Fundraising

The fourth deal of the year for the Italian mid-market firm takes them closer to launching fundraising as its current fund is 80 percent committed.

The European affiliate of buyout and mezzanine firm American Capital Strategies has increased its revolving credit facility to €900m, giving the company approximately €1.65bn in firepower.

A multitude of government institutions and formally established family offices make the Gulf Region a rich source of capital for the world's leading GPs. The most significant local player is ADIA, the giant investment authority in Abu Dhabi.

Taking full advantage of ultra-liquid debt markets, buyout funds are handing big sums of cash back to investors. As holding periods shorten, are limited partners in danger of getting too comfortable with private equity's new short-termism, asks Philip Borel.

Electra Private Equity, the recently renamed UK investment trust, is hoping to gorge on new deals after seven years of profitable abstinence.

Returns are strong, financing options are growing and the first mega-deals are in the bag. But as the sun continues to shine on Australia's private equity market, some practitioners are betraying twinges of doubt about the future. Andy Thomson reports.

When Miramax founders Bob and Harvey Weinstein launched their new studio, they benefited from increased investor interest in the movie business - as well as their own reputations as hitmakers. By Aaron Lovell.

Private investment fund managers are flocking to the movie industry because they see it as – get this – a business with manageable risk. Are these GPs wise to the future of filmed entertainment, or have they simply “gone Hollywood”? David Snow reports.

Michael Smith, chairman of CVC Capital Partners, likes to keep his cards close to his chest and has so far minimised contact with the media. In August, he met for a rare interview with Philip Borel to discuss the prospect of a downturn, staff compensation, public relations and the rise of listed private equity.

Having agreed a $375 million deal with Anglo-US investment manager AMVESCAP, turnaround specialist WL Ross is now a captive fund.