Analysis
PAI partners still on the rocks
The PAI partners saga looks set to drag on at least until 20 November, when LPs will vote on the beleaguered private equity house's proposal to reduce its fifth fund by 50%. The implications of the final agreement are anticipated with baited breath, writes...
Mid market valuations take the plunge
Francois Rowell speaks to Gilles Mougenot, president of Argos Soditic, about the results of the H1 2009 Argos Mid-Market index
Southern Europe: After the dawn
Over the past decade, Southern European private equity began to catch up with its Western European peer, but activity has contracted sharply in 2009. Emannuel Eftimiu looks at the region in numbers
Private Property
With take-privates dominating the Nordic buyout space this month, Rikke Eckhoff investigates timing issues, pricing and the pros and cons of de-listing
Standing firm
Rikke Eckhoff talks deal-doing, fundraising and responsible investment with Helen Steers, partner and head of European primary investments at global fund-of-funds Pantheon
European PE bounces back; will the Nordics follow suit?
A year after the Lehman Brothers collapse and things are looking up, as Q3 value totals are the highest they have been in a year. Ashley Wassall and Rikke Eckhoff take a closer look at the figures
Growing returns
While many will spin off next year to set up smaller, growth-orientated investment houses, it will be because their financial-engineering worlds are crumbling. Others trod this path 10 years ago, even as their worlds were taking off in another direction....
UK venture: Catching on
Recent government support and stronger returns are helping the UK venture market catch up with its US counterpart, but there is farther to go. Deborah Sterescu looks at what is in store for the industry this year
Searching for distress
As we bear the brunt of the recession, more investors are looking to make money through distressed debt. Can private equity play along? Deborah Sterescu investigates
Corbett Keeling Corporate Finance
Third quarter 2009 - light at the end of the tunnel?
"Today, the balance is shifting towards sellers after the long reign of vendors"
Joost Siemensma at Grant Thornton speaks to Domitille Lainey about the changes in due diligences in the acquisition race. Siemensma specialises in due diligence investigations for private equity investors. Previously he worked at KPMG and Deloitte Transaction...
Top Brass Marches Out
Francois Rowell looks at the implications of key-man departures for large buyout firms
Good business
Though environmental, social, and governance-driven investing may be winning more advocates - highlighted by signataries to the UN's PRI - we may still be a way from systematic implementation of a responsible investment strategy that goes beyond a commercial...
GPs must re-invent, LPs must invest
Europe's GPs must change their ways to emerge successful from the current market conditions, and need LPs to back them in order to do so. This was the theme at the fourth annual Deutsche unquote" Private Equity Congress in Munich. Mareen Goebel and Kimberly...
Split LP universe
Market talk suggests the power balance has shifted in favour of LPs. Thomas Wold, investment director at Storebrand, shares his views with Rikke Lilla Eckhoff
A long and winding road
Rikke Eckhoff talks through 20 years of private equity with industry pioneer and veteran Bjorn Saven, founder and executive chairman of IK Investment Partners
Q&A - Neil Harper
Head of European Investments, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners
Playing a long game
The current market requires patience and adaptability. Kimberly Romaine reports
Covenant amendment and maturity extension: the new refinancing?
Corinna Mitchell. a partner of Dechert LLP, outlines the options for companies inching towards default, and suggests the quickest solutions may not be best for the long-term health of the company
On a code to nowhere
With banks coming down hard on portfolio companies breaching their covenants, the BVCA is trying to quell the situation by producing a code of conduct. Doubts abound that the code will have an effect, writes Deborah Sterescu
Q&A - Martin Day, Managing director, OMERS Private Equity
Deborah Sterescu speaks to Martin Day, managing director of OMERS Private Equity about what went wrong during the boom years and what both LPs and GPs are doing better now