Southern Europe
Uzumeri leaves Ontario Teachers'
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan is looking for a new head of private equity after Erol Uzumeri announced he is to leave the Toronto-based pension fund manager on 14 May.
Q&A: Italian private equity renaissance?
From 2003 to 2008, Italian private equity activity grew continuously. However, since 2009 this has no longer been the case. Francinia Protti-Alvarez speaks to Raffaele de Courten, founding partner at AltoPartners, about the state of affairs and the trends...
Yacht investments - private equity is back in the regatta
Private equity backers sunk a lot of money into yacht builder deals during the peak of the buyout boom, taking control of the biggest brands in the industry within just a few years. In many cases, the outcome has been disastrous. Now, a private equity...
Investindustrial on the look out for new Inaer investor
Market sources indicate Southern Europe private equity house Investindustrial is seeking a new investor for its international helicopter business Grupo Inaer.
AXA buys BoA's $1.9bn private equity secondary interests
AXA Private Equity has acquired Bank of America's(BoA) $1.9bn portfolio of limited partnership interests in private equity funds, as the bank seeks to divest its non-core private equity investments.
Recovery fund: releasing the shackles of debt
ICGтs new recovery fund specifically supports companies chained down by over-leverage, rather than loss-making businesses that require a complete turnaround. Francinia Protti-Alvarez investigates
Fees: GPs surrender to LPs
After years of GPs and LPs operating under a standard relationship model, asset managers are beginning to balk under the LP pressure for increased transparency and fee reductions as institutional investors become more aggressive in cutting costs. Gail...
HarbourVest appoints Lund as EMEA head of sales
HarbourVest Partners has appointed Simon Lund as head of sales and marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Neuberger Berman to launch distressed debt fund
Private Equity investor Neuberger Berman, plans to launch NB Distressed Debt Investment, a fund targeting asset-backed senior debt.
Amadeus IPO pushes on
BC Partners and Cinven-backed travel reservation specialist Amadeus has confirmed that its listing is to go ahead as scheduled for 29 April.
CAPE-backed Chromavis acquires Durlin France
Cimino e Associati Private Equity (CAPE)-backed B2B cosmetics company Chromavis has wholly acquired Durlin France from de Bergerac NC (which is in turn state-owned via the Societe Nationale des Poudres et Explosives).
Fundraising: Unlocking LP appetite
Fundraising in the current environment can feel like facing a series of closed doors, but there are ways of unlocking LP commitments. Julian Longhurst reports
Amadeus prepares €1.36bn IPO
Amadeus IT Holding, the travel reservations company backed by BC Partners and Cinven, is finalising the preparations for its listing. The company is scheduled to debut in the Madrid bourse on 29 April.
Managing value: back to basics
2009 and 2010 have been all about getting back to basics hands-on operational support. A big part of this is about having the best management for the job. Francinia Protti-Alvarez reports.
Blackstone concedes to lower LP fees
Blackstone Group is set to give a higher than traditional percentage of its transaction fees back to its investors, according to reports.
CVC takes 35% stake in R
CVC Capital Partners has acquired, a 35% of Spanish cable operator R, valuing the company at around €675m.
HarbourVest to list shares on LSE
HarbourVest Global Private Equity has announced plans to list its shares on the Specialist Fund Market of the London Stock Exchange.
I2BF to raise Global Cleantech growth capital fund
International cleantech asset manager I2BF has launched Venture Fund II, a $100m global renewable energy and cleantech-focused growth capital fund.
Advent appoints consumer goods operational partner
Advent International has named John Sheppard as the newest partner to join the firmтs Operating Partner Program. He will advise on global investment opportunities in the consumer sector, with a particular focus on branded and private label consumer goods...
ICG closes recovery fund on €843m
London-based alternative asset investor Intermediate Capital Group (ICG), has reached the final closing of its тЌ843m ICG Recovery Fund.
MCH PE to buy share of Garavilla
MCH Private Equity is set to purchase a majority share of Conservas Garavillain from the Garavilla family in a deal which is expected to close in the coming days.
Diana Capital seeks €175m for second fund
Spanish lower mid-cap specialist Diana Capital has confirmed that fundraising has begun on a new €175m-target vehicle.
The automotive sector: a stable proposition?
The news that beleaguered Stabilus has been taken over by Triton draws attention to the European automotive sector, which, for private equity, remains a dangerous proposition, according to insiders. Mareen Goebel reports.
Deutsche Bank launches PE fund of funds unit
Deutsche Bank is launching a new private equity fund-of-funds unit as part of its asset management business, according to reports.