LATEST NEWS: MID-MARKET

Advent mulls Poundland sale

Advent International has hired advisers to prepare a sale of Poundland, the UK discount retailer.

Friday, 12th March 2010
Primary acquires Amtech from HSBC Private Equity

Primary Capital has acquired software and data services business Amtech from HSBC Private Equity in a deal worth £35m (€38.5m). Lloyds provided £15m of debt for the deal.

Friday, 12th March 2010
HgCapital announces £50m share placing

HgCapital Trust, the listed investment trust that invests in HgCapital funds, has launched a share placing on the London Stock Exchange to raise £50m (€55.07m).

Friday, 12th March 2010
LPs raise AIFM directive protest

The Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA) has written to Michel Barnier, the new EU internal market commissioner, warning that the AIFM directive could cut off European private equity from the industry in the rest of the world.

Wednesday, 10th March 2010
Cognetas promotes de Péguilhan

Cognetas has promoted Antoine de Péguilhan to the position of investment manager.

Wednesday, 10th March 2010
Pohjola reaches first close on second fund

Finnish private equity fund-of-funds manager Pohjola Private Equity Funds has reached a first closing on its second private equity fund, raising a total of €97m.

Tuesday, 9th March 2010
HgCapital in exclusivity for John Laithwaite

HgCapital has entered exclusive talks to buy John Laithwaite, the commercial laundry-equipment supplier, in deal that could value the business at £150m (€165m).

Tuesday, 9th March 2010
CalPERS appoints former Barclays employee

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System has appointed Janine Guillot as its new chief operating investment officer.

Tuesday, 9th March 2010
Law firm makes private equity hire

Global law firm Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge has appointed Shawn Atkinson as a partner in the firm's private equity and venture capital practice in London.

Tuesday, 9th March 2010
Sun European Partners appoints Culpan

Sun European Partners, the European adviser to Sun Capital Partners, has appointed David Culpan as vice-president of capital markets.

Tuesday, 9th March 2010

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"If the raft of heralded IPOs is now not going to happen after all, GPs and LPs may have to modify their return expectations further."

Guy Fraser-Sampson, Cass Business School

"Our impression is that corporates have become more aware of the potential benefits of corporate venturing to the enterprise."

Markus Thill, Robert Bosch Venture Capital

Q & A

Q&A: Robert Manz
Enterprise Investors managing partner Robert Manz talks to Real Deals about the new economic reality, getting deals done in 2010 and the looming spectre of regulation.
Shaks Ghosh, Chief executive, Private Equity Foundation
Lee Davis,Co-founder and chief executive, NESsT
Q&A: Serge Raicher
uk_and_ireland dach mediterranean mediterranean NORDICS CEE FRANCE BENELUX

LATEST ISSUE

Leader

Venture's victory Venture's victory

The European venture capital industry was given a much-needed fillip at the beginning of this month, when two pieces of good news hit the headlines in the UK.


Top Story

Q&A: Mark Wignall Q&A: Mark Wignall

Fresh from a strong 2009, the chief executive of Matrix Private Equity Partners explains why he is a “small is beautiful” man, and contends that the VCT model remains attractive.

Feature

Competitive disadvantage Competitive disadvantage

Some areas of Central and Eastern Europe may have escaped lightly from the economic downturn, but fierce competition for scarce assets could drive up prices in 2010.  

Comment

From Baird to worse From Baird to worse

Much of today’s most important technology was invented by Europeans, but – as with venture – the Americans are best at “monetising” innovation.

News Analysis

Out with the old... Out with the old...

The departure of Atlas may be bad news for European venture, but a variety of smaller operators are lining up to fill the funding gap.