Analysis
Norwegian oil & gas industry looks north
New discoveries in the Barents Sea have caused the Norwegian oil & gas market to increasingly look north for new opportunities. Karin Wasteson asks how the private equity industry can benefit from this shift
Deal in focus: Intel and Practica back CGTrader
The latest investment by Intel Capital and Practica Capital in 3D printing marketplace CGTrader highlights the growing appeal of Europe’s previously underserved Baltic market.
Q&A: Michel Abouchalache, Quilvest & Partners
Q&A: Quilvest
Investing in technology: it's not a bubble, but…
Taylor Wessing's Ed Waldron and Jonny Bethell wonder whether the recent appetite for tech businesses is sustainable.
Deal in focus: Maven buys SPS in MBO
Maven Capital Partners’ £7.25m management buyout of promotional goods producer SPS highlights improved confidence in the UK economy as businesses increase marketing budgets. Alice Murray reports
Deal in focus: Hoxton and DFJ in Campanja series-A round
Hoxton Ventures and DFJ Esprit’s £3m series-A round for Campanja, a real-time search engine marketing platform, puts the European ad tech sector's fast growth and recent exits into the spotlight.
Large-cap segment boosts DACH deal totals
Buyout activity was buoyed by a handful of large-cap deals in 2013. But is there hope for a brighter future further down the value scale? Amy King reports
CEE: Activity picks up despite ongoing fundraising woes
An uptick in dealflow in the second half of last year has left local players hopeful for a more sustained recovery. Greg Gille reports
Rekindling VCs' passion for online dating
As the internet dating industry enjoys its busiest period, with singletons rushing online to prevent a lonesome Valentine’s Day, Ellie Pullen asks if European venture is ready to rekindle its romance with the sector
Deal in focus: uniQure raises $91.8m in IPO
Netherlands-based uniQure’s debut on the Nasdaq marks one of the latest in a string of European venture capital-backed biotechs flocking to the US markets, but the lack of activity in Europe's public markets does not necessarily equate to a slowdown...
Deal in focus: SEP drives car financing deal
Scottish Equity Partners’ (SEP) £8m investment in Car Loan 4U picks up on the growing need for online consumer finance as well as increased demand for cars in the UK.
Stable markets and high liquidity to boost Nordic exits
The Nordic region saw disappointing dealflow in 2013, despite an open and liquid financing market - but the industry is upbeat on exit prospects for 2014. Karin Wasteson reports
Trade buyer appetite boosts mid-cap valuations
Mid-cap valuations
German PE tempted by allure of Luxembourg LPs
With a government promising to keep industry regulation fine-tuned to the benefit of its denizens, Luxembourg has become a hotspot for GPs in post-AIFMD Europe. Ellie Pullen reports
Italian GPs cash in as valuation gap narrows
Last year was challenging for Italian private equity; fundraising remained low and exits were few and far between – though stuttering deal volume was punctuated by a handful of large buyouts, boosting deal value. But it wasn’t all bad. Amy King reports
Deal in focus: Montezemolo, Amadeus and Keensight sell Octo
Octo Telematics' backers, seeking a buyer for the Rome-based firm, profited from Renova Group's appetite for high-tech investments relevant to the Russian market.
Public scrutiny bolsters appeal of onshore funds in the Nordics
Nordic onshore funds
Deal in focus: KKR nets Hertha Berlin
Private equity behemoth KKR acquired an equity stake of 9.7% in German football club Hertha BSC last week, one component of the €61.2m investment from its $2bn Special Situations fund.
Video: Dunedin’s Middleton on UK mid-market challenges
Managing partner talks to Kimberly Romaine in video Q&A
Fundraises to flotations: a promising year for the UK
The UK market witnessed swathes of fund closes and a surprising number of IPOs last year. But will this positive trend continue in 2014? Alice Murray reports
Unified board vital for turnaround success
Unified boards
Cautious optimism in France as government unveils pro-business policies
New research by trade body Afic reveals improving sentiment among local GPs in the second half of last year – a positive trend likely to be further boosted by the government’s newfound social democrat leanings. Greg Gille reports
Should UK SMEs boost non-EU exports?
In the last two years there has been a spate of government initiatives aimed at increasing UK SME exports to non-EU markets. But is this the right strategy for economic growth and is the public sector best placed to advise? Alice Murray reports
