Private Equity
iStole: and iGot caught, because iTalked Another Hub: HubSpot, the Massachusetts digital marketer, is lining up Google Ventures and Sequoia The 475: Goldman partners set to rake on 08 stock option bonuses Rudolf Elmer: May be on trial for breaching bank secrecy, but he’s disappointed with U.S. investigators’ efforts... remind anyone of a Mr. Markopolos?
1 min read · 19 January 2011
Opulence: Rich America has it, and they’re raising consumer spending For Sale: Long John Silver’s, A&W One More: Trip around the block for J. Crew. Just in case. Great Expectations: BankUnited boosts its IPO plans to as much as $630M
1 min read · 18 January 2011
Jobs Break: The Apple CEO takes time off for his health Leadership: Apple’s Tim Cook will take the helm in CEO Jobs’ absence It’s the Joint: Smith & Nephew shares get a boost on rumored J&J offer Next Generation: iWalk, robotic prosthetics maker, gets a $15M infusion Love the One You’re With: J. Crew’s go-shop wraps with no new suitors
1 min read · 18 January 2011
We’d like those distributions, thank you very much. But we’d also like to hear from fewer of you. That pretty much sums up LPs’ feelings toward private equity firms lately. The winter 2011 edition of Coller Capital's Global Private Equity Barometer, based on a survey of LPs, indicates confidence is growing that returns will improve. One-third of respondents said they’re expecting double-digit percentage returns. However, more LPs, rejecting re-ups, are looking to take their capital to new talent this year. A whopping 81% of Coller’s respondents said that they—many, consistent with existing mandates to seek out new GP relationships—will explore new firms and that they expect to buy into funds with which they have not before invested. And 60% of respondents said this year, they’ll speed up their rate of commitments to funds.
2 min read · 18 January 2011
Perfect Market, the California-based traffic and content optimization solutions provider for web publishers, completed a $9 million Series D fundraising, the company revealed Tuesday. Capital will be used to expand on Perfect Market’s existing sales staff and to open up new offices, said Julie Schoenfeld, CEO. The company has raised three prior rounds of capital totaling nearly $20 million and Schoenfeld said, of the Series D funding, “it’s entirely possible this would be our last round” of fundraising. Prior rounds included Idealab, Rustic Canyon Partners, the Tribune Co., and Trinity Ventures. Each of the investors also joined in for Perfect Market’s Series D. It raised $5.1 million in 2007, $8 million in 2008 and $6 million in 2010...
1 min read · 18 January 2011
R.I.P.: Daniel Gregory, co-founder of Greylock Partners, passes away When You Put it That Way…: Yes, it sounds as if the U.S. does in fact have a debt problem Making Deals: PE pro Tom Gores eyes the Pistons, perhaps the last valid asset in Detroit What to Do…: After amassing your billions via Facebook? To New Zealand! Still Trying: Sanofi-Aventis keeps at it with Genzyme
1 min read · 14 January 2011
Rising Prices: The N.I.H. anticipates cancer costs will grow substantially Pushed Back: News Corp.’s daily iPad app is delayed $15B?: That’s what Groupon says its worth Stocks: U.S. futures mixed, most foreign markets took a slight dive Back in Business: The GOP looks to regain footing and push its ambitious agenda
1 min read · 14 January 2011
Cava Capital, the Connecticut-based early stage venture fund, plans to hold its first close on its initial $100 million fund in mid-2011, according to multiple sources familiar with Cava’s plans. Cava Capital (which, for all you Francophiles, is not pronounced like the French question: “How are you,” but instead with a hard C) will reel in between $30 million and $40 million before it closes its round, one source said. The firm has met with placement agents, but has not selected one, a source familiar with its plans indicated. The firm completed a Series A investment in etouches Inc., a Connecticut-based SaaS company supporting online event management. A source with Cava indicated...
1 min read · 13 January 2011
Nobody: Doesn’t like Sara Lee, including KKR, sources say Buying Social: Let’s Bonus sells a majority stake to LivingSocial, and one reporter makes a very good point Going Public?: Clearly, not ranked in order of IPO by potential date, or size Fundraising: iMedX Inc. raises $2.5M with RFE Investment Partners
1 min read · 13 January 2011
Private equity firms are nearly unified in their belief that things will get better. It just won’t be this year, that’s all. Nearly 70% of respondents to this year’s BDO Seidman PErspective Private Equity Study, when asked which quarter or year they felt 2007 levels of dealmaking will return, said “2012 or later.” BDO Seidman’s study included perspectives from more than 100 respondents from about 100 funds ranging in size from $30 million to $35 billion. They’re not bullish on getting increased leverage anytime soon either; more respondents said that for their last, as well as for their next, deal, it is expected no more of the transaction than 60% would be paid for with debt. “No one expects the double dip anymore,” said Lee Duran, BDO’s private equity practice leader. “But there’s still uncertainty.”
2 min read · 12 January 2011
