Fundraising

The new head of CalPERS' $20 billion private equity programme plans to expand from the powerful platform he built alongside his former boss, Rick Hayes. David Snow visited Leon Shahinian at 400 P Street to learn more about the tastes, ambitions and challenges of this Sacramento native

Private equity firms are making inroads into Germany's corporate debt markets

Having spent over three decades in the industry, Sir Robert Smith is a big name in UK private equity. Now retired (well, kind of), a recent non-executive appointment to the board of directors of 3i Plc means the veteran dealmaker is about to return to the action. Here he talks to Philip Borel about where British private equity came from and where it is going

Leveraged loans in Europe are being repaid earlier than ever at the moment. This is causing problems for managers of collateralised loan obligation funds. Deal Mechanic explains why

With a new transatlantic mezzanine and equity fund in the making, his firm continuing to push into Central Europe plus a raft of extracurricular activities, life is anything but dull for Mezzanine Management's Rory Brooks. Philip Borel reports

David Chamberlain, the former managing director of private equity at Swiss alternative asset manager Unigestion, has joined Zurich-based placement agent Palomar Capital Advisors as managing director.

Though venture capital activity is dwarfed by its neighbour to the south, Canada has taken steps toward realising its full entrepreneurial potential. By Art Janik

Venture debt enjoys little of the upside of venture capital, but most of its downside. No wonder this remains a niche play. But with the recent uptick in deal activity in the past twelve months, the handful of venture debt lenders are shifting gears as demand for their capital accelerates. Art Janik provides an overview of the current state of the venture debt market.

A new private equity fund, led by a retired Hicks Muse partner, will seek opportunities in the chronically inefficient healthcare royalties market. David Snow examines this alternative, alternative strategy, and checks in with the only other private equity firm to have executed it – New York's Paul Capital Partners

Anne Glover has recently taken up a new role as chairman of the British Venture Capital Association. She talks to Colm Gilmore about her new position, Japanese river metaphors and the key role that the London Stock Exchange should have in the European private equity market