European Venture Capital Journal articles from November 2007

European Venture Capital Journal archives from November 2007

Pipe dreams: Darling's Pre-Budget Report is accused of quashing investor enthusiasm and may even provoke the flight of some entrepreneurs to more favourable investment shores.(EDITOR'S NOTE)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The doom mongers are saying the dream is over and proclaiming the end of the private equity world is nigh. The unlikely cause of all this wailing and gnashing of teeth is softly spoken Scot, Alistair Darling, who...

Record breaker for Italian start-ups.(MILAN)
November 1, 2007... Italian private equity and venture capital deals reached record highs in the first half of 2007 with a total value of 1.9bn [euro] (up 131% on first half 2006 figures) invested in 153 deals (up 29% on first half 2006 figures), according to the...

Venture lab launched for Spanish start-ups.(MADRID)
November 1, 2007... IE Business School and Caja Madrid have launched a Venture Lab to foster entrepreneurial projects in Spain. Venture lab will serve as an interface for IE students and alumni to seek sources of seed capital funding. Venture Lab's main...

AlpInvest gets 2bn [euro] mezzanine mandate.(AMSTERDAM)(AlpInvest Partners )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... AlpInvest Partners has received a mega 2bn [euro] mezzanine mandate from pension fiends ABP and PGGM. The new mandate covers an investment period of three years and represents a significant step up compared to the previous 2004 mezzanine...

LPX launches UK listed private equity index.(BASEL/LONDON)
November 1, 2007... LPX, a Swiss-based publisher of research and indices on global listed private equity has launched an index of UK listed private equity vehicles covering global and regional markets and sectors such as venture, buyouts and mezzanine. LPX UK...

Adveq opens Beijing office.(ZURICH/FRANKFURT)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Fund-of-funds manager Adveq is to open an office in Beijing later this year. After Zurich, Frankfurt and New York, Beijing will be Adveq's fourth office location. More than 20% of Adveq's fund commitments over the past twelve months have...

EVCA unveils Euro venture successes.(BRUSSELS)
November 1, 2007... The European Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (EVCA) has published a report promoting European venture capital success stories. The European Venture Capital Market: Scaling Beyond Current Boundaries--was compiled in collaboration...

South Italy attracts funds.(NAPLES)(Banca Promos )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Banca Promos has launched a 50m [euro] private equity fund targeting small and medium sized businesses in the south of Italy. Banca Promos is the main sponsor of the fund, which is being managed by Italian fund manager Vegagest. The fund...

Restaurants on the menu: Wagamama and Gaucho Grill limber up for IPOs as their private equity backers prepare for a tasty payout.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
November 1, 2007... With news that Lion Capital is considering floating its Japanese noodle restaurant chain Wagamama, and Phoenix Equity Partners looking to list Gaucho Grill, the Argentine steakhouse chain, for E100m, the popularity of the restaurant sector has...

UK fund to support new companies urged by Sainsbury: a report by the former science minister Lord Sainsbury says the Government should set-up a nationwide fund to solve the early stage funding deficit.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The publication of the Sainsbury Review into the UK Government's science and innovation policies has finally provided some, albeit partial, relief from the constant onslaught private equity has suffered this year....

No more relief from Darling: UK Chancellor scraps taper relief and increases capital gains tax to 18% as investors in start-ups and SMEs cry foul. Tom Allchorne looks at the reaction to the Pre-Budget report.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
November 1, 2007... Alistair Darling won few friends in private equity circles this month with his introduction of a flat rate capital gains tax rate of 18% and the scrapping of taper relief. Intended to both simplify a complicated tax regime and increase the tax...

David fights Goliath: stringent investment regulations in the UK are hindering many start-ups from courting potential investors. Angela Sormani looks at one of the major hurdles small companies are facing in the UK when trying to get on the next step of the business ladder.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Before being able to secure venture capital funding, many small businesses first seek to obtain funding by asking those who would have most faith in their business--their customer base. Traditionally, any share offer...

Fashion victims: private equity firms are eyeing up the luxury goods sector especially following Permira's acquisition of Valentino earlier this year, but experts suggest long holding periods may put buyers off.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Private equity executives such as Stephan Lobmeyr are having to learn a new skill at the moment: how to look inconspicuous beside the catwalk. Lobmeyr, who recently attended a fashion show in Milan, is in the throes...

