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Private Equity News & Analysis

Deutsche Bank forms venture capital unit

DB Ventures will invest E1bn in young European telecommunications, Internet and technology companies.

By
PEI Staff
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  • The venture unit – called DB Ventures – will aim to take lead positions in deal syndicates, typically investing $10m-30m.
  • The unit will headed by Roy Merritt and Michael Patton, formerly of US private equity firm Providence Equity Partners.
  • Other investment banks including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley make large venture capital investments, but do not have dedicated venture units.

Both Mr Patton and Mr Merritt were previously directors of Providence Equity Partners responsible for Providence’s European investment activities in the telecommunications, Internet and media sectors.

Mr Patton, prior to joining Providence, spent six years at Morgan Stanley where he was responsible for starting and building their corporate finance activities in the alternative telecom and internet sectors.

Mr Merritt, prior to joining Providence, was Chief Financial Officer of Esprit Telecom Group plc, a pan-European facilities-based long distance telephone operator, which was acquired in March 1999 by Global Telesystems Group for approximately $1 billion.

'We are extremely pleased to have attracted two leading professionals in the telecoms and Internet field to lead our small ventures business,' said Graham Clempson, head of European Private Equity and co-head of Global Investment Banking in Europe for Deutsche Bank.