December 2011 / January 2012 Issue

What’s the best way to develop an effective operating partners strategy? Private Equity International asked David Knoch, senior managing director of Irving Place Capital (formerly Bear Stearns Merchant Banking)

Theodore ‘Ted’ Forstmann, co-founder of buyout firm Forstmann Little, is remembered as a talented and philosophical dealmaker with a penchant for mentoring young professionals

The emerging managers-focused fund of funds, which has failed to win any additional mandates, has now also lost its founder Cesar Baez

Overseas-listed Chinese companies have suffered a reputational hit in the wake of some of their number being accused of fraud. That could make them perfect take-private targets

A recent report suggested that GPs are not as good at communicating with their LPs as they think they are.

It’s easy to see the attractions of investing in the Nordic countries at the moment: the region has historically yielded great returns, and is one step removed from the troubles of the neighbouring Eurozone. But what distinguishes the top performers? Oliver Smiddy went to Stockholm to ask three local industry players: Joakim Karlsson of Nordic Capital, Gert Munthe of Herkules Capital, and Odile Fallenius of law firm Vinge.

After an exodus of talent from public pensions this year, two of their number are looking at ways to become more competitive, writes Christopher Witkowsky.

A lack of a management talent is perhaps the key reason why private equity interest in Africa has so far failed to translate into an explosion of activity, writes Clare Burrows

Private equity investing in Central and Eastern Europe is still not easy – but events elsewhere in Europe are changing the risk/return profile, writes Roger Hunt

The uncertainty in the eurozone is clearly hampering dealflow in Europe. But there will still be plenty of opportunities for savvy investors

The Kremlin hopes to ease the continued concerns of foreign investors with the launch of the $10 billion Russian Direct Investment Fund. Sam Sutton reports

Thomas H Lee Partners has been investing in private equity from its single office in Boston since 1974. Since founder Tom Lee left in 2005 the firm has evolved and learned some difficult lessons – particularly during the last investment cycle – but Lee’s ‘culture of collegiality’ remains in place, co-president Scott Sperling tells Graham Winfrey

The Arab Spring has fundamentally changed investor attitudes to the MENA region. But activity is starting to pick up again, reports Vicky Meek

An innovative partnership between KKR, Apollo and a major US pension offers a sneak peek at the future

A potential crackdown on foreign investors using Variable Investment Entity (VIE) structures to back Chinese companies could prompt a flurry of deals in the short-term as well as an increased focus on investing via renminbi-denominated funds over the longer term

Making good, consistent returns in emerging markets is still hugely challenging. But with developed markets stagnating, these fast-growing economies are becoming increasingly difficult for private equity investors to ignore

We recently caught up with Brahmal Vasudevan, former senior managing director at India’s ChrysCapital Investment Advisors and founder of Southeast Asia-focused Creador Capital, to discuss the outlook for Indonesian private equity

Whether it’s preppy Anglo-US brands, European designer labels, or, erm, art colleges, private equity’s appetite for fashion shows no sign of abating.

Bill Hicks; Lenny Bruce; Richard Pryor; Jerry Seinfeld; Chris Rock... Now it seems there’s a new name to be added to the pantheon of great American stand-up comics: Steve Schwarzman.

Has Asia’s third largest economy lost some of its lustre with limited partners? Hsiang-Ching Tseng reports

This year’s PE Asia 30, a ranking of the firms that have raised the most capital over the last five years, highlighted the growing importance of RMB-denominated funds

China’s healthcare sector is attracting growing private equity interest, but challenges remain, finds Hsiang-Ching Tseng

Although private equity has flourished in Brazil, the country’s massive public pension funds have remained out of reach for international investors. That may change – but only for certain firms, writes Sam Sutton