Michael Smith, chairman of CVC Capital Partners, likes to keep his cards close to his chest and has so far minimised contact with the media. In August, he met for a rare interview with Philip Borel to discuss the prospect of a downturn, staff compensation, public relations and the rise of listed private equity.
10 min read · 12 January 2013
Neither the telecoms sector nor European venture capital have had things easy in recent years – but the two have come together to produce a winning deal.
6 min read · 12 January 2013
Interest rates might cool the fevered debt market, but the IRS could freeze it.
4 min read · 12 January 2013
Having agreed a $375 million deal with Anglo-US investment manager AMVESCAP, turnaround specialist WL Ross is now a captive fund.
6 min read · 12 January 2013
Founded in 2003 by former executives of Franchise Finance Corporation of America, Spirit Finance is a publicly listed REIT focused on sale-leasebacks for the retail, service and distribution industries. With balance sheet assets of approximately $2.5 billion, Spirit recently completed the largest retail sale-leaseback ever, the $815 million acquisition of the real estate assets of ShopKo, the retailer recently acquired by Sun Capital Partners. Here, Christopher Volk talks about the ShopKo deal, the economic environment for retailers and why corporate capital efficiency may be the next big wave in corporate America.
4 min read · 12 January 2013
Over the past few years, turnaround investor Sun Capital Partners has been involved with a number of high-profile retail buyouts, including Mervyns and the Pamida and ShopKo chains, as well as specialty retailers like Wickes Furniture, Mattress Firm and Nationwide Furniture. But as Gary Talarico, head of the Boca Raton, Florida-based firm's New York office, is quick to point out, the firm doesn't seek out retail or real estate deals. Rather, the firm invests in distressed companies and looks to use the company's property in the recovery.
4 min read · 12 January 2013
Over the past six years, Mark Newman and Gerald Parkes have both run the European arm of Lehman Brothers' private equity real estate operations. Here the duo talk about the investment bank's silo-free model, their strong commitment to long-term partnerships and why investing in real estate is a lot like playing golf. By Paul Fruchbom
10 min read · 12 January 2013
Niam, the largest specialist private equity real estate firm in northern Europe, has appointed a new chief executive.
5 min read · 12 January 2013
Oil prices have soared in recent months and some investors flush with petro-dollars are looking for a new home for their money. But some Islamic investors struggle to reconcile their religion with backing buyouts. Arcapita Bank in Bahrain has the answer: Shari'ah-compliant structures for buyouts.
7 min read · 12 January 2013
With $1.5 billion to invest in Korea, Japan and China, Michael Kim is one of Asia's most promising financial entrepreneurs. Sharon Lim met him in August.
8 min read · 12 January 2013
