Analysis
GP relationships under scrutiny
Both GPs and LPs expect average private equity returns to fall by as much as 10%, according to new research. The figures, gathered by bfinanceтs Global Private Equity Poll, add weight to suggestions that GPs will need to do more to differentiate themselves...
Spanish private equity goes against the grain
Spain has undoubtedly lagged behind the rest of Europe in its race to return to prosperity. However, amidst speculation regarding a national bail-out, the countryтs private equity market has shown promising signs during 2010. Susannah Birkwood reports...
Fundraising: Heavy traffic ahead
It is no secret that the private equity fundraising environment has been tough for the past couple of years. As many GPs prepare to hit the road again, current LP outlooks and strategies could result in a substantial number of players having to share...
Renewables: A maturing industry?
While the prominence of renewable energy may have faded when the financial crisis erupted more than two years ago, private equity and venture capital investors have continued to show high levels of interest in this developing industry. But what kind of...
Buyouts: All-equity deals on the wane
All equity buyouts have been a common feature in the private equity market since the onset of the financial crisis. Driven by poor leverage availability and high prices at the time, this trend is now in decline as markets return to normal. John Bakie...
PE associations: Passing the torch
European private equity trade bodies are currently facing a management reshuffle, following a couple of difficult years for the industry. As much work was done to curb the most controversial aspects of the AIFM directive and generally promote private...
Fund lifetimes: Extend and pretend?
With market fears that a capital overhang could encourage reckless investments and artificially high valuations, would it make sense to redesign the private equity fund model to allow for longer investment and holding periods? The argument has gained...
Secondary buyout activity stable despite market fears
Despite widespread concern over the number of secondary buyouts being seen in the market, unquoteт research suggests they are no more common today than they were in 2005. John Bakie investigates
Video Interview: 3i's Michael Queen
The private equity landscape has changed since the financial crisis, and firms will need to adopt new strategies to make a success of their portfolio companies, according to 3i's chief executive, Michael Queen.
Mid-market: The next big thing?
Even though big buyouts have staged a spectacular comeback in 2010, mid-market transactions are widely expected to be at the forefront of dealflow and value creation going forward т but strong headwinds could make for a rough, if ultimately rewarding,...
Secondary buyouts: black sheep of the industry?
Secondary buyouts have often come under fire, accused of offering poor returns for LPs. But new research suggests secondary returns can match those seen in primary buyouts. John Bakie investigates
Isle of Man pitches for business in the new PE environment
It may seem counter-intuitive, in a particularly bleak fundraising environment, to be heavily promoting the latest iteration of a specialist tax-efficient fund structure, but that is what the Isle of Man has been doing. Julian Longhurst investigates....
Intel Summit: The future of tech investment
The Intel Capital CEO summit not only shed a light on future technology but also brought back some well known faces. Emanuel Eftimiu reports.
unquote" mobile site launched
unquoteт has launched a mobile friendly version of its website, allowing subscribers to check on all the latest deal and industry news while on the move.
Special report: unquote" Italia Private Equity Congress 2010
Economic policy, the continued strain of the recession and the importance of localism were issues high on the agenda at the fourth annual unquote” Italia Private Equity Congress.
Asia's growing importance in European M&A
The sale process surrounding 3i portfolio company Hyva would not only be a major exit for the investor, but demonstrates the increasingly global nature of M&A. The proposed тЌ600m sale has received interest from not only European private equity houses,...
A new dimension
Although the secondaries market has increased substantially in size over the past few years, little progress has been achieved in making transaction processes more efficient and transparent. This could be about to change as Emanuel Eftimiu finds out....
British Private Equity Awards: Winners announced
Last night, unquote" hosted the sixth British Private Equity Awards in London.
The Silver Lining
The cost of the recession to private equity has been all too evident, but is there a silver lining? As we move into a period of increased movement on the exit front, some investors believe a greater understanding of what makes portfolio companies tick...
PE conquers Marathon of Marathons
The sun pounded the private equity runners as their feet pounded the pavement for 26.2 miles from the town of Marathon to the centre of Athens yesterday. The Marathon of Marathons brought together 250 industry professionals to run the original route....
Fundraising: The importance of the placement agent
In such tough fundraising conditions, the role of the placement agent has become increasingly important. Emanuel Eftimiu talks to HarbourVestтs George Anson and Mounir Guen of MVision about the current fundraising market and what LPs expect in this new...
Fun-raising: PE runners seek €2.5m
GPs including 3i, Apax, Arcus, Bridgepoint, Capvis, Coller, Meridiam and Platina have joined forces to raise тЌ2.5m. LPs Adams Street, Capital Dynamics, Partners Group, Pantheon and Pomona are also taking part, with Campbell Lutyens, Ernst & Young, PEI...
AIFM: The end of a long road
With todayтs news that European Parliament negotiators have agreed on the final text of the Alternative Investment Fund Managerтs Directive (AIFM), the private equity industry can look forward to greater certainty about the regulatory environment going...
Mega deals drive Q3 market value to €24bn
The value of the European private equity market soared to almost тЌ24bn in the third quarter, according to the unquoteт Private Equity Barometer.