VCTs ready for seconds: players in the VCT market have been speculating about the appeal of a secondary market for investors and cite it as an important development if the VCT industry is to remain for the long term.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
November 1, 2007... Venture capital trusts (VCTs) have had a long and bumpy ride over the years. Many profited from the fund raising boom after tax reliefs were introduced for investors, but then failed to deliver returns. Consequently there was a consolidation of...

NBGI Ventures fund 2.(FIRST CLOSE)
November 1, 2007... NBGI Ventures, a division of NBGI Private Equity Limited has reached a first close of its second fund, NBGI Technology Fund II LP, with a commitment of 30m [euro] from the National Bank of Greece. NBGI Ventures is now in discussions with...

Delta venture success.(FIRST CLOSE)
November 1, 2007... Irish VC firm Delta Partners has reached a first closing on Delta Equity Fund III. The fund has raised 100m [euro] at first close to invest in early stage companies in Ireland and the UK. This significantly exceeded initial expectations of...

Ysios Capital targets Spanish biotech.(LAUNCH)
November 1, 2007... Barcelona-based Ysios Capital Partners has launched with a target of 65m [euro] for its first fund, Ysios BioFund I. The fund is being marketed as the largest biotechnology venture capital fund to be launched in Spain. The fund will target...

CRG targets distressed CEE deals: 200m [euro] raised to invest in special situations in the region.(LAUNCH)
November 1, 2007... CRG, a US asset manager of distressed equity and debt portfolios has launched a new 200m [euro] private equity fund to invest in underperforming and distressed companies in the Central and Eastern European region. Raiffeisen Zentralbank...

Industri Kapital doubles money for fund 6: the Nordic investor raises 1.675bn [euro] for the Industri Kapital 2007 Fund.(BUYOUT CLOSE)
November 1, 2007... Industri Kapital (IK) has closed its sixth fund, the Industri Kapital 2007 Fund, with total commitments of 1.675bn [euro], more than double the previous fund, the Industri Kapita12004 Fund. The Industri Kapital 2007 Fund received strong...

Gilde celebrates healthcare: healthcare fund surpasses target.(VENTURE CLOSE)(Gilde Healthcare Partners )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Gilde Healthcare Partners has reached a final close of its 150m [euro] venture fund, Gilde Healthcare II (GHC II), exceeding its original target of 125m [euro]. The new fund, Gilde's second healthcare vehicle, is one of the largest raised to...

Braemar fund oversubscribed: Braemar Energy Ventures targets clean energy solutions.(VENTURE CLOSE)
November 1, 2007... Braemar Energy Ventures has closed its second fund, Braemar Energy Ventures II, at US$250m. The fund will invest in venture and expansion-stage energy technology companies that help deliver cleaner, cheaper, more efficient and reliable energy...

Auctus III final close.(CLOSE)
November 1, 2007... German private equity firm Auctus Management has reached a first and final close of Auctus III at 30m [euro]. The fund will invest alongside Auctus' existing evergreen fund and a strong personal commitment from the Auctus team, which results in...

Capricorn gets half-way.(VENTURE)
November 1, 2007... Belgian-based Capricorn Venture Partners has reached the half-way mark for its Capricorn Cleantech Fund at 50m [euro]. The fund held its first closing a year ago. LRM, the regional investment company for Limburg (Belgium) has committed 10m...

CGS gets CHF130m.(CLOSE)(CGS Management )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Swiss buyout fund manager CGS Management has reached a final close of its second fund at CHF130m. With the new fund, CGS Management has more than doubled its assets under management, Investors to date include leading European banks,...

Bridgepoint sells JDR.(SECONDARY)(JDR Cable Systems has been acquired by Vision Capital)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Vision Capital, the UK secondaries specialist, has acquired cable provider JDR Cable Systems from Bridgepoint for over 90m [pounds sterling]. Bridgepoint acquired J D R in 1998 for 36m [pounds sterling]. Since then the firm has relocated...

NVM makes media exit.(TRADE SALE)(NVM Private Equity)(Ithaca Business Media has been acquired by CMP Information Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... NVM Private Equity, a UK regional private equity investor, has sold business-to-business events group Ithaca Business Media to CMP Information, a division of United Business Media, for 14.25m [pounds sterling]. The divestment has generated...

GIMV sells Bever Zwerfsport.(TRADE SALE)
November 1, 2007... Belgian VC firm GIMV has sold its stake in Dutch outdoor activity clothing retailer Bever Zwerfsport to AS Adventure. GIMV acquired its stake in September 2004 for an undisclosed sum. The sale has a positive impact of 13.4m [euro] on GIMV's...

