Amanda Janis
Fortress has attributed its $162m loss last year to non-cash adjustments for fair value write-downs and clawback reserves. But the firm remained upbeat on an analyst call, with chief executive Wes Edens forecasting an opportunity-laden ‘great liquidation’ of financial services assets following the current recession.
The UK’s secretary of state for business, Peter Mandelson, last night urged BVCA members to help drive UK economic growth by backing entrepreneurial start-ups and growing SMEs ‘into world beaters’. He also addressed the industry’s efforts to battle negative public perception, noting it had surpassed its ‘pain threshold’.
Fresh from raising nearly €1bn for its eighth mid-cap fund, the French private equity firm is aligning itself to take advantage of market dislocation. It is also raising its third small-cap fund.
ING PEAL has been drawing on an A$20m credit facility to fund capital calls and will try to reduce some A$49m in undrawn commitments via secondary sales. It has also ceased paying dividends and making new investments.
Following in the footsteps of American Capital and KKR, 3i will de-list its quoted private equity fund. The exercise values the vehicle at £355m, 33% above last week’s closing share price.
The Munich-based firm founded by former 3i executives has raised €96m to date for its debut fund.
KKR co-founder Henry Kravis has said firms in today’s tough financial climate have to ‘think outside the box’ and adapt strategies to capitalise on current market opportunities or risk being ‘left out’. He was echoed by Apollo chief Leon Black, who likened big take-privates to the extinct dodo bird.
Chairman Jens Reidel has stepped down as part of a planned retirement process, handing co-chairman roles to managing partners Francesco Loredan and Raymond Svider. Next month John Hosgood, Barclays’ former co-head of leveraged finance, will join the firm to lead a push into credit strategies that will be largely focused on purchasing debt in its own deals.
The firm will also cut management fees across the board and has promised not to call more than 30% of LPs’ total commitment next year.
The publicly traded US firm suffered $698m in third quarter write-downs, $264m of which stemmed from European Capital’s sinking stock price. The firm, which was downgraded and put on a negative watch by S&P, said it was suspending dividend payments.