The prospects for private equity companies that are properly positioned appear attractive this year, according to a report by Swedish investment bank SEB. The report says there are plenty of companies to buy and sellers seem to be starting to accept the prevailing price levels. Target companies can now be bought at lower initial prices than before, and they probably have a greater need for operational reform. Even if a strained credit market means lower loan-to-value ratios − which means lower leveraging of the investment − and more expensive borrowing, well-managed private equity firms should be able to grow nicely

Maven Capital Partners as joint manager of the Capital for Enterprise Fund is investing up to GBP1.4m in Applied Language Solutions, a UK based language services provider. The GBP75m CfE Fund is a government backed initiative launched in 2009 to help small and medium size enterprises in the UK gain access to the financial support required to bridge the funding gap caused by the credit crisis. The investment made by the CfE Fund will support Applied Language Solutions’ development plans. Applied Language Solutions was established in 2003 by chief executive Gavin Wheeldon. The business employs over 100 staff across 11

A Carbon International survey of British and Continental European environmental/cleantech venture capital and private equity investors has found that 65 per cent consider an IPO in 2010 or 2011 to be a feasible exit for at least one of their investments.  However, although almost 90 per cent of those surveyed expect to see a significant increase in listings within the next 18 months, due to the severe lack of IPO activity over the past 18 months, 87 per cent see the trade sale as a more likely exit in today’s market.   Encouragingly, 87 per cent of respondents reported that

AEG Power Solutions, a provider of industrial power electronics, has purchased a majority stake in skytron energy. Founded in 1996, Berlin-based skytron provides metering, monitoring and supervision solutions to companies in engineering, procurement and construction, as well as to independent power producers. The amount of the transaction, which was paid in cash, is not being disclosed. Bruce Brock (pictured), chief executive officer of AEG Power Solutions, says: “Combining skytron’s monitoring and supervision products with our power electronics and experienced global services network will allow us to offer photovoltaic power plant operators highly reliable technology and expertise for the integration, implementation,

Fundraising for emerging markets dedicated private equity funds slowed in 2009, but investment activity was comparatively strong. Emerging markets captured nine per cent of global private equity fundraising and 26 per cent of global private equity investment, with deal activity by transaction volume down by only 11 per cent, according to research from the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association.   A total of 196 private equity funds focused on emerging markets raised USD22.6bn in 2009, a 66 per cent decline from the record-breaking USD66.5bn raised by 210 funds in 2008. The decline in new fund commitments was on par with

DataXu, provider of a real-time bidding platform for online display advertisers, has closed USD11m in series B funding led by Menlo Ventures.   Atlas Venture and Flybridge Capital Partners, who provided DataXu’s series A funding in April 2009, also participated in the round. The proceeds will be used to fund new product development, sales and marketing, and international expansion. John Jarve (pictured), managing director of Menlo Ventures, will join DataXu’s board of directors. DataXu’s technology helps brands and their agencies use data-driven decisions to improve media performance and reduce operating expenses. The DataXu platform creates campaign-specific data models and algorithms

The Aureos Africa Fund has completed a USD10m investment in Nigerian leasing company C&I, taking the fund’s total investment in Nigeria to USD40m. The fund closed its fundraising in January 2010 having raised USD381.1m and is believed to be the largest ever fund to focus on investing in small to mid-sized businesses across Africa.   It is managed by Aureos Capital, a private equity fund management company specialising in investing in small to medium-sized businesses in emerging markets.   C&I, a leasing company in Nigeria established in 1990, offers both operating and finance leases to companies on various classes of

Falfurrias Capital Partners, a Charlotte-based private equity firm, has invested in Commercial Credit Group, a Charlotte-based provider of equipment financing for the construction, fleet transportation and waste industries. The transaction totalled approximately USD20m and included a purchase of preferred stock and an equity infusion to support the company’s growth. Falfurrias Capital, founded by former Bank of America chairman and chief executive Hugh McColl Jr. and former Bank of America chief financial officer Marc D. Oken, has been actively targeting investments in the specialty finance industry during recent months. “We have been extremely impressed by Commercial Credit Group’s management team and