European Venture Capital Journal articles from February 2002

European Venture Capital Journal archives from February 2002

New strategy for ABN AMRO Capital. (News: Private Equity).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... ABN AMRO Capital is changing the focus of its private equity business to concentrate on larger mid-market buyouts - namely up to [euro]500 million enterprise value or a minimum equity commitment of [euro]25 million. This, says Gerben Kuyper,...

Private equity benefits in pre-Budget report. (News: Private Equity).(UK)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... In his pre-Budget report, the Chancellor has given a positive outlook for the UK economy in spite of difficult market conditions. This is good news for the private equity market which looks set to benefit from proposals announced which will...

Parallel's Spanish venture. (News: Private Equity).(Parallel Venture partnership with Excel Partners)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Parallel Ventures has set up a partnership with Excel Partners in Spain. This completes its European team and the firm now has an established presence in the European big five. Parallel is also in partnership with Acland in France, Equivest in...

BVCA sets fund raising guidelines. (News: Private Equity).(British Venture Capital Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... New fund raising guidelines have been recommended by the BVCA Task Force - see evcj November, page 2. The Task Force, chaired by BVCA executive director Jennifer English, has concluded that the private equity industry should be classified as...

Leveraged loans make slow recovery. (News: Private Equity).(in Europe)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Europe's leveraged loan market witnessed a slow-down in the third quarter of 2001 with many deals put on hold, according to a report by international rating agency Fitch, entitled All doom and gloom or a temporary hiatus? But in spite of this,...

VCTs put on a good show. (News: Private Equity).(venture capital trusts)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Five-year cash returns from the first nine VCTs of 1995-1996 have put in an impressive performance, outperforming equivalent yields of the FTSE All-share Index, according to statistics from the British Venture Capital Association (BVCA). ...

RBS launches synthetic CDO. (News: Private Equity).(Royal Bank of Scotland, collateralized debt obligation)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Royal Bank of Scotland has completed a synthetic CDO transaction with a reference portfolio of up to [pounds sterling]300 million senior and mezzanine leveraged loans, of which it has already selected 45 per cent. RBS' structured finance...

KPMG predicts vintage year for buyouts. (News: Private Equity).(KPMG Corporate Finance )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Despite the gloomy news that quarterly UK buyout volumes for the end of last year had fallen to 1995 levels, KPMG Corporate Finance believes the market is poised for a comeback. Charles Milner, head of private equity at KPMG Corporate...

Allianz to step up mezzanine commitments. (News: Private Equity).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Allianz, the German insurance group, is further diversifying its investment activity by increasing its participation in mezzanine debt. Thomas Putter, managing director of Allianz Capital Partners the private equity unit launched in 1998, said...

PE allocations on the up. (News: Private Equity).(private equity )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Commitments to private equity funds in Europe have almost doubled since 1999, reaching [euro]26.7 billion, according to a global report on alternative investing from Goldman Sachs and Frank Russell. As well as Europe, the report covers North...

AMJPE wins GMPF for third time. (News: Private Equity).(Aberdeen Murray Johnstone Private Equity, Greater Manchester Pension Fund contract)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Aberdeen Murray Johnstone Private Equity (AMJPE) has been appointed adviser to the Greater Manchester Pension Fund's latest [pounds sterling]20 million venture capital fund, Ventures North West III. This is the third time AMJPE has been...

FIS Private Equity renames. (News: Private Equity).(Friends Ivory and Sime Private Equity changes name to ISIS Capital)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Friends Ivory & Sime Private Equity has changed its name to ISIS Capital to distinguish its private equity activities from its parent company. The division's business focus will remain the same concentrating on business services, consumer...

BVCA looks at valuation guidelines. (News: Private Equity).(British Venture Capital Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Private equity valuation guidelines are being reviewed by the British Venture Capital Association (BVCA), which has set up a working party to produce guidelines with an international acceptance by the middle of next year. It is hoped the...

Altium Capital completes MBO. (News: Private Equity).(management buyout of Gold-Zack)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Altium Capital has completed management buyout of the group from German European investment holding company, Gold-Zack. The transaction will allow Altium Capital to develop its growth strategy and will allow Gold-Zack to consolidate and...

