Nordics
Leverage drives up prices, not returns
PE pays more for assets than trade, with the debt lining vendors’ coffers rather than enhancing buyers’ returns, according to a recent study. Kimberly Romaine reports.
Swedish minister for finance attacks private equity tax shield
Sweden's minister for finance, Anders Borg, has hit out against the Swedish private equity industry's use of tax shields, promising a crackdown.
Mountain Cleantech raises €23m for second fund
Swiss venture capital firm Mountain Cleantech has announced a first close of its second fund on €23m.
Private equity – A man’s world?
The French venture capital association has just established a body to address gender inequality in private equity. But why do so few women still work in the industry? Susannah Birkwood finds out
BaltCap backs Impuls
BaltCap has invested in Lithuanian health and fitness club chain Impuls.
LPs: Crisis overstated – mid-market offers best prospects
LPs hold out high hopes for Europe’s mid-market. However GPs must strategize carefully. Kimberly Romaine reports from Budapest.
Venture’s global outlook drives success
Europe may gradually and finally be shedding its image as the ugly duckling of alternative assets investment opportunities. Kimberly Romaine reports from Budapest.
To have and to hold
Private equity prides itself on patience. But three-to-five year holds aren’t always enough to maximise value from companies. Kimberly Romaine reports.
PE a ‘force for good’ but must focus on social issues
Four years on, European private equity’s largest catch is still happy with its owners. unquote” reports from the BVCA Summit in London.
Nordic unquote" October 2011
After a promising start, buyout activity in Europe might slow down even further in the fourth quarter of 2011 and risks falling behind last year’s levels.
DACH Congress: Fundraising targets €7bn
Despite a sombre economic backdrop, DACH private equity deal doers are remarkably upbeat, with two thirds of today´s unquote" Congress in Munich convinced that LP appetite for the region is actually rising.
Industrifonden invests in Heliospectra
Industrifonden has invested SEK 10m in intelligent lighting developer and manufacturer Heliospectra.
DACH Congress: GPs upbeat despite economic challenges
In the current economic climate private equity funds in Germany can still look forward to good dealflow despite concerns over banking and regulation. Diana Petrowicz reports from unquote’s DACH Congress in Munich.
EQT exits VTI Technologies
EQT has sold Finnish motion sensor manufacturer VTI Technologies to Japanese electronics company Murata Manufacturing.
Deal volume and value plummets in third quarter
Deal activity levels fell by more than a third in Q3 2011 due to ongoing fears regarding the European debt crisis, according to the latest unquote” Private Equity Barometer, in association with Arle Capital Partners.
German web sector set to take off
Despite general low entry valuations for start-up companies in Germany, valuations of web related businesses are expected to rise due to a significant number of successful entrepreneurs-turned investors as well as newly launched funds on the market.
NorInnova increases stake in Dualog
NorInnova Invest has increased its stake in Norwegian maritime communications company Dualog.
Q&A: Jeremy Golding talks investment strategies
Emanuel Eftimiu speaks to Golding Capital Partners’ Jeremy Golding about his allocation strategy, expectations for the asset class and what to avoid when fundraising.
Warburg Pincus backs newco Explora Petroleum
Warburg Pincus has announced that it will back Norwegian oil and gas exploration newco Explora Petroleum with up to $150m.
Sentica takes majority stake in Puuilo
Sentica has acquired a 55% stake in Finnish family-owned do-it-yourself retail chain Puuilo.
A-Capital announces China-Outbound fund
A-Capital has launched a China-Outbound Private Equity Fund, together with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Financial Work, which will focus on investments in Europe.
CapMan backs Walki acquisition of Meuwissen
CapMan’s portfolio company Walki Group has acquired Dutch packaging materials producer Meuwissen Industrie and construction materials distributor Meuwissen Bouwprodukten from family-owned Meuwissen Holding.
Sentica backs Descom acquisition of Konehuone
Sentica's portfolio company Descom has acquired server and data storage provider Konehuone with the intention to merge.
Polaris joins Accent as co-lead investor in Bergteamet
Polaris Private Equity has joined Accent Equity Partners as a lead investor in mining contractor Bergteamet.