April 2014 Issue

    Privately Speaking Jonathan Blake of SJ Berwin

    The man who created the UK's limited partnership template on his new challenge: SJ Berwin's merger with King & Wood Mallesons

    Deal Mechanic Electra Partners Allflex

    How's Electra’s 15-year investment in animal tagging yielded a 15x return

    Nicholas Pye Buyout Guy Tyrant Tamara

    Pye's ex-boss talks him into an illicit meeting

    Investor Base: Growing conflict

    Should LPs be careful what they wish for when it comes to co-investments?

    LP Radar: Secondary myth-busting

    Are investors guilty of viewing secondaries through unduly rose-tinted glasses? Perhaps, to some extent – but at a recent event in New York, a number of LPs with deep expertise in this segment explained why they think it delivers better risk-adjusted returns than a pure primary programme.

    Fundraising: Sky’s the limit

    Private equity fundraising had a banner year in 2013 — and all signs point to growing appetite from LPs in 2014.

    First Time Funds: Ones to watch

    Launching a new private equity firm is rarely a safe bet — and in the current environment, it’s even more of a gamble. But there are some debut firms that seem to be making waves despite the odds.

    First Round: Worth a shot

    A Hong Kong-based GP launches debut fund for whiskey investments only.

    First Round: Must tri harder

    UK's private equity industry gears up for a new triathlon.

    French buyout market recovers

    France’s buyout market has been plagued by macroeconomic woes and political uncertainty in recent years, but now LPs are slowly rediscovering the country.

    First Round: Rampant capitalism

    Brookstone's Diamond Products has acquired adult toy-maker JimmyJane.

    On the Record: Claudio Siniscalco of HarbourVest Partners

    HarbourVest's principal Claudio Siniscalco tells PEI why there’s an increased appetite for co-investments generally among LPs.

    Asian PE salaries increase across the board

    Do firms need to start paying their operating executives more in order to stay ahead of the game in Asia?

    Bain, ABRY top US buyout fund most wanted list

    Setter Capital has come up with a ranking of the 50 most attractive US buyout funds on the secondary market.

    Volatility in Ukraine unsurprising for investors

    The current upheaval in Russia and the Ukraine is inevitably making investors nervous — but GPs point out that volatility is nothing new in the region.

    Permira reinvents itself to raise over €5 billion

    Permira’s success in eventually closing its new fund is a reward for perseverance, hard work and a bit of re-invention.

    Landmark gives PE benchmarks a re-do

    The secondaries firm has a new method for benchmarking private equity performance and is calling it simpler and more accurate.

    Apax crushes mobile gaming

    The firm's success with King Digital Entertainment might encourage more private equity firms to invest in online gaming.

    Baring Asia's Salata: the Cautious Contrarian

    Despite Asia's volatility, one of the region’s oldest and most cautious firms believes it’s prime time to invest.

    Animal spirits stirring as Japan revives

    One year into Abenomics, GPs finally see some evidence of times changing in Japan.