Advantage Capital open for business. (News: Private Equity).(first round of funding completed at [pounds sterling] 10 million)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... UK-focused Advantage Capital, a new buyout house, has announced the first close of its debut fund, Advantage Capital Partners 1. The new fund has raised [pounds sterling]10 million so far and hopes to close the fund in the second quarter of...

Wilton Private Equity Fund raises $240m. (News: Private Equity).(Wilton Asset Management closes final round of funding $60 million short of goal)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Wilton Asset Management, a joint venture between State Street Global Advisors and DuPont Capital Management Corporation, has closed its Wilton Private Equity Fund with $241 million in commitments, just under $60 million short of its original...

Coller takes on Lucent portfolio. (News: Private Equity).(Coller Capital acquires 80% interest)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Secondaries specialist Coller Capital has joined forces with the Lucent corporate venturing team and has acquired an 80 per cent interest in a direct portfolio of technology investments formerly owned by Lucent Technologies. The transaction is...

Dunedin's new London base. (News: Private Equity).(Dunedin Capital Partners opens new location)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Edinburgh-based Dunedin Capital Partners has opened a London office and is moving to larger premises in Edinburgh to allow for further growth. The London office is in response to the increased level of business Dunedin Capital Partners is...

Gulf attracts first buyout fund. (News: Private Equity).(Ramala Buyout Fund)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... The Rasmala buyout fund, which will target a diversified portfolio of investments in the Middle East, North Africa and the sub-continent with a primary focus on the GCC countries and the Levant, has been set up. The fund has a target of $150...

German insurers to increase PE allocations. (News: Private Equity).(plan to increase private equity allocation fourfold)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... According to a study carried out by German fund-of-funds manager, Golding Capital Partners, on average German insurance companies intend to increase their private equity allocation fourfold, despite the uncertain economic outlook. Jeremy...

Cofiri makes room for Improvement. (News: Private Equity).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Italian investment bank Cofiri has set up a private equity division and unveiled a new fund, its first since its privatisation last year. Improvement I will target mainly Italian mid-market companies, but will also look at opportunities in the...

Exam concessions for VCs. (News: Private Equity).(venture capital)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The British Venture Capital Association (BVCA) has announced a change in the exam requirements for venture capitalists. VCs who are either an associate or fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants will no longer need to take any...

Pinsent tests the French market. (News: Private Equity).(Pinsent Curtis Biddle alliance with Granrut)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... UK law firm Pinsent Curtis Biddle is eyeing private equity opportunities in the French market following a strategic alliance with Paris-based law firm, Granrut. The alliance is part of the firm's planned development in Europe and comes a year...

DrKC promotes buyouts in Central Europe. (News: Private Equity).(Dresdner Kleinwort Capital)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Dresdner Kleinwort Capital, the private equity group of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, which is owned by Allianz, has launched an MBO/MBI network in the Central European region. The network is targeting senior executives in Poland and is...

Knorr Capital continues buying spree. (News: Venture Capital).(buys 45% stake in KIMON-Beteiligungen)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Munich-based venture capital firm Knorr Capital has acquired a 45 per cent stake in fellow German VC firm, KIMON-Beteiligungen further strengthening its position in the German VC market. The move follows a busy year for Knorr Capital, which is...

SPARK draws purse strings. (News: Venture Capital).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Technology VC investor, NewMedia SPARK is treading carefully in the current climate and has implemented a 35 per cent reduction in headcount, as well as portfolio write-downs. The firm has also postponed its international expansion plans in...

DB eVentures folds into DB Capital. (News: Venture Capital).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... DB eVentures, Deutsche Bank's strategic technology investing group in the financial services sector, has ceased activity as an independent entity. The business has folded into DB Capital and investments from the portfolio are being run under...

Uncertain future for Brainspark. (News: Venture Capital).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Troubled technology incubator Brainspark is restructuring in the hope of keeping its business afloat. The business has been forced to reduce its headcount to five. Chief executive Stewart Dodd and chief technology officer Noah Freedman have...

Avanti and E-Capital join forces. (News: Venture Capital).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Early stage tech investors, E-Capital Investments and Avanti Partners (formerly Internet Incubator) have announced a proposed merger of the two companies in an effort to survive the current turmoil in the market. Until recently both E-Capital...

