LATEST NEWS

Glitnir in talks to sell stake

Icelandic bank Glitnir has held preliminary talks with investors about buying a stake in the business.

Thursday, 15th May 2008
Venture investment levels on the rise in 2008

The amount of disclosed venture capital invested in European companies rose to €1.4bn in the first quarter of 2008, according to data company Library House.

Thursday, 15th May 2008
Elaia Partners leads €10m investment for Wyplay

Elaia Partners has led a €10m second round of funding for Wyplay, a developer of consumer products for the digital TV market.

Thursday, 15th May 2008
Ubidyne receives €22m in venture funding

Doughty Hanson Technology Ventures has led a €22m second round of funding for Ubidyne, a developer of digital radio technology for the wireless industry.

Thursday, 15th May 2008
Permira-backed Marazzi to be delisted

The controlling shareholder of Italian ceramic tile producer Marazzi plans to delist the company, two years after its flotation.

Thursday, 15th May 2008
YFM Group and Scottish Venture Fund back MMIC Solutions

YFM Group and the Scottish Venture Fund have participated in a £2.7m (€3.4m) first round of funding for MMIC Solutions, a supplier of module and subsystem solutions for commercial millimetre wave applications.

Thursday, 15th May 2008
Software producer Qosmos receives €7m in funding

Sofinnova Partners, Alven Capital and GfK have led a €7m third round of funding for Qosmos.

Thursday, 15th May 2008
Indigo Capital expands team

Indigo Capital has promoted Martin Hook to partner and appointed Burkhard Wangenheim and Guillaume Claire as investment executives.

Thursday, 15th May 2008
RBS spurns private equity bidders

The Royal Bank of Scotland has barred private equity houses from bidding for its insurance business, according to the Financial Times.

Wednesday, 14th May 2008
Barclays Capital appoints senior team from ABN Amro

Barclays Capital has appointed Jitesh Gadhia, Marc Holtzman, Simon Hargreaves, Jason Rynbeck and Frank Hancock as managing directors in its investment banking division.

Wednesday, 14th May 2008

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

I think what's happened is that the concept of risk-adjusted rate of return has been replaced by what I would call risk-ignored rate of return, and people are substituting yield for credit judgement.

Wilbur Ross

Private equity companies have targeted car parks as a cash cow, taking over £1 billion out of the industry in the last few years

Rob Kelsall, GMB, responsible for car park workers
Queen fails to save Northern Rock 18, 18 Oct 2007 May the Esprit be with you 18, 18 Oct 2007 Flat tax haven 18, 18 Oct 2007 The deer-hunter 18, 18 Oct 2007
Robert Coke: Wellcome Trust

Senior investment officer Robert Coke on sleepy GPs, listed management companies and plans to become a debt provider.


Q&A with Simon Walker

The new chief executive of the BVCA has big ambitions for the UK’s venture capital and private equity industry in 2008.


James Caan

As the latest member of the panel on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, serial entrepreneur James Caan is gaining a new perspective on backing businesses.


Mark Fox

As head of communications at the BVCA, Mark Fox has witnessed a period of huge growth in the coverage of private equity – and a summer of unprecedented media attention. 


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LATEST ISSUE

Leader

The sins of the parent The sins of the parent

It is not often that the UK chief of a mid-market private equity house ups and leaves in the midst of an ignominious deal collapse. So when European Capital co-founder Simon Henderson walked away from the firm he helped create last week, the news was greeted with shock.

Top Story

The direct approach The direct approach

As conventional exit options dry up, direct secondaries transactions are beginning to hit GPs’ radars. Will the economic slowdown bring them into the mainstream?

Feature

An interview with Doug Miller An interview with Doug Miller

The outgoing EVPA chairman talks about private equity’s cynics, the evolution of venture philanthropy, and why investors should not hide their charitable activities.

Comment

Full stream ahead Full stream ahead

European GPs are increasingly adopting the US’s deal-by-deal approach to waterfall distribution. But it’s not all smooth sailing, says Stephen Sims of Macfarlanes.

News Analysis

Wellington partners: ready for battle Wellington partners: ready for battle

Exceeding its fundraising target was the easy part. Now for the US-style returns.


Real Deals 15.5.08

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