News
€1.7bn bid for Rottapharm stalls
The bid launched by Clessidra Capital Partners and Avista Capital Partners for Italian drugmaker Rottapharm has ground to a halt due to share governance issues and fundraising difficulties.
EIF commits €17m to Lithuanian SME funds
The European Investment Fund (EIF) has committed тЌ11m to the Practica Venture Capital Fund and тЌ6m to the Practica Seed Capital Fund.
Blackstone France appoints chairman
Blackstone's special adviser Gerard Errera has been appointed as chairman of Blackstone France.
Equistone in talks for Explore Learning
Equistone Partners Europe is in exclusive talks to acquire Explore Learning, a UK-based firm offering maths and English tuition to 5-14-year-olds.
Moody's cuts German credit outlook
Moody's has indicated it may downgrade Germany's Aaa credit rating, which could make financing operations in Germany more difficult.
AIFMD having little impact on fund marketing
More than half of GPs say the Alternative Investment Fund Managers' Directive (AIFMD) has had little impact on their marketing activities with just a year to go until implementation, according to a survey by IMS Group.
Rutland appoints investment exec
Turnaround investor Rutland Partners has appointed Michael Reynolds as investment executive.
Italian and Russian banks to launch joint venture
Italian banking group Intesa Sanpaolo and Russian bank Gazprombank have signed an agreement to make private equity investments in medium-sized local companies.
Connection Capital appoints two
UK private client firm Connection Capital has appointed Robert Clarke as head of its investment committee and Julian Carr as investment director in the private equity team.
Doughty Hanson to reshuffle partnership structure
Doughty Hanson has announced a new GP structure, including limited liability partnerships, following the death of co-founder and majority shareholder Nigel Doughty in February this year.
Blackstone not to replace head of European PE
Blackstone will not seek a replacement for Joe Baratta in the company's London office, according to reports.
Former Metro boss launches PE house in Germany
Former Riverside partners Kai Köppen and Volker Schmidt have partnered with ex Metro boss Eckhard Cordes and former Apax partner Christian Näther to form a new buyout house in Munich, local reports suggest.
Crédit Suisse to divest PE businesses
Crédit Suisse has announced it will sell off a number of illiquid private equity businesses within its asset management division.
Stork high-yield refinancing postponed
Stork Technical Services, backed by Arle Capital Partners, has suspended its €315m high-yield bond issue, citing tough market conditions.
China to buy LP interests from GM pension plan
The Chinese government has agreed to buy stakes in a string of private equity funds, including vehicles managed by The Carlyle Group, The Blackstone Group and CVC Capital Partners, from General Motors’ (GM) pension plan.
Sun-backed Neckermann files for insolvency
Sun European Partners' German mail-order portfolio company Neckermann has filed for insolvency following unsuccessful talks with the PE firm.
Inflexion appoints new partner
Inflexion Private Equity has promoted Richard Swann from investment director to partner.
Blackstone promotes Baratta to head of global PE
Joe Baratta has been appointed as head of global private equity at Blackstone.
CalPERS PE portfolio performance in sharp YoY drop
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) has announced a 5.3% return for its private equity portfolio in the fiscal year 2011/12, down from 25.3% in 2010/11.
Castle PE shareholder battle intensifies
Castle Private Equity’s battle with its shareholders has intensified after activist investor Abrams Capital became its largest investor.
PE houses in final round for Pizza Hut
Risk Capital Partners, Endless and Rutland Partners are understood to be competing for Pizza Hut's UK restaurants business.
Palamon appoints Michael Beetz as associate principal
Palamon Capital Partners has appointed ex-Coller associate Michael Beetz to join the firm as associate principal.
KPMG CF private equity head McDonagh leaves
Michael McDonagh is heading to Liberty Corporate Finance from 1 October. He has headed KPMGтs UK corporate finance private equity practice since 2005.
Exponent appoints Davidson as partner
UK-based mid-cap GP Exponent Private Equity has promoted Simon Davidson to become its seventh partner.