All News
European VC industry continues to flounder as investment drops
Wed, 27 August 2008, 07:19
Europe's venture capital industry recorded another dismal showing in the second quarter of 2008 with just 167 deals completed—the lowest quarterly total in at least nine years—and EUR 858 million invested, a 35% drop from the EUR 1.33 billion invested in 286 deals over the same period last year, according to the latest Quarterly European Venture Capital Report from Dow Jones VentureSource. 
Biden and the hedge fund
Wed, 27 August 2008, 07:13
The political games have begun. Just a day after Barack Obama named Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware as his vice presidential running mate, media reports are tying members of his family to an alleged hedge fund fraud scheme.
Service providers adapt to demands of private equity industry
Wed, 27 August 2008, 06:24
Calculating the size of Luxembourg's private equity industry is not an exact science. While the number of Sicar structures that are restricted to risk capital investments is recorded by the industry regulator, the Financial Sector Supervisory Authority (CSSF), the around 200 Sicars authorised by mid-2008 are believed to include a number of opportunistic real estate funds as well as buyout, mezzanine, venture capital and other pure private...
Aureos acquires 25 per cent stake in Sri Lanka's Sunshine Holdings
Tue, 26 August 2008, 14:59
Aureos South Asia Fund LLC (ASAsiaF) has invested USD 4.75 million for a 25 per cent stake in Sunshine Holdings PLC. ASAsiaF was established by Aureos Capital Limited, one of the leading private equity fund management companies specialising in investing in small to mid-cap businesses in emerging markets.
Regulatory innovation gives impetus to private equity business
Tue, 26 August 2008, 06:21
Long Europe's leading domicile and servicing centre for traditional retail investment funds, Luxembourg has been taking active steps over the past few years to attract a significant share of the burgeoning alternative investment industry. While the grand duchy's efforts to lure hedge fund business have garnered most international attention, the country has been quietly building up a solid reputation as a home to private equity vehicles and...
Hedge funds' power play yields dividends
Tue, 26 August 2008, 06:17
The ongoing market volatility has copper-fastened the hedge funds' outlook towards power and energy stocks, which seems to be in the positive. According to weekend media reports, hedge funds are buying into power supplier Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) in hopes of a bid for the company.
Regulatory paranoia means hedge fund claustrophobia
Mon, 25 August 2008, 20:49
Wasn't it Elvis Presley who sang, "We can't go on together with suspicious minds?" Perhaps management at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would do well to listen to these lyrics again. Because in this new era of financial turbulence, it seems that regulators are taking on a tyrannical approach to policing financial companies, especially hedge funds.
Indicus Advisors sells stake to Cinven
Mon, 25 August 2008, 06:40
Global law firm White Case LLP has advised Indicus Advisors, an alternative investment manager focusing on European leveraged finance and global structured credit, on the sale of a 50 per cent stake in its business to European private equity firm, Cinven Limited.
KfW Bankengruppe ends German crisis with agreement to sell IKB stake
Sat, 23 August 2008, 09:34
Germany finally ended the rescue mission of IKB, the lender stricken by the sub-prime crisis, with an agreement to sell more than 90 per cent of IKB to the US investment group Lone Star.
China venture capital investment doubles to USD1.37bn in second quarter, says Dow Jones
Fri, 22 August 2008, 06:01
The second quarter of 2008 saw venture investment in mainland China surge to its highest level in five years as venture capitalists put nearly USD1.37bn into 71 deals, more than double the USD662m invested in 69 deals during the same period last year, according to the China Quarterly Venture Capital Report from Dow Jones VentureSource.
Apollo Real Estate Advisors boosts capital for US debt fund
Fri, 22 August 2008, 05:59
Apollo Real Estate Advisors has raised additional capital for its debt investment fund, Apollo Real Estate Finance, boosting the overall capital for its investment programme from USD621m to USD930m through the establishment of Arefin Co-Investment Corporation. The additional capital will allow the fund to make larger investments, the firm says.
Hedgeweek Commentary: Behind the hedge fund news - 22.08.08
Fri, 22 August 2008, 05:58
It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good, they say, and that's certainly the case for hedge fund manages. In a tough economic environment that has already taken a number of notable hedge fund scalps, other managers are revelling in the opportunities offered by high levels of volatility and the opportunity to pick up investments at bargain prices from distressed or suddenly-cautious institutions. Two traders famous for different reasons, George Soros and Brian Hunter, are back in the news as they seek to turn unruly markets and depressed sentiment to advantage - how successfully, will only become clear later.
DLA Piper names Australian Luke Gannon to launch transactional funds practice in Asia
Thu, 21 August 2008, 06:06
DLA Piper has appointed Australian corporate and financial services lawyer Luke Gannon as a partner in its corporate group and head of the firm's funds practice throughout Asia. Gannon, who will be based in DLA Piper's Hong Kong office, will work closely with partners from the firm's financial services and regulatory groups and will act for a range of clients on mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets matters.
General Dynamics to acquire Jet Aviation from Permira for USD2.25bn
Thu, 21 August 2008, 06:03
Falls Church, Virginia-based defence manufacturer General Dynamics has agreed to acquire Zurich-based business aviation company Jet Aviation for CHF2.45bn (about USD2.25bn) in cash from Dreamliner Lux, a company controlled by Permira funds.
WL Ross & W.P. Carey provide EU86m in new capital to Wagon
Thu, 21 August 2008, 05:52
Investment firms WL Ross and W.P. Carey have completed investments totalling EUR86m in European automotive supplier Wagon, with WL Ross contributing some EUR47m via a special rights offering of the company's common shares.
Hedgeweek Comment: Private equity and hedge funds could make beeline for BAA
Thu, 21 August 2008, 05:46
The UK's biggest airport operator BAA may have to sell three of its seven airports in its home market (it also owns the airport at Naples in Italy) because of concerns about its market dominance, following a report from the country's Competition Commission.
Site maintenance
Thu, 21 August 2008, 00:01
Due to scheduled maintenance work across all of our websites, we will not be publishing daily newsletters from Monday 25 August to Friday 29 August. Normal service will resume on Monday 1 September.
MTM Capital Partners and US environmental agency co-operate on coal mine methane
Wed, 20 August 2008, 20:42
MTM Capital Partners, a UK investment manager that invests in the efficient and safe use of resources and the reduction of environment-damaging emissions, is collaborating with the US Environmental Protection Agency to advance coal mine methane recovery and use projects in China, according to MTM chairman Geoffrey Isaac.
Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund III sells International Logging
Wed, 20 August 2008, 06:08
Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund III has sold its stake in International Logging, which provides oil and gas well-site geological logging services from offices in Asia, South America and Africa, to Weatherford International.
Persistence Capital Partners creates Canada's first dedicated health care private equity fund
Wed, 20 August 2008, 06:01
Montreal-based Persistence Capital Partners has announced the creation of the PCP Healthcare Opportunities Fund, billed as Canada's first private equity fund dedicated to investing in health care businesses.
