Analysis
Shielding PE from political risk
Once a niche advisory sub-sector, political due diligence has now become an integral part of deal-making in Europe
DACH family businesses open up to private equity
Despite continuing low dealflow in the region, signs are emerging that family-owned businesses are warming to the idea of PE backing
Spanish private equity flourishes as Italian market cools
Southern Europe's leading PE markets responded drastically differently to the challenges of a turbulent 2017
ICOs and venture capital: friends or foes?
With Asgard becoming the first European VC to hold a coin offering for its new fund, ICOs might present opportunities for institutional fund managers
Deal in Focus: IK buys Studienkreis from Aurelius
IK had considered previous opportunities in the education space, with the firm's partner Petersson saying the sector offers good opportunities for PE
UK autumn budget: industry reactions
VCT and EIS fund managers and trade bodies broadly welcome the autumn budget, as BBB receives an additional ТЃ2.5bn in funding
The lure of consumer-focused fintech
European fintech companies are attracting increasingly large investment rounds
Deal in Focus: Ardian merges Spanish bakeries Berlys and Bellsolà
Ardian's investment in Berlys and Bellsolà forms part of a consolidation play in the European frozen food industry
Technology: Europe's magnetic north
Mid-market deals in northern Europe are at the forefront of tech deal activity, with enterprise software and payment tech notable areas of attraction
European SBOs reach record levels in first three quarters
Europe sees 202 secondary buyout deals between January and September, surpassing the peak of 200 seen in Q1-Q3 2007
UK tech dealflow resilient despite spectre of Brexit
UK investments accounted for 28% of European tech dealflow in the first three quarters of 2017, with a flurry of fintech deals already seen in Q4
Debut funds flourish in UK market
First-time fundraisings are increasingly frequent in the UK, with 2017 seeing the most final closes of maiden funds for five years
Nordic region dominates Europe's IPO activity
IPO activity has rippled across Europe this year, but the Nordic region stands out, accounting for 30% of European listings
Spain sails with fundraising tailwind
Increased appetite from LPs reflects a continually improving macroeconomic picture in Spain, despite signs that the recovery is slowing
Entrepreneurial spirit helps French VC fundraising rebound
Venture fundraising reaches 2016 levels with two months left of the year, with early-stage and expansion dealflow also on the up
Picking a DACH mid-cap master
With so many proponents of the mid-cap space in the region, how do LPs decide on their allocations?
Tech deals return to the CEE region
Tech activity in CEE remains sluggish, though aggregate values are on the increase
Just rewards: Crowdfunding for German VC-backed startups
Rewards-based crowdfunding is not only more popular among VC investors, it is beneficial to startups too
Deal in focus: Springwater sells Delion four years after carve-out
Following a challenging investment in the comms industry, the company has been sold back to management
More alpha, less male: The gender diversity conundrum
Higher echelons of PE remain bereft of female talent, though signs of progress are appearing
Deal in Focus: Dunedin reaps 55% IRR from Alpha IPO
Divestment of wealth management consultancy came ahead of schedule, generating an ТЃ89.6m return
SPACs offer flotation alternative for Italian GPs
Special purpose acquisition companies are gaining traction in Italy, offering an alternative exit route for GPs
Italian borrowers open up to private debt
Alternative lending is gaining momentum in Italy, with the leveraged finance market more lender-friendly than in neighbouring mature markets
Turkish IPO activity on the rise
Recent flotations could be a sign of what's to come, after the country relaxed its IPO rules