Western Europe

OPEN & CLOSED

<p> OPEN &amp; CLOSED 2009-05-02 Staff Writer &lt;strong&gt;FUNDS OPENED&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;table&gt; &lt;tbody&gt; &lt;tr&gt; &lt;td&gt;FUND&lt;/td&gt; &lt;td&gt;MANAGER&lt;/td&gt; &lt;td&gt;FUND&lt;/td&gt; &lt;td&gt;TYPE OF FUND&lt;/t</p>

Czech fund collects two-thirds of target

Prague-based Genesis Capital has held a &euro;40m first close with commitments from LPs including the EBRD and Gimv.

Private equity firms reduce staff at portfolio companies

Gala Coral, the struggling gaming company owned by Permira, Cinven and Candover, is not the only private equity-backed business cutting staff: a recent survey shows the vast majority of GPs are slashing operating costs to improve portfolio company performance.

Receivership: The most common exit in the UK this year

Since the beginning of 2009, 10 private equity-backed businesses have been put into receivership. This compares to eight exits via trade sale and three via secondary buyout.

West African fund targets up to $500m

African Capital Alliance has attracted a $50m commitment from UK government-owned fund of funds CDC Group.

Get Creative

US private equity firm Northern Lights Ventures shows how even smaller firms can get into the financial institutions game with a little creativity, writes Jennifer Harris.

The PEI 300

<p> The PEI 300 2009-05-02 Staff Writer &lt;strong&gt;CAPITAL RAISED OVER&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2008&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;RANK&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;NAME OF FIRM&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;HEADQUARTERS&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;LAST FIVE YEARS ($BN)&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;RANK&lt;/stro</p>

UK government to seed £150m venture vehicle

A manager has yet to be appointed for the fund of funds, which will seek to mobilise private capital into high tech businesses.

Suddenly, assets are an asset

With cash flow-based lending on the wane, can asset-based lenders step up to the plate? Christopher Witkowsky investigates

Advent International's Secret Sauce: Insights from Regional Chiefs Gathering

In a year marked by much doom and gloom, Advent International has been on fire. Its deal pace has been dynamic, fundraising feverish and returns impressive. At a recent gathering of its 12 senior managing partners in Boston, Amanda Janis sat down with four regional chiefs who shared some of the ingredients comprising Advent's ‘secret sauce’.