Toby Lewis

German firm Ventizz Capital Partners has raised its latest mid-market technology buyout fund 50 percent oversubscribed. The fund was more than triple the size of the firm’s previous effort.

The near £11 billion per annum investment from overseas has contributed to the boom in the UK financial services industry, spurred on by cheques from private equity firms amounting to almost £580,000 per adviser.

The German mid-market firm Buchanan’s investment in yacht company Dehler has allowed the company to bolt on ETAP Yachting. The company sought private equity backing to service its large order book.

The owners of Liverpool Football Club, US investors Tom Hicks and George Gillett, are close to strengthening their hold on the UK Premiership club despite reported bid interest from Middle Eastern firm Dubai International Capital.

Private sector bidders for Northern Rock were boosted by government plans to securitise and guarantee its loans to the struggling UK bank, although the government could still attempt to nationalise the bank.

The UK mid-market buyout firm Doughty Hanson has boosted its investor relations team, as a former journalist joins the firm from a similar role at Altius Associates.

The SEIU union has again stormed a conference appearance of The Carlyle Group’s co-founder. David Rubenstein calmly stood up to the protesters regarding Carlyle’s Manor Care buyout - and received a standing ovation from delegates.

While turmoil in the global credit markets will have and has had serious consequences for lenders during the buyout boom, larger buyouts will resurge in the next year, according to Swiss investment firm Partners Group.

The consortium led by UK billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s The Virgin Group has expanded its Northern Rock turnaround team, as expectant bidders await the results of a Goldman Sachs proposed financing solution.

The majority of the BVCA’s members believe the problems in the worldwide credit markets will lead to a downturn in the UK economy. BVCA chief executive Simon Walker argues the asset class will prove its mettle in more gloomy times.