James Taylor

First Round: A jolly good Clegg

For a short, improbable period before the last UK General Election, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg was the UK’s most popular politician.

Apax hires second senior operator in Europe

The recruitment of ex-public company CFO Gary Hughes takes Apax Partners’ portfolio support team to 11 people

European LPs still keen for more PE

Forthcoming research suggests 40% of European LPs plan to increase their private equity allocations next year, with many seeking new managers.

First Round: PE killed my Twinkie

Just before First Round’s American contingent abruptly disappeared for a two-day holiday that’s like Christmas but isn’t, there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth about the demise of Hostess Brands, owner of the Twinkie, the HoHo, the Ding Dong, the Honey Bun and some other foodstuffs that sound made-up but apparently aren’t.

First Round: Pigeon French

First Round has never been much of a fan of pigeons, an antipathy firmly cemented by an unfortunate incident on the way to its first black tie event as a youth (Eau de Guano – never a winning scent).

First Round: Band of brothers

Amid all the hullabaloo over Facebook’s exorbitant valuation (which admittedly seems to getting less exorbitant by the hour, at time of writing), First Round would like you to spare a thought for the real victims of its remarkable success story: Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.

Ex-Cofunds boss joins private equity start-up

Brett Williams, former CEO of Cofunds and Skandia UK, will be one of four founding partners at Lime Tree Investment Partners, an offshoot of Future Capital Partners.

Kravis: 'No better time than now to be making investments'

At an invitation-only event in Monaco, the KKR co-founder said that low interest rates and a lack of capital offer 'enormous' opportunities for private equity.

Venture trio provides $25m funding round for Unruly

Amadeus has joined forces with the UK's Business Growth Fund and Dutch VC Van den Ende & Deitmers to back Unruly, a UK-based social video company

Switzerland opens new front in currency war

Switzerland's attempts to help its exporters by promising to cap the value of the franc could have negative consequences for private equity firms operating in the eurozone.