Who is shaping the industry? The question is important, because private equity, despite its becoming a more mainstream, institutionalised asset class, fundamentally remains a people's business. Private Equity International picks the people who make all the difference in European private equity.
IP2IPO Group has agreed a £5m link-up with the University of Southampton to invest in spin-out companies.
Darby Overseas Investments has acquired Prudential Financial’s $246m Asian mezzanine fund.
Turkven, an affiliate of Advent International, has closed on $41m and will invest in Turkish growth opportunities alongside Advent’s Central and Eastern European team.
The Carlyle Group has appointed Wolfgang Hanrieder, of Star Ventures, new managing director for its European venture capital fund.
The Russian arm of Baring Private Equity Partners has closed the first foreign fund in Russia since the economic crisis of 1998.
The German private equity firm has hired Dirk Lupberger, former head of Siemens Venture Capital.
The US buyout firm has agreed to buy the European distribution operation of the French telecommunications giant Alcatel.
The Dubai-based Rasmala Buyout Fund is acquiring Aramex International, a courier business servicing the Middle East and India, in a $61m deal.
Fundraising in 2001 proved difficult for Wilton Asset Management, whose private equity fund fell $60m short of its original target.
The firm’s third fund, $30m short of its target, will invest in Israeli companies operating in the communications and IT sectors, in particular enterprise software.
The US private equity firm has invested in the French speciality chemicals operation of Goodyear, the tyre manufacturer.
The German venture capitalist is looking to close its second fund by the end of the first quarter in 2002.
The global fund is looking to commit $800m of its resources to opportunities in Europe.
The firm has taken a £5m investment from the Scottish Widows Investment Partnership.