Nokia steps up corporate venturing. (News: Venture Capital).(Early Stage Technology Fund)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Nokia has launched a new venture capital fund dedicated to financing ideas generated within the company. The mobile communications company has allocated [euro]40 million to its Early Stage Technology Fund. The fund will be based in Helsinki,...

Interregnum gets into corporate venturing. (News: Venture Capital).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... IT investment and advisory company, Interregnum has set up a corporate venturing division to foster cross-sector corporate venturing partnerships between non-technology businesses and early stage IT firms. The new division will operate...

Quester wins new university fund mandates. (News: Venture Capital).(University Challenge Seed Fund)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Quester has overcome strong competition to win two of the fund management mandates in the second round of the University Challenge Seed Fund (UCSF) initiative, worth [pounds sterling]8 million. The VC will undertake the management of a [pounds...

Eqvitec to work with Telecom Italia. (News: Venture Capital).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... According to a new agreement portfolio companies of Eqvitec Partners, the Finnish early stage technology investor, will gain access to Telecom Italia's experience and customer base. In exchange, Telecom Italia stands to gain an insight into...

Investor buys ABB out of b-business partners. (News: Venture Capital).
February 1, 2002... Investor, Sweden's largest holding company, has bought 90 per cent of Swiss-based industrial, energy and automation company, ABB's stake in b-business partners. b-business partners is a venture capital company set up in March 2000 to invest in...

HSBC merges Ventures with Private Equity. (News: Venture Capital).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... HSBC has merged its venture capital arm, HSBC Ventures, with HSBC Private Equity. The amalgamation, which took effect on January 1, is aimed at developing the group's mid-market presence. The enlarged group will focus on deals worth between...

Index expands to London. (News: Venture Capital).
February 1, 2002... Index Ventures, the Swiss-based technology investor, is expanding its operations by recruiting a new partner to establish a London office. Danny Rimer, the fourth Rimer brother at Index, joins from US venture capital firm, the Barksdale Group....

2M Invest and Growth.dk get together. (News: Venture Capital).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... 2M Invest and Growth.dk are combining their skills in the Danish market to take advantage of both early and later stage opportunities in the private equity. The two firms have entered into a strategic alliance to develop new companies from...

Business Europe merges with Venturedome. (News: Venture Capital).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Business Europe, a news and commerce website aimed at the small business sector, is to merge with private equity news site, Venturedome, to create a new company, ICP Europe Publishing. Both businesses, based in the UK, will continue to operate...

Imperial College programme to help entrepreneurs. (News: Venture Capital).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Imperial College, London has launched a programme to help university academics and researchers commercialise technology and increase the number of companies spun-out of the college. The Entrepreneurs' Programme, which is also open to...

TechFund braves the storm. (News: Venture Capital).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... At a time when many investors are steering clear of early stage technology ventures, Paris-based venture capital firm TechFund Capital Europe continues to battle on with its fundraising. The fund, which had an original target of [euro]100...

Fast Ventures changes focus. (News: Venture Capital).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Another VC rethinking its investment strategy is Hungarian firm Fast Ventures, which has decided to limit its exposure to Internet investments. The fund, with commitments from Bank Austria, Creditanstalt and two Hungarian banks, has invested...

Hungarian deal appeal for T-Venture. (News: Venture Capital).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... T-Venture Holdings, the corporate venture arm of Deutsche Telekom, has set up base in Budapest and is on the look out for Hungarian deals. T-Venture has entered into an agreement with Hungarian telecoms service provider, Matav to launch a...

Esquire seeks $40m for life science. (News: Funds).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Esquire Capital Holdings, based in Luxembourg and Sophia-Antipolis, France, is seeking to raise $40 million to invest in life science companies, predominantly in Southern Europe. The capital increase will be through the private placement often...

Matrix Private Equity launches Enterprise Fund. (News: Funds).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Matrix Private Equity hopes to raise [pounds sterling]20 million from high net worth individuals and trustees, for its second fund. The Matrix Enterprise Fund will make eight to ten investments in unquoted UK companies over the space of a year....