A dairy fine exit.(TRADE SALE)
November 1, 2007... Primary Capital, the London-headquartered MBO firm, has creamed off its investment in Elisabeth the Chef (EtC) by selling it to French dairy desserts group Senoble for an undisclosed price. Based in Leamington Spa in the UK, EtC sells...

3i closes door on building investment.(SECONDARY)
November 1, 2007... 3i, the UK venture capital and private equity powerhouse, has sold its investment in Killby & Gayford, a UK specialist building contractor, to management backed by funding from Close Brothers Growth Investment (CGC), a hybrid equity and debt...

HgCapital nails Fabory deal: AAC Capital Partners sells Dutch maker of industrial fasteners.(SECONDARY BUYOUT)(Company overview)
November 1, 2007... AAC Capital Partners, the Amsterdam-headquartered mid-market firm, has sold Fabory, a Dutch maker of nuts, bolts, nails and power tools, to UK private equity house HgCapital for 345m [euro] in a secondary buyout transaction. The company...

Iris leads Ornis sale: French VCs exit IT service provider for 35m [euro].(TRADE SALE)
November 1, 2007... Ornis, a Paris-based provider of IT and telecoms services to business, has been sold by its venture capital backers to Euronext listed company Risc Group, an IT data protection provider. Sold for 35m [euro], Ornis was owned by a number of...

Montagu closes Open exit: UK insurance broker software specialist acquired by Towergate.(TRADE SALE)
November 1, 2007... Montagu Private Equity, the London-based mid-market firm, has sold ks 18 months investment in Open International, a Worcester, UK, located supplier of software for insurance brokers. The deal was Towergate's largest ever purchase at 276m...

Bain sale coated with 2.2bn [euro]: Boston-headquartered investor sells coatings producer.(TRADE SALE)
November 1, 2007... US private equity firm Bain Capital has sold Dutch industrial coatings maker SigmaKalon Group to PPG Industries, a US supplier of paints, chemicals and other specialty materials, for 2.2bn [euro]. Bain put the business up for sale in the...

National Britannia sold for 91m [euro].(TRADE SALE)(National Britannia Group)(Connaught)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Lyceum Capital, the UK mid-market house has, sold National Britannia, a specialist risk management group based in Caerphilly, South Wales, for 91m [euro] to Connaught, a housing maintenance business. I National Britannia is a safety, health...

Imperial WRAPs up first sale.(TRADE SALE)
November 1, 2007... The Recycling Commercialisation Centre, an incubator managed by Imperial Innovations and funds by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), has divested its first investment by selling Stoneglass Building Products to Intellitect...

Arts Alliance sells PrePay.(TRADE SALE)
November 1, 2007... Arts Alliance, a London-based technology venture investor, has sold Prepay Technologies to Accor Services, a division of French hotel company Accor, for 50m [pounds sterling]. PrePay makes prepaid cards, clients like Debenhams, Virgin Money...

Graphite checks out of Golden Tulip.(TRADE SALE)(Golden Tulip United Kingdom has been acquired by Whitbread PLC)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Golden Tulip, the UK budget hotel chain, has been sold by its backer of five years, Graphite Capital, to Whitbread, the restaurant and hotel group, for 44m [pounds sterling]. London-based Graphite invested in the company in August 2002. It...

LBO Italia boxed out.(SECONDARY BUYOUT)
November 1, 2007... Aksia Capital, a Milan-headquartered buyouts firm, and Quadrivio, a fellow private equity house, have acquired a stake in Emmeci International, a Florence-based cardboard box maker. The two firms paid LBO Italia 10m [euro] each for a 45%...

Magellan sets sail in Warsaw.(FLOAT)(Enterprise Investors)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Enterprise Investors (El), the Polish private equity house, has made a 10x return on its investment in Magellan which has floated on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Magellan is Poland's largest non-banking financial institution specialized in...

Covion sales makes 4.4x return.(TRADE SALE)(Covion Holdings)(Balfour Beatty Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... UK VCT manager Foresight and MBO specialist Octopus Private Equity has sold Covion Holdings, a facilities infrastructure services company based in Reading. to the Balfour Beatty Group for 33m [euro]. The sale generated a return of 4.4x for...

