Largely unaffected by the sub-prime crisis, the Japanese leveraged finance market is open for business. The availability of cheap credit bodes well for buyouts led by private equity. Sponsorless deals on the other hand will remain the exception – despite an interesting precedent. Sharon Lim reports.
4 min read · 12 January 2013
In Asia, the credit crunch has had limited impact on debt markets so far. Buyout pros and leveraged finance specialists in Hong Kong and Singapore are nevertheless bracing for tricky times. By Patricia Lee.
6 min read · 12 January 2013
January brought a new twist in South Korea's KEB saga: authorities detained Lone Star's chairman John Grayken as part of their ongoing investigation into the transaction.
2 min read · 12 January 2013
Obstacles still remain, but Europe's private equity markets are becoming more integrated. Peter Cornelius and Karlijn Juttmann of AlpInvest Partners look at the implications.
9 min read · 12 January 2013
The near-term future of the leveraged buyout market presents an unfolding tale of two halves. Mid-market private equity firms will cautiously continue to acquire quality companies, while mega-fund managers will dramatically downsize their deal sizes and pursue alternative deal structures. David Snow asks LBO insiders to take the temperature of 2008.
6 min read · 12 January 2013
After several record-breaking years for the new kings of capitalism, life suddenly seems less than straightforward. Andy Thomson looks at some of the likely twists and turns in store for private equity in 2008.
5 min read · 12 January 2013
Hamilton ‘Tony’ James is the day-to-day leader of what has now become one of Wall Street's most powerful and admired firms – Blackstone. His tenure as president and COO of Stephen Schwarzman's creation is not the first time he has dramatically upsized a private equity operation. As head of DLJ Merchant Banking, James presided over one of the dominant private equity business of the 1990s with loyal personnel across the US, Europe and Asia. He is now duplicating that success at Blackstone, but on a much larger scale. James met recently with David Snow for a conversation about where Blackstone is today and where he intends to steer it in the coming years.
6 min read · 12 January 2013
New York-based Shermen Capital Partners recently launched a SPAC to capitalise on what it maintains is an untapped market: the $271bn US agriculture industry.
6 min read · 12 January 2013
The new service opens up a treasure trove of historic returns information.
5 min read · 12 January 2013
Emboldened by another homerun in January, Index Ventures has added a new business line with a e400m growth capital fund.
5 min read · 12 January 2013