PTVF II celebrates first close. (News: Funds).(PolyTechnos Venture Partners)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... PolyTechnos Venture Partners has achieved the first closing of its second venture fund, PolyTechnos Venture fund II (PTVF II) at [euro]120 million. Like the previous fund, investments will focus on early stage technology companies in...

Third start-up fund from Eficor. (News: Funds).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Eficor Ventures, the venture capital subsidiary of Finnish technology-focused investment bank Eficor, has launched its third fund. Eficor Venture Fund III is the first fund to be raised by the investor since Eficor merged with Holtron Group in...

Auriga's second fund underway. (News: Funds).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Auriga Partners, the French VC, has announced the first closing of its second fund, Auriga Ventures II. The fund has raised [euro]51 million so far, mainly from Auriga's previous limited partners. Investors include AXA, CDP Sofinov (Caisse de...

INVESCO finds FoFs market challenging. (News: Funds).(Invesco Private Capital)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... INVESCO Private Capital has closed its third fund-of-funds vehicle, INVESCO Partnership Fund III, at $300 million. This brings the total raised by INVESCO since 1997 for its three fund-of-funds to $1.2 billion. INVESCO Partnership Fund II,...

Carlyle plans $1 billion energy fund. (News: Funds).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Carlyle is planning to raise a second global energy fund with a target of $1 billion. No official announcement has been made and it is still early days, but the fund hopes to secure the capital within a year. Carlyle has already tested the...

CDC targets [euro]450m for French buyouts. (News: Funds).(CDC Equity Capital)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... CDC Equity Capital, the buyout division of CDC IXIS Private Equity, has raised [euro]360 million towards a target of [euro]450 million for its latest fund. With its new fund CDC Equity Capital is increasing the proportion of capital raised...

CSFB closes $5 billion fund. (News: Funds).(CSFB Private Equity)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... CSFB Private Equity has closed its DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III Fund at $5.4 billion. The Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette team, led by Tom Dean and Lawrence Schloss, started raising the fund in the spring of 2000 and held an initial closing...

Advent attracts European investors. (News: Funds).(Advent International Corp. raises money for fund)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Global private equity investor, Advent International has raised [euro]2 billion for its latest fund, Global Private Equity IV (GPE IV). Around 70 per cent of the fund is allocated to European investments, while the remainder will be invested in...

Second HSBC fund nears closing. (News: Funds).(Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. fund)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... HSBC's second European buyout fund has reached a First close at [pounds sterling]490 million with a Final close of [pounds sterling]600 million scheduled for the end of March. HSBC Group will match investor commitments, bringing the fund up to...

Vertex exceeds expectations. (News: Funds).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Vertex Management Israel, part of the International Vertex Group has closed a new $160 million fund, exceeding its original target of $150 million. The fund has already made six investments and will follow the same investment strategy as the...

Abingworth proves biotech popularity. (News: Funds).(Abingworth Management Ltd. raises money in fund)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Abingworth Management has closed its fourth life science fund $75 million over target at $225 million. Abingworth Bioventures III will invest in early stage UK, European and US life science companies in the biotech and medical sectors. ...

Cinven's 3rd buyout fund. (News: Funds).(CINVen raises money in fund)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... European buyout house, Cinven, has raised [euro]3.5 billion ([pounds sterling]2.2 billion) for the Third Cinven Fund. This exceeds the fund's original target and Cinven's last fund, which raised [euro]2.4 billion in 1998 and is now fully...

First CDC fund since independence. (News: Funds).(Charterhouse Development Capital Ltd. fund)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Charterhouse Development Capital is raising a [euro]3 billion pan-European fund, its first as an independent entity. The veteran buyout house expects a first closing by the second quarter and the team is confident of meeting its target thanks...

Hicks, Muse finally closes fund. (News: Funds).(Hicks, Muse, Tate and Furst Inc. fund)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Global private equity firm, Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst has closed its fifth US buyout fund at $1.6 billion, a long way off its original target amount of $4.5 billion. The Dallas-based firm managed a first close a year ago at $1.2 billion, but...

Schroders FoFs reaches first close. (News: Funds).(Schroders PLC debut fund-of-funds)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Schroders has announced the first close of its debut fund-of-funds, Schroder Private Equity Fund-of-Funds, at [euro]172 million. The investment vehicle was launched last year with a target of [euro]300 million when fund raising was already...

