Nicholas Lockley

The Paris-based buyout firm has become the latest to follow 3i into the quoted equity fund management arena by backing veteran Philippe Guez in his new firm. The start-up will mirror 3i’s quoted equities model by targeting minority stakes.

The Paris-based buyout firm has become the latest to follow 3i into the quoted equity fund management arena by backing veteran Philippe Guez in his new firm. The start-up will mirror 3i’s quoted equities model by targeting minority stakes.

The move to rate issuers on LBO transactions with total debt facilities of more than €1bn should increase liquidity and help push the bank-driven European market closer to the US model where institutional lenders are more active.

The European buyout firm has made its first foray into financial services with its second deal of the year beating off stiff competition from US rivals in an auction run by UBS.

The French buyout firm has bought a controlling stake in Altares with a plan to support the business’ growth through acquisitions.

There has been a sharp fall in optimism among small and medium-sized business according to the latest Bowmark Entrepreneurs’ Index, underlining the uncertainty of the next six months.

The US buyout firm's abandoned cash injection forced an overnight rescue by the lender's existing shareholders, who have been offered similar terms. The share price has fallen below the price of the rights issue.

The UK-listed business had languished since talks with a strategic buyer collapsed in the middle of last month. Interest from a consortium of three firms has lifted the share price.

After months of defying expectations of widespread slowdown in buyout activity, the UK's mid-market firms have seen dealflow drop to a trickle in the first half of the year, according to the latest numbers.

EVCA says the drop in distributions to investors has hit fundraising, but delegates at its annual symposium in Madrid today insisted the industry is not in crisis despite the global credit turmoil.