Western Europe

Archer Capital in $676m fuel exit

The Australian country manager has secured a Switzerland-based buyer for its independent oil company investment Ausfuel.

First Round: Lord Nash-ing of teeth

Mitt Romney presumably dreamed that he’d be settling into the Oval Office by now. Instead, as all the world knows, he’s back in one of his many houses licking his wounds (and possibly pondering his reinvention as a leading environmentalist ahead of a re-run in 2024, or some such).

Deal Mechanic: Equistone Partners Europe & Global Blue

Over a five-year period, Equistone doubled revenue at tax services business Global Blue thanks to a series of improvements to the company’s products and services. Graham Winfrey reports

Southern Europe: Heading South?

Southern Europe continues to face huge economic challenges – challenges so great that they may yet bring down the entire Eurozone. But although investing within the region is more difficult than ever before, local managers say there are still good deals to be found

Nicholas Pye, Buyout Guy: Christmas is for losers

Pye gets some novel words of encouragement from Big Shop's managing partner

UK roundtable: Flight to quality

The UK is one of the world’s most established private equity markets, long a magnet for talent and capital. But given its stuttering domestic economy, thanks in no small part to the troubles of the neighbouring eurozone, are there still opportunities for private equity to make great returns? We gathered three of the UK industry’s leading lights in London in January to ask them about the outlook for 2013

Oakley in 3.6x e-commerce exit

The AIM-listed firm has sold online travel site operator Emesa for €95m after less than two years of ownership.

Regulation: Another level of worry

In December, the European Commission finally released the ‘Level 2’ implementation measures for the AIFM directive. The industry was underwhelmed, writes Thomas Duffell

Cleared for take-off in Italy

Cinven’s €3.3bn sale of Avio to GE wasn’t straightforward – but it shows that international trade buyers are still willing to do deals in troubled Italy.

Clairvest triples money in IT exit

The firm’s sale of Internet infrastructure business PEER 1 comes following a 12-month period in which Clairvest’s portfolio companies grew EBITDA by 53%.