James Taylor

Welcome Break set for £300m refinancing

The UK motorway service station chain will continue its gradual recovery and yield a solid return for its backer Investcorp when it completes a £300 million recapitalisation this week.

Consortium given nearly six weeks to decide on £10bn Sainsbury bid

The private equity consortium circling Sainsbury, a UK supermarket chain valued at about £10 billion, has been given until April 13 to decide whether or not to bid for the company

HgCapital trust continues strong performance

HgCapital’s listed private equity investment trust saw net asset value increase by 20% after another strong year for the firm.

Aggreko head: buyout firms do not pay enough tax

Rupert Soames, who built UK-based Aggreko into a global company, has become the latest high-profile industry figure to criticise private equity.

Allianz closes biggest ever German FoF

Allianz Private Equity Partners has raised an €823 million fund-of-funds, which it will use to invest in buyout and venture funds worldwide.

Glenalta founders quit for Capital Dynamics

Andrew Beaton and David Smith, the two founding partners of independent firm Glenalta Capital, have joined Capital Dynamics as the Swiss asset manager looks to strengthen its co-investment offering.

Sainsbury shares rise as buyout consortium takes pole position

UK retailer Marks & Spencer has ruled out an imminent bid for supermarket chain Sainsbury, removing a major obstacle to a potential offer from the CVC-led buyout consortium eyeing the company.

Sale on at New Look

Permira and Apax could be set for a substantial return if New Look, the UK clothing retailer, goes ahead with a £2 billion secondary buyout or flotation.

Qantas bid still in doubt despite government approval

Government approval of the Macquarie-led consortium’s A$11.1bn bid for Qantas, an Australian airline, might not be sufficient to get the deal approved by shareholders.

Hicks under attack again from the GMB

The GMB trade union hopes Tom Hicks, Liverpool Football Club’s new owner and former head of Hicks Muse, will have more than European glory on his mind tonight. The union is planning to stage another protest against Hicks during the club’s European cup tie against Barcelona.