France

New compromise suggested on AIFM Directive
New compromise suggested on AIFM Directive

As Europeтs politicians return from the summer recess, negotiations over the final shape of the Alternative Investment Fund Managersт (AIFM) Directive have resumed. A revised compromise on the Directive, issued by the new Belgian presidency, will now...

Great expectations
Great expectations

Itтs always interesting to gauge the mood of private equity practitioners and their expectations after the summer break. Two years ago, when the financial markets were in disarray following the Lehman collapse, deal activity came to a standstill and then...

Private equity dines on restaurants
Private equity dines on restaurants

Burger King, one of the worldтs biggest fast food brands, is set to become private equity owned yet again. The $4bn acquisition will be one of private equityтs biggest forays into the catering sector, but interest in restaurants has remained strong throughout...

Candover story: Media picture lacks clarity
Candover story: Media picture lacks clarity

The announcement by Candover Investments plc that it is abandoning new investments to focus on returning cash from the sale of its remaining portfolio assets has certainly grabbed many headlines in recent days. But is the mainstream press sensationalising...

  • DACH
Q&A: The evolution of due diligence
Q&A: The evolution of due diligence

Due dilience can be a time consuming process, and seems to be taking longer since the crisis. Emanuel Eftimiu talks to Dr Joachim Scholz of Rothgordt & Cie about the increased emphasis on due diligence in the current environment.

Newfund et al. invest in TCMC

Newfund and three private investors have provided French eCRM specialist CRM Mobile Corp (TCMC) with growth capital funding.

Avenir Entreprises acquires Laboratoires Elysée

Avenir Entreprises has backed the management buy-in of Laboratoires Elysée from the Guattari group. The deal value has not been disclosed but the company will trade under its original name Balarama following the buyout.

Take-privates: Playing hard to get?
Take-privates: Playing hard to get?

Shares in troubled care provider Southern Cross leaped 67% late last week after it declined an approach from TowerBrook. Having suffered a massive fall in its share price this year, it may have seemed an easy target for private equity bidders, but has...

unquote" Events Roundup
unquote" Events Roundup

As autumn approaches, unquoteт has a busy schedule of events covering all aspects of the private equity industry, while providing excellent networking opportunities. With the Italia and Deutsche conferences rapidly approaching, and not forgetting the...

Dealflow: Autumn boom expected after slow summer
Dealflow: Autumn boom expected after slow summer

As the summer holiday season draws to a close, Europeтs private equity market is set to pick up. While activity has slowed significantly in some regions, industry players are expecting a deal-doing boom in the coming weeks and months.

Exits: Private equity IPO prices fall
Exits: Private equity IPO prices fall

With a number of high-profile exits so far this year, selling companies has been a hot topic, particularly after the many difficulties of 2009. However, the IPO market has been difficult for private equity players, and new figures show just how tough...

Exits: Carving out value
Exits: Carving out value

With exit maximisation key in todayтs economically unstable times, a number of private equity funds have recently chosen to sell their assets in smaller chunks, in the hope of attracting more specialist buyers. John Bakie reports