UK / Ireland
Buyouts persevere as industry darling
Despite predictions just a year ago of the demise of up to 40% of buyout firms, and defying crippling credit conditions, buyouts managed to outperform their venture and growth/expansion brethren in the last three months of last year across Europe, according...
Impotent revolution
Despite calls for an upheaval to fundraising terms, things are set to change incrementally at best as guidelines prove little more than wish lists. Kimberly Romaine reports
The banks are back ... or are they?
A lack of leverage does not persist. By Deborah Sterescu
Q3 2009 unquote" Private Equity Barometer
Recovery gathers momentum as stabilisation continues
UK - Galileo Capital Management launches in London
Investment management and advisory firm Galileo Capital Management has launched, opening offices in London and Hong Kong.
US - Obama's latest bank proposals could prompt sell-off
The private equity assets of US banks could soon be under threat of a fire sale, following President Obama's announcement that he may prohibit banks from owning or making investments in private equity or hedge funds as part of a major shake-up of regulation...
UK - Inventages Venture Capital invests £4m in Tanfield Foods
Inventages Venture Capital has invested £4m in food manufacturer The Tanfield Food Company.
UK - Apollo, Cerberus buy stake of Gala's debt
A consortium including Apollo Management and Cerberus Capital Management have reportedly acquired a substantial tranche of Permira-, Cinven- and Candover-backed gaming company Gala Coral's debt, giving the consortium the chance to take control of the...
EUROPE - Nordic Mezzanine holds EUR 320m close of third fund
Nordic Mezzanine has held a final close of Nordic Mezzanine Fund III on EUR 320m, an increase in fund size of 30% compared to its predecessor.
UK - DFJ Esprit-backed PacketExchange acquires Mzima
DFJ Esprit- and Bank of Scotland Growth Equity-backed PacketExchange, the internet exchange services provider, has acquired network services provider Mzima Networks for an undisclosed sum.
UK - Blackstone applies for British banking license
Blackstone has reportedly applied for a British banking license as part of its plans to open a new bank called The Home and Savings Bank.
UK - Gala's junior lenders could sell off debt
Junior lenders of Permira-, Cinven- and Candover-backed Gala Coral, the British gaming company, are reportedly considering selling off their debt rather than pursuing a debt for equity swap that would see them gain a considerable stake in the beleaguered...
EUROPE - EVCA appoints Roberts to chief commercial officer
EVCA has appointed Mark Roberts to the newly created position of chief commercial officer.
EUROPE - Law firms Buse Heberer Fromm and Spitzweg to merge
European law firms Die Buse Heberer Fromm and Spitzweg have agreed to merge, effective 1 April 2010.
UK - CBPE Capital meets revised target; closes eighth fund on £405m
CBPE Capital has now confirmed that it has closed its latest fund, CBPE Capital Fund VIII, on £405m, below its initial £500m target, but still greater than its predecessor vehicle which closed on £360m in 2004.
UK - Balderton-backed Codemasters to undergo restructuring
Computer games developer Codemasters, owned by UK venture investor Balderton Capital, is reportedly close to agreeing a restructuring that will see its private equity owners inject fresh equity into the business, while seeing its stake diluted.
UK - NESTA makes two new hires
NESTA, the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts, has appointed Dr Mike Lynch as chair of its investment committee and Matthew Mead as managing director of investments.
UK - Mosaic-backed Preston's Fish up for sale
Mosaic Private Equity-backed Preston's Fish Insurance has been put up for sale for a price tag thought to be around £30m, and is said to be attracting interest from regional investors Gresham and LDC.
GLOBAL - Hermes creates PE advisory service for responsible investing
Institutional investor Hermes has established a service designed to advise private equity firms on implementing responsible investment principles and good corporate governance, hiring Tom Rotherham as associate director of the new business.
US/EUROPE - Atlas Venture to consolidate in Boston
Atlas Venture has announced that during 2010, the firm will streamline all of its operations from a new office in Boston.
EUROPE - Exciting times for venture
Venture's simple business model of providing equity without relying on cheap finance or financial chicanery stands it in good stead for the future, argues Index Ventures' Ben Holmes in a recent video with unquote's Rikke Eckhoff.
UK - CBPE nears £400m close for eighth buyout fund
Close Brothers Private Equity is reportedly near a £400m close for its maiden fund, below its initial £500m target.