AAC buys Ocean.(SECONDARY BUYOUT)
November 1, 2007... Irish private equity firm Ion Equity has sold Ocean Media, a magazine publisher and events organizer, to AAC Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum. Ocean Media sprang to life in July 2006 to acquire Inside Communications from Trinity...

Permira squeezes out toothpaste deal: Gresham buys stake in Betts for 35m [pounds sterling].(SECONDARY BUYOUT)
November 1, 2007... London-headquartered buyouts firm Gresham Private Equity has bought UK toothpaste tube maker Betts Global from Permira, Royal Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Scotland for an enterprise value of 110m [pounds sterling]. Gresham paid 35m...

Ferd floats pharmaceutical group: Pronova BioPharma listed on Oslo Stock Exchange.(IPO)
November 1, 2007... Ferd Private Equity, a Norwegian mid-market buyout firm, has sold part of its stake in Pronova BioPharma in the company's IPO on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The offer price of NOK23 per share gave the omega-3 pharmaceutical developer a market...

AAC mows down GGP sale 3i buys Italian lawn mower maker.(SECONDARY BUYOUT)
November 1, 2007... UK private equity powerhouse 3i is to buy Italian lawn mower maker (GGP) after agreeing a fee with vendors ABN AMRO Capital and AAC Capital Partners in a deal which values the company at 730m [euro]. GGP's management team, led by CEO...

Sovereign completes CVS IPetO: veterinary services group floats on London's AIM.(IPO)(Sovereign Capital)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Sovereign Capital, the UK buy and build experts, has made a 11.9x return through the floatation of CVC Group, a veterinary services consolidator. The IPO opened with a market valuation of 105.7m [pounds sterling] and a share price of 205p....

AXA PE rolls up Alukon Investment.(SECONDARY BUYOUT)
November 1, 2007... French private equity giant AXA Private Equity has sold its investment in German roller shutter and door maker to Halder, the German mid-market firm owned by GIMV. AXA Private Equity Fund II backed an MBO in March 2004, acquiring a 62.2%...

Segulah floats HMS.(IPO)(HMS Industrial Networks AB)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... HMS Networks, a Swedish industrial communication technology company owned by Segulah, has floated at a price of SEK74 per share. The offering was three times oversubscribed and is listed on the small cap list on the OMX Nordic Exchange in...

CapMan ends Affecto Investment.(SHARE SALE)(CapMan Oy)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Fenno Rahasto, a fund co-managed by Nordic buyouts firm CapMan, and Finnish investor Fenno Management, has sold its remaining stake in Affecto following the company's IPO in 2005. Fenno Fund invested in Affecto, a provider of business...

Graphite sells Applied Energy.(TRADE SALE)(Graphite Capital)(acquisition by Glen Dimplex Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... UK private equity house Graphite Capital has sold Applied Energy, a Cambridgeshire-based manufacturer and distributor of ventilation, heating and water heating products. The company, which markets its products under the Xpelair, Creda and...

Steady does it: the market for placement agents has remained stable this year, despite the turbulent economic environment and overall slowdown in fundraising activity.(FEATURE: PLACEMENT AGENTS)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While there has been a slowdown in fund raising activity at the mega level, most placement agents, who mainly operate in the mid-market, have been enjoying a strong and steady flow of business from players who...

Placements agents go regional: players are becoming increasingly niche-focused and consequently homing in on untapped markets.(FEATURE: PLACEMENT AGENTS)
November 1, 2007... There is a paradox that most European placement agents are facing in the current economic climate. On the one hand, the market for their services is becoming increasingly global. On the other hand, placement agents are seeing an increasing...

Weathering the storm: Germany's buyout market is weathering the debt crunch as well as most and better than many, thanks to its idiosyncratic nature and strong national and regional relationships between companies and finance.(FEATURE: GERMANY)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Private equity firms held their breath when IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG became the first European bank to own up to large US sub-prime losses, prompting a rescue by other German banks. SachsenLB, a regional,...

It's only temporary: Germany's attempts to free up sclerotic labour markets has made mergers and acquisitions in Temporary Work Agencies (TWAs) one of the hottest sectors for private equity activity. But how long can it last?(FEATURE: GERMANY)
November 1, 2007... Germany sees temping as one solution to its hard-to-fire labour laws, which make firms reluctant to hire and increase the average duration of unemployment. The trend gained fresh impetus from 2004, when deregulation and a first collective...

