Western Europe

BC Partners to bid for Kroll

The European buyout firm has teamed up with the security risk consultancy business’ former chairman as it looks to seal its first US deal since opening its New York office in February.

At a glance

Key facts and figures about the world's most famous buyout firm.

2007: A record year despite crunch

The buyout boom reached a European deal volume record for the year fuelled by unprecedented amounts of leverage before the credit market problems ended the party.

Merrill and TPG in co-investment talks

The US bank and the global buyout firm have held talks about the possibility of strengthening co-investment ties, after Merrill Lynch sounded out TPG last year on the possibility of receiving a capital injection from the buyout firm.

MBK’s proposed buyout of pharmaceutical company uncertain

The Asian private equity firm’s S$357 million bid for AsiaPharm faces opposition from minority shareholders.

Early vintage

The placement memorandum of KKR's first ever fund, published in January 1978, is a fascinating document that opens a window to the beginnings of the private equity industry. Philip Borel studied it.

DFJ Esprit backs €184m telecoms merger

The merger of DFJ-backed Imagine with Irish Broadband has taken the revenues of the combined group to more than €100 million, a more than tenfold increase since the venture firm invested two years ago.

Carlyle buys stake in two French cable companies for €1.1bn

The deal provides a partial exit for rival European buyout firm Cinven, valuing the two cable companies at more than double the cost of the buy and build strategy which formed them over three years.

Virginia approves $620m in fresh commitments

The state’s retirement system has committed to six alternative investment funds, weeks after increasing its private equity and real estate allocation to 10 percent.

3i’s diversified approach drives investment

The FTSE 100 company, led by Philip Yea, remains confident that despite difficult market conditions, which may slow down its mid-market buyout business, its recently expanded growth capital team will be sheltered from the credit storm.