France
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
How private equity is helping fight the Covid-19 outbreak
A round-up of initiatives by GPs across Europe т and their portfolio companies т to help their communities
Eurazeo to set up €10m Covid-19 solidarity fund
GP wants to suspend its 2019 dividend, and senior execs will contribute 10% of their bonuses to the fund
Insight Partners XI closes on $9.5bn
Fund deploys equity tickets in the $10-350m range in startups operating across the software industry
Welcome aboard: PE recruitment amid coronavirus
PE-focused recruiters and some GPs themselves are figuring out ways to progress recruitment processes, but challenges remain
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
Bridgepoint buys 28% stake in French asset manager Cyrus
GP invests via its lower-mid-cap fund Bridgepoint Development Capital III, which raised around £600m
A/O Proptech leads series-B round for Qarnot Computing
Caisse des Dépôts, Engie and Groupe Casino also participate in the round
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
Essling-backed SPVIE bolts on Assurances de l'Adour
GP is investing from Essling Expansion Fund, a vehicle dedicated to the French lower-mid-market
VC Profile: Speedinvest
Seed investor is opening a new office in Paris as part of the expansion of its pan-European platform
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
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
French PE steps up gender diversity goals and monitoring
French private equity association France Invest launched its gender-parity charter at IPEM
Argos-backed Factum buys AGL Services
Deal is part of Factum's aggregation strategy and follows two bolt-ons inked in January 2019
Siparex et al. exit Kiwatch to trade
Management team led by co-founders Williamson and Blanchard will stay on with the business
Milestone's Dehaen bolts on Max Plus; Sodero exits
Senior debt to finance the deal is provided by CIC Ouest, Banque Populaire Grand Ouest and Caisse d'Epargne
The Deals Pipeline
A fortnightly highlight of deal processes underway and involving PE, either on the buy- or sell-side, across Europe
Annual Buyout Review: European momentum likely to be hit hard
Unquote's lastest Annual Buyout Review is now available to download, offering in-depth statistical analysis of European buyout activity in 2019