UK / Ireland
The pension battleground
In February, a poll of more than 250 trustees of company final salary pension schemes found that 72% would be concerned at the prospect of being acquired by a buyout house. Trustees were concerned that a private equity sponsor would weaken the covenant...
UK - Adrian Johnson leaves LGV
LGV's chief executive Adrian Johnson is stepping down from his position after almost 20 years with the company.
UK - Texas Pacific Group poised to bid for RBS's insurance arm
Texas Pacific Group is poised to bid for the insurance arm of Royal Bank of Scotland in a deal which could value the insurer at as much as £8bn. The bank put the business up for sale at the end of April.
GLOBAL - BC Partners to bid for Kroll
It was reported today that BC Partners has recruited David Buchler, former chairman at restructuring business Kroll, now at security group Marsh & McLennan, to lead the buyout of Kroll.
EUROPE - Headway closes fund
Headway Capital Partners has closed its second private equity secondaries fund, Headway Investment Partners II, LP at €150m.
EUROPE - European Capital to halt equity investing
Reports today suggest that European Capital, the private equity arm of alternative asset manager American Capital, is to cease its European buyout activities at the behest of its parent due to the worsening economic climate.
UK - Palamon Capital appoints new chief financial officer
Palamon Capital Partners has appointed Gary Pritchard as chief financial officer.
EUROPE – Houlihan Lokey names new VP debt advisory team
Houlihan Lokey, the international investment bank, has announced the appointment of Richard Clark as vice president in the Debt Advisory team.
UK - Seraphim and Oxford Capital invest £2m in Sirigen
Seraphim Capital and Oxford Capital Partners have invested £2m in Sirigen, a company that uses light-harvesting polymeric materials in its High Sensitivity Flurescence technology. The technology is used in biological assays with a specific focus on diagnostic...
UK - Dunedin promotes Andrew Pickup
Dunedin has promoted Andrew Pickup to investment director. His primary responsibility is sourcing investments in London and the Southeast.
UK - YFM invests £250,000 in GO-SIM
YFM Venture Finance has invested a further £250,000 in prepaid global SIM cards provider for mobile phones GO-SIM.
UK - ECI buys ilG Digital
ECI Partners has acquired digital communications agency ilG Digital Ltd in a deal which values the company at around £45m.
UK – Fountain reaches first closing of maiden fund at EUR 75m
Irish Fountain Healthcare Partners has announced the first closing of its maiden fund Fountain Healthcare Partners I at EUR 75m.
Ready for restructure?
An economic slowdown and tightened liquidity are putting strain on portfolio companies. Private equity houses will need to initiate effective restructuring or see turnaround players and activist investors swoop for distressed assets, writes Nathan Williams
New sweetspot for LPs
Current market conditions are driving institutional investors away from mega-funds. But instead of leaving the asset altogether, LPs will suss out new fund managers to rendezvous with By Kimberly Romaine
UK - Generation Investment Management closes fund
Generation Investment Management has closed its Climate Solution Fund at $683m. The fund has been raised purely from Generation's existing investor base.
UK - Warburg Pincus acquires Safetykleen for £565m
Warburg Pincus has acquired Safetykleen Europe, a pan-European industrial service provider, a deal worth £565m. The investor has acquired a majority stake.