Bridgepoint triples money on Birmingham Airport. (News: Exits).(Bridgepoint Capital sells Birmingham airport stake to Macquarie Airports Group)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Bridgepoint Capital has made three times its money on the sale of its stake in Birmingham Airport to Macquarie Airports Group. This is Bridgepoint Capital's thirteenth exit this year. The European buyout house has agreed to sell a 24.1 per cent...

Apax exits Socamel-Rescaset. (News: Exits).(Groupe Guillin sells 77.33% stake in Socamel-Rescaset to Apax Partners)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Apax Partners has sold its 77.33 per cent stake in French company Socamel-Rescaset to Groupe Guillin. Both companies manufacture packaging for the food industry. Groupe Guillin now owns 96.24 per cent of Socamel-Rescaset. Both companies are...

31 exits Joyce-Loebl. (News: Exits).(3i Group PLC sells Joycc-Loebl Ltd. to Screen)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Joycc-Loebl, a UK-bascd company that supplies technology solutions to the transport and defence industries, has been sold by 3i and its management team to Screen, a provider of security and communications systems. 3i, the major...

NPIL sticks to Powell Duffryn disposals. (News: Exits).(Powell Duffryn Terminals Inc. sells divisions to TTS Technology ASA, NBGI Private Equity)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Nikko Principal Investments Limited (NPIL) has announced the divestment of a further two divisions of Powell Duffryn, the port services and engineering company it acquired a year ago for [pounds sterling]509 million. These deals, worth a total...

Close Brothers walks out of Amber Doors. (News: Exits).(Swedish manufacturing group buys Amber Doors from UK's Close Brothers Private Equity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Close Brothers Private Equity has made a profitable return on its investment in Barnsley-based Amber Doors. The manufacturer of doors for industrial, security and fire safety has been sold to Swedish manufacturing group Cardo for around [pounds...

GIMV profits with Essers. (News: Exits).(Integral logistical service provider sold)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Belgian-based GIMV has made a profitable return on its investment in the H Essers Group. GIMV has sold its 40 per cent stake in the business to the Essers family, who now have a 100 per cent holding. GIMV realised a capital gain of [euro]16...

Media Holdings sold to Channel Television. (News: Exits).(Media Holdings Ltd. sold to Channel Television by ISIS Capital)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... ISIS Capital has realised its investment in Media Holdings Limited to a new company, Channel Television Holdings Limited at a profit. The sale values the company at [pounds sterling]20 million. The management team, led by chief executive Huw...

SPARK profits on Deutsche Borse. (News: Exits).(One percent stake in Deutsche Borse sold by NewMedia SPARK)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... NewMedia SPARK (SPARK) has realised a profit on portfolio company Sputz's disposal of a one per cent stake in Deutsche Borse for [euro]37.2 million. SPARK acquired a 54 per cent controlling stake in the German broking and venture capital firm...

3i doubles money on Coutts. (News: Exits).(Right Management Consultants acquires UK's 3i Group PLC)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... 3i looks set to more than double its investment in Coutts Consulting Group when it sells the business to US-based Right Management Consultants. The acquisition is subject to completion of a definitive purchase agreement and financing and is...

A clean exit for Eau Ecarlate. (News: Exits).(Barclays Private Equity buys Eau Ecarlate from Argos Soditic)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Switzerland-based Argos Soditic has doubled the return of its investment in French manufacturer of cleaning preparations, Eau Ecarlate when the company was sold to Barclays Private Equity in a secondary buyout transaction. Barclays Private...

HgCapital makes powerful exit. (News: Exits).(GE Power Systems buys 70% stake in PII Group Ltd. from HgCapital)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... HgCapital has made a substantial gain on its 1998 investment in pipeline integrity services company, PII Group. The firm has sold its 70 per cent stake in PII to GE Power Systems, a leading supplier of power generation technology, energy...

2M Invest writes off DNG. (News: Exits).(Denmark's 2M Invest A/S writes off loss related to marketing group's bankruptcy)
February 1, 2002... 2M Invest has written off DKK20 million on its portfolio company Danish marketing group, Dial Nxt Group (DNG). DNG has filed a petition for bankruptcy to the Stockholm Stock Exchange and will undergo liquidation. 2M Invest originally...

