Analysis
Beauty or the beast?
Private equity's bad rap has spread from trade unions to vendors to Brussels. The industry will overcome this for myriad reasons: its attempts to stave off negativity; its ability to efficiently execute deals and, most of all, the fact that sellers may...
Debt Q&A
For months the markets have focused on the negative aspects of the credit crunch. But alas there is a silver lining - deal sourcing should be improved, allowing private equity firms to secure attractive entry multiples. unquote" editor-in-chief Kimberly...
Austria - Frankenstein legislation
Austrian private equity's economic woes are exacerbated by ill-suited legislation, hindering the industry from playing its beneficial role due to cumbersome regulation. Mareen Goebel reports
Lessons in Putinomics
Recent events refute the decoupling theory. By Taraneh Ghajar
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...
Structural revolution
The deteriorating economic climate is putting increasing pressure on private equity portfolio companies and is likely to lead to the need for complex restructuring operations, as well as potential deal opportunities for some, in the coming months. By...
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
Statistical slide
With both final quarter and year end statistics being published in the last month the full extent of the downturn in 2008 is revealed, but there are some rays of sunshine amidst the gloom. Ashley Wassall reports.
Everyone needs boundaries
Professionals concur that the mid-market is the true engine of European private equity growth. But what are the boundaries?
Time to reset the bar
Norwegian LP Argentum recently received a government rescue package of NOK 2bn in response to a dearth of capital in the PE industry. Rikke Lilla Eckhoff investigates how funds will fare in this new environment
Final quarter records lowest deal value for a decade
Latest unquote" Barometer quantifies the market implosion
Shaken and stirred
The overcommitment policy LPs adopted in the past is gone for good. The industry is waving good-bye to the convenient means of funding future capital calls with future fund distributions
2009 already written off
Europe will not see signs of a return to economic health until 2010 at best, suggests a new survey
Packing up
Industry professionals concur that times are tough. They cannot agree on the best solutions; nor can they entirely understand the options for troubled assets
Allocation concerns dominant among LPs
A new report shows that the declining value of liquid assets and continuing dearth of divestment opportunities is resulting in increasing liquidity worries amongst limited partners. By Ashley Wassall
Mid-market stats focus - Everyone needs boundaries
Professionals concur that the mid-market is the true engine of European private equity growth. But what are the boundaries? By Matthew Craig-Greene and Patrick Adefuye, IE Consulting
Buyout outlook - 2009 already written off
Europe will not see signs of a return to economic health until 2010 at best, suggests a new survey. By Mareen Goebel
Restructuring and insolvency - Ominous silence
Advisers agree that times are set to become even grimmer. Restructuring and insolvency, already boom topics in the hard-hit UK, are now top of the agenda even in the DACH region. Mareen Goebel reports
Back to the future
As the private equity market waived a welcome goodbye to a difficult 2008, unquote" spoke to five industry professionals to get their views on what could be in store in the coming year; in terms of dealflow, fundraising, debt availability and the increasing...
Some sunny day...
Following a near barren second half of 2008, which saw an almost complete drying up of debt financing amidst a collapse in the global banking sector, buyout houses will now be looking optimistically to the year ahead. However, it may be some time before...
Q&A: Weathering the 'perfect storm'
Following an almost doubling of activity in the German small- and mid-cap segment January and September 2008, the financial crisis finally began to take its toll on the space in the final quarter. Mareen Goebel speaks with Andreas Schober , vice-chairman...
Evolving infrastructure
In recent years the amount of capital being raised for dedicated infrastructure funds has risen substantially and the sector has emerged into a major new area for investment. With raising and deploying capital in the traditional LBO market becoming increasingly...