impact of a severe downturn
Secondaries: opportunistic buyers ready for fund stakes to hit market
With more sellers coming to market, prices are unlikely to stay at pre-Covid-19 heights, which could in turn encourage more opportunistic buyers
Gradient, Partech lead a $3m seed round for Kaizo
Former partner at IBM Ventures Christoph Auer-Welsbach joins Kaizo as a co-founder
Jerusalem Venture leads $25m series-C for Pyramid Analytics
Investment brings the total funding raised by Pyramid Analytics to $66.5m
Blackstone to continue preparations to acquire NIBC
Blackstone's offer comprises 995 euro cents per share, including the final dividend of 33 cents