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Alter Domus, a provider of fund and corporate services to international private equity and infrastructure houses, real estate firms, multinationals, private clients and private debt managers, has opened an office in Düsseldorf, Germany. Chief executive Laurent Vanderweyen says: “Expanding our international presence into this important European nation’s financial sector is an exciting development as Alter Domus continually strives to provide its clients with high quality services with an ever-increasing international reach.   “In Germany we have entered into a co-operation with Domus Legal Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH (Domus Legal), a law firm collaborating with bepartners, Düsseldorf, an independent firm of lawyers and
Drug development firm Brabant Pharma has been sold to US-based pharmaceutical company Zogenix, in a deal where the main selling shareholders were advised by Zeus Capital. Consideration for the deal is expected to reach up to USD130m.   Brabant is a single purpose company developing its low-dose fenfluramine treatment to Dravet syndrome, Brabafen. The disease, also known as Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy (SMEI), is a rare form of intractable epilepsy that begins in infancy and affects one in 40,000 children born. The disease causes frequent, severe and potentially life-threatening seizures that typically start in the first year of life.
ABC in chalkboard
Consumer brands specialist investor Piper has sold Justin Craig Education, a UK exam revision business, to independent college brand MPW. The sale was completed for an undisclosed sum.   Piper bought Justin Craig in 2008. Since then, it has doubled sales and become a leading brand in the group tuition market. In transforming the business, Piper has helped build a new management team, establish a bespoke bookings system and develop an efficient marketing programme to attract new customers, as well as improving the range and quality of Justin Craig's revision courses.    Chris Curry, managing partner at Piper, says: “We are proud of the way we have helped Justin Craig grow and
Aluminium
Private equity firm Advent International has completed the acquisition of Corialis (Core Innovative Aluminium Integrated Solutions) from Sagard and Ergon, alongside the management team led by CEO Johan Verstrepen. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.   Founded in 1984, and headquartered in Belgium, Corialis is a European aluminium profile manufacturer, supplying aluminium profile systems to small and medium-sized window, door, and conservatory fabricators for both the new-build and renovation construction markets. Corialis operates under a differentiated, fully integrated hub-based model, with all production stages under one roof.   With 1,600 employees based in four major hubs (Belgium, France,
Tiptree Financial is to sell its subsidiary Philadelphia Financial Group to funds managed by the tactical opportunities group of The Blackstone Group for approximately USD155 million in cash plus additional consideration of approximately USD10 million to be paid over two years. The transaction, which including both Tiptree’s third party administration and life insurance operations, is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approval and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2015.   Houlihan Lokey Financial Advisors acted as financial advisor to Tiptree and rendered a fairness opinion to its board of directors in conjunction with this transaction.
The opportunities for private sector-led growth in Africa, the benefits of private equity buyouts as attractive entry strategies, and the focus of strategic investors in Africa were key themes discussed by Honore Dainhi, the president of Supreme Group’s Commercial Division, during a keynote speech at the Private Equity in Africa event that was held recently in London.  The overriding theme of the conference was a debate around the role of private equity in the African growth story, and to what extent it will generate enhanced returns over the medium to long term as the markets mature and new market dynamics
Ashurst has advised the credit business of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) on the acquisition of the entire share capital and voting rights of Pont-sur-Sambre Power and Toul Power, two combined cycle gas turbine power plants in France. The plants were acquired from Verbund AG, a power transmission and trading company.   The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.   The transaction was led by Paris-based corporate partner Bertrand Delaunay, assisted by associate Séverine Gallet. 
Volatility
A total of 298 European private equity transactions in Q3 represented a meaningful reduction in volume over the prior quarter, impacted by a decrease in both buyouts and early stage transactions, according to SL Capital Partners. Value held up relatively well given the reduced volumes and, although the EUR19.0bn transacted was a 19.7 per cent reduction on the prior quarter, the overall performance was much higher than Q3 2013 and 2012 and average deal size remained stable.   The European private equity market continues to move in a general upward trend, although continuing to experience a high level of volatility
upwards trending arrow
Independent corporate and fund services provider Crestbridge has seen the value of funds it administers grow from GBP1.84 billion in June 2013 to GBP15.06 billion in June 2014, representing an increase of more than 700 per cent. Contributing to this growth were a number of key business wins for the firm. These included establishing and providing administration services to the Jersey-domiciled Kennedy Wilson European Real Estate fund, which raised GBP1 billion and became the second largest real estate IPO in LSE history, and being appointed to provide a range of administration and oversight services to a number of Jersey-domiciled asset
Dollars
Personal Capital, a digital wealth management firm, has raised USD50 million in a Series D funding round led by Corsair Capital, as well as BBVA Ventures and USAA. Existing investors IVP, Venrock and Crosslink also participated. Jeremy Schein of Corsair will join Personal Capital’s board.   “We’re leading the transformation of financial services from physical to virtual delivery,” says CEO Bill Harris. “This infusion will help accelerate our already-rapid growth – we’ve seen revenue increases of 10 per cent or more each month for the past seven quarters.”   Over 600,000 American families use Personal Capital’s personal finance apps to

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