Research
Early-stage investments: German deal volume booms
While German early-stage activity has risen in volume in the first half of 2012, the UK holds its own with strong overall deal value.
Nordic Report 2012
Last yearтs closings of EQT VI (тЌ4.75bn) and HitecVision VI ($1.5bn) were not only the largest ever funds raised in their respective countries, but also signs of international interest in the region т both attracted significant global capital.
French mid-market on the mend
At long last, activity in the French €100m+ buyout market showed signs of improvement in the second quarter. The Alain Afflelou and St Hubert transactions certainly helped: the former was acquired by Lion Capital in an €800m SBO in May, while Montagu...
Nordics' role in European PE strengthens in H2 2011
The Nordics saw a strong first half of 2012, driven by a few large deals, pushing aggregate value from €3.4bn in H2 2011 to €5bn, showing the region's resilience to the eurozone crisis and its economic strength.
Spain continues to outperform Italy in deal volume
Despite the country's dire economic state, Spanish private equity activity has continued to outpace that of Italy continuously over the past 24 months - although the latter showed more resilience last year.
UK Watch: Smaller buyouts still growing
The UKтs smaller buyout space has gone from strength-to-strength in the second quarter of 2012, according to figures in the latest unquoteт UK Watch, in association with Corbett Keeling.
SBOs remain resilient in Q2
The increase in larger deals witnessed in the second quarter corresponded with a relative resilience in secondary buyout activity across Europe, according to the latest unquote" Private Equity Barometer.
DACH buyout market outweighs neighbours in Q2
Buyouts in the German-speaking region have shown a significant gain in value from the first to the second quarter of 2012, enabling the region to top the regional aggregate value table.
unquote" Private Equity Barometer - Q2 2012
A three-quarter slide in the overall value of European private equity deals was halted in Q2, according to the latest unquote" Private Equity Barometer published in association with Arle Capital Partners.
Fundraising a chief concern for Nordic PE professionals
While the AIFM Directive was on everybody's agenda last year, fundraising is the main concern for most of the private equity practitioners polled in the latest unquote" Nordic Survey.
Nordic Survey 2012
The second edition of unquote's Nordic Survey, published in association with Delphi, paints a picture of optimism among local private equity professionals.
Nordic market bolstered by strong exits
The majority of Nordic private equity practitioners surveyed by unquote" in association with Delphi predict returns of more than 15% for upcoming investments.
Dealflow: Tech more resilient than pharma
While overall activity declined gradually between Q1 2011 and Q2 2012 as macroeconomic conditions worsened, dealflow in the technology sector proved to be much more resilient than pharmaceuticals. This holds for both overall European and country-specific...
UK support services boom in Q1 2012
The support services sector performed well in Q1 of 2012, raising expectations of strong growth for the remainder of the year.
Europe-wide PE investment to fall below €45bn in 2012
Following a lacklustre start to 2012, Europe should see year-end buyout investment levels barely hit the €40bn mark – the first glitch in an otherwise steady recovery since 2010. Greg Gille reports
Big boost in Spring dealflow
Nordic activity rebounded sharply in May as nine deals worth an estimated €1.4bn were recorded: more than double the volume, and more than four times the value of the previous month.
French activity: Out of the trough?
Shored up by an uptick in mid-market buyout activity, French dealflow has shown encouraging signs of recovery in May. But subdued activity in the first months of 2012 and a lack of visibility on macro-economic trends should take their toll on year-end...
UK and Nordics outperforming rest of Europe
Research from unquote” data finds that the UK/Ireland has not only outperformed its continental European counterparts in Q1 of 2012, but it was also the only region to raise deal volume levels above those of 2011.
Southern Europe: Volume drops, value soars
Deal activity remained particularly subdued across Southern Europe in May, although the Rottapharm buyout in Italy sent overall value soaring.
France: acquisition finance off to good start in 2012
The overall value of French PE-backed acquisition finance deals completed in the first months of this year has already exceeded 2011 year-end figures. Recent research also highlights that French businesses remain hungry for build-up opportunities.
Are mezzanine funds making a comeback?
The launch of 123 Venture’s latest mezzanine fund, the €100m Trocadero Capital Transmission II, is the second mezz fund launch this year with CIC Mezzanine III. In parallel, the number of mezzanine funds reaching final close has declined from 6 in 2010...
DACH investment leaps forward in May
Investment in the DACH region surged forward in May, with seven deals worth an estimated €580m, compared to 12 deals worth just €100m in April.
Nordic credit remains more readily available
The Nordic countries have enjoyed a lower proportion of all-equity buyouts than the rest of Europe for several months now - highlighting easier access to leverage in the region.
Buyout market could see worst year since 2009
Latest figures show Europe's buyout market has failed to recover from the market malaise of late 2011, brought on by the Eurozone crisis, particularly at the upper end of the market.