Hungry for more: hedge funds have taken a bite out of venture deals in the US and they're eyeing their next meal. Joanna Glasner and Alexander Haislip delve into the secretive world of hedge funds.(FEATURE: HEDGE FUNDS)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hedge funds, those lightly regulated and enormously deep-pocketed investment vehicles for the affluent, are increasingly moving into venture. And with them, they're bringing the vast cash reserves, quantitative...

Going for growth.(LP PROFILE)(MN Services' Jos van Gisbergen)(Interview)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Netherlands-based Mn Services is an independent organisation, administering pensions and insurance, supporting pension fund managers and managing institutional assets. With 650 employees, the group currently...

Changing face: asset allocations to private equity by pension funds have been growing for several years. But, with the current credit crunch likely to affect returns in the future, could institutional investors be considering a change in strategy?(LP ANALYSIS)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Investment in private equity by pension funds and other institutional investors has been growing strongly in the last three years. According to the EVCA, in 2003 pension funds invested just under 5bn [euro], or 20%...

Communicating with clarity: in September, the Pensions Regulator provided further clarification of how it will use its powers with respect to corporate transactions. Anthony O'Connor takes a look at the implications for private equity.(LEGAL AND REGULATORY)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Former Mirror newspaper proprietor Robert Maxwell once said: "I own the pension scheme." And he believed his own declarations so much that he proceeded to dip into the fund to the tune of 460m [pounds sterling] to...

BVCA turns to spin doctor.(NEW CEO)
November 1, 2007... Simon Walker, a senior adviser to the chairman and chief executive of Reuters, has been named as the new CEO of the BVCA, taking over from John Mackie, who was caretaking the role following the resignation of Peter Linthwaite in June. The...

Blenheim taken over by Houlihan Lokey.(PEOPLE)(Blenheim Advisors)(Houlihan Lokey Howard and Zukin Inc.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Blenheim Advisors, the London-headquartered leveraged debt advisory firm, has been acquired by US investment bank Houlihan Lokey as it pursues its European growth strategy. As part of the deal, William Allen and Jonathan Guise, founders of...

Wendel appoints new MD.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Roland Lienau has joined the investment team of Wendel as managing director in charge of development in Germany, a position he will take up at the beginning of 2008. Lienau joins from Deutsche Bank where he was a...

HitecVision names seafood chief as partner.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HitecVision Private Equity has hired Atle Eide, former CEO of Marine Harvest, as partner. Eide has been CEO at Marine Harvest, a Norwegian seafood company, for four years, during which time he led the turnaround...

BNP Paribas makes double appointment.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2007... BNP Paribas Private Equity has two new faces on its fund-of-funds team in the shape of Xavier Caron, who joins as head of the team, and Jean-Marc Rivet-Fusil, who has joined as CIO. Caron will be in charge of defining and implementing the...

Two new names for AGF.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2007... French private equity firm AGF has added two new names to its roster with the appointments of Olivier Thevenet and Jean-Philippe Boige as investment directors. Thevenet will be active in primary investments and secondary transactions as...

Bryan Garnier builds healthcare team.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2007... Bryan, Garnier & Co, the European growth companies investment bank, has hired Catherine Trividic to its corporate division as a director in the healthcare team. She will be working with Francois Thomas, a senior adviser to the team. In the...

HgCapital strengthens renewables team.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2007... HgCapital, the UK headquartered mid-market private equity firm, continues to bolster its renewable energy team with two appointments, as well as making a number of promotions within the firm. Jean Perarnaud and Jens Thomassen have joined as...

Triple appointment for SVG Advisers.(PEOPLE)(Owen James, Michael Nugent and Michael Roth )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SVG Advisers, the fund management and advisory business of SVG Capital, has added three new members to the firm's private equity fund selection team. Owen James joins the London office, with Michael Nugent and...

Duke Street recruits.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2007... Duke Street Capital has appointed Thierry Paternot as operating partner. He will specialise in consumer facing businesses. Paternot is currently president of Stanley Tools, Europe, the specialist tools company with over 4,000 employees and...

Bird leaves Simmons nest for Mayer Brown.(PEOPLE)(Mayer, Brown and Platt appointed Alistair Bird )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Law firm Mayer Brown has appointed Alistair Bird to the corporate group from Simmons & Simmons. He has more than 17 years' experience as a specialist corporate lawyer, including M&A, joint ventures and in particular...

HIG continues European adventure.(NEW OFFICES)(HIG Capital)
November 1, 2007... HIG Capital, the US buyout firm that closed its maiden European fund and opened its first European office over the summer, has officially unveiled its new offices in France and Germany. HIG European Partners raised 600m [euro] for the...

