Steve Gelsi

Despite Twitter IPO, sponsors stay on social media sidelines

Buyout executives appear to tweet or blog more often than they launch an investment in a social media company—and that is saying something because buyouts executives, with some notable exceptions, do not tweet or blog. Are they missing out on what could be one of the biggest investment trends of the century?

Pantheon targets $750M for new managed account platform

Pantheon, the fund-of-funds specialist owned by Affiliated Managers Group Inc, has targeted a $750 million fundraise for its new Pantheon Access platform, which aims to offer limited partners the customization of separate, managed accounts with a lower commitment of capital, according to a person familiar with the firm. The move marks the latest innovation by the London-based firm.

ZM Capital targeting $500M for second fund

ZM Capital, the private equity media specialist aimed at the lower middle market, is raising money for its second buyout fund with a target of $500 million, according to people familiar with the firm.

ABRY-backed insurance company Confie Seguros does largest deal

Confie Seguros, the insurance specialist targeting Hispanic customers, said it is buying the retail insurance unit of publicly-traded Affirmative Insurance Holdings for up to $120 million in its largest in a series of acquisitions.

Sun Capital buys growing gem and jewelry shopping network

Sun Capital Partners Inc paid an undisclosed sum for a majority stake in Gem Shopping Network as the Florida-based buyout shop known for turnarounds invested in a growing,100-employee retailer now expanding its TV footprint.

Talking Top Quartile With Kohlberg & Co

Kohlberg & Co is ranked in the top quartile among vintage 2007 private equity funds, according to data compiled by Buyouts. The firm has been active of late, with moves to buy Risk Strategies, Nellson Nutraceutical and a deal to buy Midwest Underground Technology Inc for its Sabre Industries platform.

How Moving To Sidelines Helped Olympus Score Big

Back in 2007, while some of the largest buyout deals of all time, laden with debt, made big headlines, Olympus Partners pitched its fifth fund to prospective limited partners using a contrarian twist.

Dell LBO, Hilton IPO redraw mega-deal map

The favorable shareholder vote for Michael Dell and Silver Lake to take Dell Inc private for $24.9 billion clears the way for the LBO to join the list of richest private equity acquisitions of the past ten years.

Carlyle adds power plants, new fund to energy mix

Carlyle Group, with an energy portfolio of about $28 billion, has recently added six power plants to its Cogentrix platform. The firm is also raising an international energy fund with a target of $1.5 billion.

Dell's LBO debt to dampen M&A deals, Moody's says

Dell Inc’s pace of mergers and acquisitions may slow to $500 million to $1 billion a year after a $12 billion shopping spree since 2010 as the computer maker grapples with slowing personal computer sales and a higher debt load, Moody’s Investor Service said on the eve of a shareholder vote on the $25 billion leveraged buyout.