Toby Lewis

The Dubai investment firm has become Istithmar World following a year in which the firm has made headlines, like its MENA peers, through its forays into the US and Europe.

An Ethos Private Equity and Goldman Sachs consortium has run into regulatory difficulties in its acquisition of casino group Gold Reef Resorts after securing funding in problematic credit markets in September.

After postponing a recapitalisation last year, the consortium which bought UK supermarket Somerfield more than two years ago has decided to auction the business.

The private equity firms bidding for the Turkish supermarket have tabled lower than expected bids, although should the deal complete it will be one of the largest European buyout financed since the problems in the credit markets became apparent.

As executives continue to look for fresh starts in the New Year, GE Commercial Finance has recruited Bank of Ireland’s French head of acquisition finance.

The Swiss venture firm is set to tap the public markets in a rare move, joining the ranks of larger buyout firms that came to market last year.

The investment firm is preparing to go back to investors having nearly invested its $65 million regional fund, as activity continues in the burgeoning MENA region.

The UK buyout firm has signaled its intentions in a £200 million a year cost-cutting exercise. Terra Firma limited partners are taking up £200 million of co-investment rights in EMI backing the turnaround.

Large US buyout firms cash out the majority of their equity in a third of deals before they fully exit, but default rates across large private equity companies remain minimal.

The Nordic buyout firm’s Skr2 billion recapitalisation of Dacke, two years after the buyout firm acquired the company, is an exception in liquidity-starved credit markets.