Nordics

Taxing issues

At a time of capital dearth and panic in investment communities across the world, the DVCA calls for a more stable investment environment for private equity in Denmark. Could their proposed tax package be the solution? Rikke Lilla Eckhoff finds out

The end of capital-intensive start-ups?

Biotechnology and pharmaceuticals represent the largest sectors for growth and venture investments in Denmark. But as funds become scarce, can these capital-intensive industries survive the downturn? Rikke Lilla Eckhoff takes a closer look at the statistics...

FINLAND - EQT proposes EUR 100m Sanitec equity injection

Swedish buyout house EQT is reportedly in talks with the lenders on its investment in Finnish bathroom products provider Sanitec regarding a restructuring of the company's EUR 1bn debt, with the investor thought to have offered to invest EUR 100m in additional...

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.

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 ТЃ355.2m. 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....

  • GPs
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 ТЃ61m towards the ТЃ2bn debt pile the investor has accrued; half of which is due in the next three years.

  • GPs
EUROPE - Debt-free deals see sharp rise in Q4

According to unquote" data, more than a quarter of the 237 buyouts completed across Europe in the last three months of 2008 contained no acquisition leverage, while in the beleaguered UK a staggering 40% of Q4 buyouts were all-equity deals.

NORWAY - FSN hires debt professional

Norwegian buyout house FSN Capital has appointed Per Etholm as executive adviser with particular responsibility for sourcing debt and subordinated capital for future investments.

EUROPE - Candover downsizes fund

UK buyout house Candover has become to latest large-cap investor group to succumb to the pressures facing firms at the top of the market by announcing a reduction in the size of its latest fund.