April 2008 Issue

The Florida-based turnaround firm, which has had a string of portfolio companies seek bankruptcy since last year, will use $150m from its $1.5bn Fund IV and its $6bn Fund V for growth investments in the fourth fund.

Nicholas Lockley, editor of PrivateEquityOnline.com, looks behind the recent headlines on the web.

After closing on $250 million (€165 million) for its second vehicle last October, New Yorkbased cleantech investor Braemar Energy Ventures is looking to Europe for the first time. The new fund – which drew commitments from Robeco, Alpinvest Partners and VenCap, among others – has a 20 percent target allocation for the region. Private Equity International recently spoke with managing director Neil Suslak about the opportunities he sees on the other side of the Atlantic.

To date, private equity in France has managed to avoid serious criticism. But some think is merely a period of grace that will come to an end – and that the domestic industry should prepare for greater scrutiny.

To date private equity funds in the MENA region have tended to raise money locally. As firms grow in size and experience, they are looking further afield for investors. Nicholas Lockley explores the rules of engagement.

Toby Lewis gauges the appetite of institutional investors for private equity in four key markets in Asia Pacific.

Overall, fundraising has yet to be negatively impacted by the credit crisis and indications of a broader economic slowdown – with more than $615bn currently being raised across the globe. But placement agents recently told Amanda Janis that there has been a significant impact on LP appetite for certain funds and the size and scope of mandates.

The continuing flow of capital that is being attracted by even the larger private equity funds appears to have put paid to any notion that investors in the asset class would opt out at a time when market conditions have become more challenging. However, the jury is out on whether the fundraising momentum will be sustained once the effects of any downturn can be more clearly seen. Andy Thomson reports.

Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan is one of the world's most influential institutional investors, fusing both GP and LP activities. The recently promoted head of its private equity arm, Erol Uzumeri, spoke with Amanda Janis about Teachers' efforts to be a pension that isn't ‘your Dad's Cadillac’.

A fledgling government programme is aimed at luring Western venture capital and expertise to Russia. By Suzanne Weinstock.

A UK investment group, which has used an EIS fund to invest in single infrastructure projects, is poised to raise a large institutional vehicle to further develop the concepts. Andy Thomson reports.

The US private equity firm continues to be active in the Latin American education market, most recently with the $40m acquisition of a Chilean university.

Cairo-based Citadel Capital is not only developing in tandem with the MENA region's exponential growth and staggering liquidity – it looks set to be the first regional firm to join the public listing trend.

A former Microsoft executive and the founder of a leading media business are seeking to make Chinese companies serious players on the world stage.

China appears to be operating against the odds as it seeks to put money to work on the global stage. Can it find ways of gaining acceptance?

Quadrangle co-founder David Tanner is helping agribusiness company Continental Grain launch a new private equity operation.

The future demand for images will determine Hellman & Friedman's success with Getty Images.

Two California Native American tribes are the latest groups to jump on the private equity bandwagon.

Great vintage years grow amid the wreckage of over-exuberance. And there's data to prove this.

Nordic private equity firm EQT is revamping its teams in Finland and Denmark. Thomas Ramsay has been hired to lead the Helsinki office and Peter Korsholm has been promoted to head the Copenhagen office.

Many GPs are hoping to avoid a scenario whereby they report the fair value of an LBO deal as worthless.

Wendel Investissement's smooth journey from holding company to global private equity firm has become a little bumpier.

Investors are increasingly concerned. Managers may have curtailed any investment excesses as credit markets have closed, but are they still in denial as capital market pain turns to economic reality?

THE FORTRESS-JACKSON CONNECTION 2008-04-01 Staff Writer What is it with Fortress Investment Group and Michael Jackson? Every time the Gloved One gets into trouble, there's the Publicly Traded One with an open cheque book. In 2005, Fortress was initially instrumental in helping the emba

FROM PUBLIC VEHICLE TO PUBLIC INSTITUTION 2008-04-01 Staff Writer Stephen Schwarzman is a man famous for his largesse, from serving $400 crabs at his Palm Springs home to spending $1 million on flying Rod Stewart in to sing at his 60th birthday party. A tendency not unnoticed by sections of the press followi

The fear factor