Permira brings in Zalm.(PEOPLE)(appointment of Gerrit Zalm)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] British private equity giant Permira has hired Gerrit Zalm, the former deputy prime minister and minister of finance of the Netherlands, as an adviser. Zalm will offer advice on business issues, the economy and the...

CapMan promotes five.(PEOPLE)(CapMan Oy appointed Jerome Bouix, Lars Hagelstam and Hans Tindlund )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Finnish buyouts firm CapMan has made a series of promotions this month, with Jerome Bouix recruited as senior partner, Lars Hagelstam, Hans Tindlund and Torben yon Lowzow as partners and Espen Stenumgard as investment director. Bouix...

Octopus extends tentacles to Leeds.(PEOPLE)(Octopus Asset Management appointed Richard Taylor at new office)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... UK investor Octopus Private Equity has opened its first regional office in Leeds. The new office is headed up by Richard Taylor, who has operated in the Northern market for nearly 15 years. Prior to joining Octopus in July 2006, Taylor spent...

Promotions at General Atlantic.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] US private equity firm General Atlantic (GA) has unveiled a host of promotions within the firm, including that of Dusseldorf-based Oliver Thum's move to managing director, and the promotion to principal of Gabriel...

Noble names tech head.(PEOPLE)(Noble and Co. has appointed Andy Yeo )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Noble & Co., the corporate finance advisory and broking arm of Noble Group, has appointed Andy Yeo as corporate finance director to head up the firm's technology team. He will be based in Noble's Old Broad Street...

Two new at Bank of Scotland.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bank of Scotland Corporate has made two senior appointments to its integrated finance team. Andy Powell has been appointed head of integrated finance London and leads a team responsible for originating mid-market...

Palamon adds to investment team.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2007... Palamon Capital Partners, the UK-based mid-market private equity firm, has appointed Braam Verster as a vice president. Verster joins from McKinsey & Company where he was an associate principal in the London private equity practice, working...

Brooks re-joins LDC.(PEOPLE)(appointment of Peter Brooks )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mid-market UK firm LDC has hired Peter Brooks, the former managing director of Pi Capital, as a director in its London office, managed by Tim Farazmand. Brooks will focus on transactions requiring between 2m [pounds...

Beer for Hotbed.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hotbed, the UK venture capital investment syndicate, has appointed Nigel Beer, the former head of Corporate Finance for London at KPMG, has been appointed as chairman. Beer was a partner at KPMG for over 16 years and...

Latham & Watkins adds to Madrid team.(PEOPLE)(appointment of Lorena Vazquez )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Lorena Vazquez has joined the corporate department of US law firm's Latham & Watkins' Madrid office. Vazquez has significant transactional expertise advising on national and cross-border private equity and M&A deals, as well as advising on...

DLA reshuffle.(PEOPLE)(appointment of Alastair Da Costa as managing director)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Alastair Da Costa, head of UK law firm DLA Piper's EMEA corporate practice, has stepped down from the role to replace Nick Seddon as managing director of Asia. Da Costa takes over from 1 January 2008. Assuming the role of EMEA corporate...

Inflexion strengthens investment team.(PEOPLE)(Inflexion Private Equity appointed Nicola Boyd )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Inflexion Private Equity, the UK mid-market private equity investor, has appointed Nicola Boyd as an investment executive to the investment team. Boyd joins Inflexion from NBGI Private Equity where she was an analyst...

Sovereign expands team with Cox.(PEOPLE)(Sovereign Capital appointed Neil Cox )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Sovereign Capital, the UK private equity buy-and-build firm, has added to Neil Cox to the investment team as assistant director. He joins from NM Rothschild where he spent six years in their investment banking and mezzanine finance teams. At...

Henderson builds infrastructure team.(PEOPLE)(Henderson Equity Partners appointed Jasvinder Bal, Michael Jaffe and Chris Tanner)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Henderson Equity Partners has added three new names to its infrastructure team. All joining the London team as principals are Jasvinder Bal, Michael Jaffe and Chris Tanner. Bal has over six years experience in concession-based...

BarCap adds to leveraged finance team.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2007... UK investment bank Barclays Capital has hired Ramon Walsh as a director in the leveraged finance sponsor origination team. Joining the London team, Walsh will be responsible for the coverage of a number of financial sponsor clients, and will...