RJD Partners says it has seen a positive start to the first quarter of 2010 with its portfolio companies continuing to make good progress against their strategic plans. Ipes, its private equity fund administration business, had a successful first year following its buyout in late 2008 and forecasts further strong

SeaWell Networks, a provider of internet video distribution products, has secured a USD7m series A round of investment, including the conversion of seed funding. Led by BDC Venture Capital, the round also included Northwater Intellectual Property Fund and Ontario Centres of Excellence. SeaWell will use the funds to expand the

Sturgeon Ventures has seen the number of inquiries from City workers looking for help to set up their own businesses rise ten-fold in the last three months. Sturgeon, which specialises in helping entrepreneurs establish start-up financial services businesses in the institutional space, says City workers tired of bonus cuts and

DLA Piper has advised Elysian Capital and its portfolio company English Landscapes on the acquisition of Western Landscapes, trading as Wyevale Grounds Maintenance. Wyevale Grounds Maintenance provides hard and soft landscaping and grounds maintenance services. The company operates from ten sites around the country and has major contracts with the

Finnish-based pan-European private equity fund of funds manager Pohjola Private Equity Funds has reached the first closing of its Selected Private Equity Funds II on EUR97m. The vehicle, which has a EUR150m target and a hard cap of EUR240m, has raised the first EUR97m from seven Finnish institutional investors. Pohjola

Coming off a year that saw severely diminished venture investment and deal volume in 2009, the venture capital community appears optimistic that a rebound will occur this year, with a prominent focus on the greentech sector, according to a survey by KPMG. In polling 200 venture capitalists, investors, entrepreneurs and

Law firm Clifford Chance is advising Bridgepoint and newly incorporated company Warwick Bidco on the GBP281m recommended offer for health and social care provider Care UK. The transaction is the second Clifford Chance has advised Bridgepoint on in recent weeks, following on from the private equity house’s GBP257m acquisition of

A superior due diligence process followed by a quick transition to active owner involvement will be key to generating exceptional returns from private equity funds, according to a report by business consulting firm Bain. The research finds that new buyout funds formed and new investments made over the next three-to-five