UK / Ireland
UK - Octopus backs student entrepreneurial society
Octopus Ventures has announced a partnership with Oxford Entrepreneurs (OE), an Oxford University society designed to enable student entrepreneurs in the UK and abroad.
UK - Capital Dynamics wins USD 150m pension mandate
Capital Dynamics has won a USD 150m discretionary mandate from the West Midlands Pension Fund.
UK - Terra Firma-backed Infinis sets out £1.2bn growth plans
Reports suggest that Terra Firma-backed renewable energy specialist Infinis has set in motion a £1.2bn plan designed to build it into one of the largest wind-energy producers in the UK.
UK - Kirkland & Ellis strengthens restructuring team
Kirkland & Ellis International has hired Jason Salman, Mark Knight and Paul Atherton to its European Restructuring Group.
UK - Silverfleet hires Johannes Huttunen
Silverfleet Capital has hired Johannes Huttunen as executive within its investment team.
UK - RBI sale in doubt as valuation declines
The sale of Reed Business Information (RBI), the media publishing division of Reed Elsevier, is reported to be in doubt as third round bidders, including private equity firms Bain Capital and TPG Capital, are considering offers of less than £1bn - far...
UK - LRM and Vesalius lead EUR 10m funding for Apitope
LRM and Vesalius Biocapital have led a EUR 10m series-A round of funding for biopharmaceutical company Apitope International.
UK - Azini leads USD 6.5m Antenova investment
Azini Capital Partners has led a USD 6.5m investment into antennas provider Antenova Ltd, alongside existing backers Spark Ventures, First Ventures, Herald Ventures and Loudwater Investment Partners.
UK - Tenon to launch fund management business
Accountancy firm Tenon Group Plc is to launch a new fund management business, Tenon Capital Management Ltd (TenonCap), which will in turn launch its maiden fund, T-Fund I LP. which will invest in distressed businesses.
The last resort?
With the ongoing turmoil in the banking sector continuing to limit the availability of debt financing, buyout houses seem to be increasingly turning to asset based lenders to fill the liquidity void. By Ashley Wassall
Shifting sands
As economic uncertainty sweeps the globe, private equity will not emerged unscathed. The industry must react to these changes and update the traditional model so it remains fit for purpose in a post-liquidity bubble world. By Nathan Williams
Do you remember the first time?
Rachel Wood of Amala Partners looks at the do’s and don’ts for a first time fund manager.
UK - Latham & Watkins hires insolvency partner
Lathan & Watkins has hired Jackson Taylor as partner in its restructuring and insolvency group in London.
Private equity and the new conflicts duty in the UK
David Bresnick of CMS Cameron McKenna examines the new conflict of interest regime under the updated UK Companies Act and its potential impact on private equity-backed companies
Performance data: using returns to predict returns
Gaining access to reliable performance data has become something of a holy grail for private equity professionals seeking to stay one step ahead of the market, but it has historically be difficult to find. Is this set to change?
UK - Prime Technology backs spinout from Philips
Prime Technology Ventures has backed the spinout from Philips Technology Incubator of amBX UK Ltd, a developer of technology designed to improve the entertainment experience of a range of media, for an undidsclosed sum.
UK - Duke Street 's pensions hit
Duke Street Capital's recent payment of £8 million into the Focus DIY pension fund almost a year after it sold its holding has raised concerns that the Pensions Regulator (the Regulator) is readier to use (or threaten use of) Financial Support Directions...
UK - AFM invests £350,000 into Flasma Steps
Alliance Fund Managers (AFM), through the Merseyside Special Investment Fund Liverpool Seed Fund, has invested £350,000 into Flasma Steps Ltd, a developer of floor-based screen systems.
EUROPE - Beechbrook launches maiden fund with USD 75m
Beechbrook Capital has launched its first fund, Beechbrook Mezzanine I LP, with an initial commitment of up to USD 75m.
UK - Alchemy considering new distressed debt fund
Reports suggest that Alchemy Partners is contemplating launching a second fund targeting distressed debt and special opportunities.
EUROPE - smac partners closes new secondaries fund
Munich-based venture capital firm smac partners has closed its new secondaries vehicle, smac partners fund III, which will be advised by UK-based Headway Capital Partners.
UK - Elysian hires John Ransford
Elysian Capital has appointed John Ransford to its Special Advisors Council.
UK - CVC and Swiss Re to make £6bn joint bid for RBS insurance assets
CVC Capital Partners is reported to have teamed up with reinsurance group Swiss Re to make a joint bid for Royal Bank of Scotland's insurance assets that would value the business at more than £6bn.
IRELAND - Celtic House and Capital-E lead USD 14m Movidia funding
Celtic House Venture Partners and Capital-E have led a USD 14m series-A funding round for mobile phone video processor company Movidia, alongside Emertec Gestion, AIB Seed Capital Fund and Enterprise Ireland.