A triple for bmp. (News: Exits).(German venture capital firm makes profit on sales of companies)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... German e-business and life science venture capital firm, bmp ended 2001 with three profitable exits. The firm realised its investments in to.czy.to, an online retailer; Lobster Network Storage, a developer and distributor of storage solutions...

Chequers sells interior design business. (News: Exits).(UK's 3i Group PLC buys stake in France's SIA from Chequers)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Chequers, formerly Charterhouse 'France, has sold its holding in SIA, the international home furnishings and decoration group in a secondary buyout transaction. 3i injected [euro]29.3 million into the business in exchange for a majority stake...

Public-to-private bid premiums: Deborah Yates reviews activity in the UK and Ireland over the last six months. (News: Buyouts).(UK public companies, public-to-private activity)(International Pages)
February 1, 2002... As the dismal M&A year came to a close, public-to-private (PTP) activity was still keeping private equity players on their toes. This article, once again (see September 2001 issue), concentrates on buyouts of UK or Irish companies, which had...

Lead equity arrangers on UK and European buyouts. (News: Buyouts).(Apax Partners invests $342 mn with 5 deals in 2001)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... In 2001, Apax Partners knocked Cinven off its 2000 top spot completing a total of four deals worth [euro]l.15 billion. This is a big step up for Apax, jumping from fourteenth place in 2000 when it invested $342 million in five deals. Cinven...

Lead mezzanine arrangers on UK and European buyouts. (News: Buyouts).(Royal Bank of Scotland is top mezzanine arranger for UK and European buyouts)
February 1, 2002... The Royal Bank of Scotland reigns supreme as lead mezzanine arranger for the second year running top of the tables for both UK and European buyouts. In Europe, the bank recorded 22 deals worth S 1,108 million and in the UK invested in 15...

Lead senior debt arrangers on European and UK buyouts. (News: Buyouts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... EUROPE In a table characterised by figures lower than last year, Royal Bank of Scotland has continued its accession through the ranks to take first place in 2001's European table with deals worth $6.5 billion. Last year it gained sixth...

People moves.(Bank of Scotland hires director of structured finance, other top management changes at European financial institutions)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... SEB strengthens Frankfurt office Andrea Szekelyi has joined the Frankfurt-based acquisition finance and mezzanine team of SEB Merchant Banking. The Frankfurt team was set up in July 2000 by Alexandre Godard and is further strengthened by...

Asset-backed finance update. (Cover story: Asset-backed finance).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Asset-backed finance is growing in the UK and its increasing use in support of management buyout transactions is evident, although some players are pursuing this opportunity more aggressively than others. Ian Lomas of Lloyds TSB Commercial...

Light at the end of the tunnel? (Cover story: Exits).(outlook for venture capital industry)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Exits are off the menu for most VC players in the early stage technology space. For those who raised a fund in the nick of time, however, times are good and it is a buyer's market with the vintages of 2001 and 2002 likely to produce some...

A wealth of opportunities. (Cover story: Financial services investing).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... According to EVOA figures, investment in the financial services sector is beginning to pick-up again. Across Europe in 2000 the sector accounted for 1.8 per cent of the total amount invested, the same percentage as the previous year. However,...

Private equity and the UK's new super regulator: The private equity industry's cautious welcome to the new FSA will be short-lived unless talk is met with action. (Cover story: Financial Services Authority).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The amalgamation of nine individual regulatory bodies into the new Financial services Authority (FSA) on December 1, 2001 was momentous enough for its new head, Howard Davies, to invoke Winston Churchill. The unveiling of N2 after four years of...

European high yield. (Cover story: European high yield).(financial industry outlook)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... High yield's first four years in Europe have been somewhat lumpy Stephen Mostyn-Williams, ex Sherman & Sterling partner and current chairman of the European High Yield Association, points to some of the factors this market has had to cope with....

NewMedia SPARK: Driving through the cycle. (Company profile: NewMedia SPARK).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... NewMedia SPARK's history may be short but in a climate that has been cruel to early stage technology investors it has certainly been eventful. In the two-and-a-half years since the investor first outlined its investment mission it has accrued a...