Fundraising

As Central and Eastern Europe comes of age as a private equity destination, Mid Europa Partners looks set to be an influential force in its continuing evolution. Andy Thomson met London-based managing partner Thierry Baudon shortly after the firm had raised a new €1.5 billion fund dedicated to the region.

As the year draws to a close PEO's team has pulled out its crystal ball to take a view on 10 of the themes that will occupy the industry in 2008.

As 2007 draws to a close, the end-of-year surveys reveal that despite gloomy predictions for the short-term future, investors in alternatives still view real estate as a safe bet for the medium-term.

The UK property company has tapped investors including Victoria Funds Management Corporation of Australia for Trillium PPP Investment Partners which gives investors exposure to public private partnership contracts in the UK.

Bain and TH Lee have pushed back the closing deadline by six months for their $27.5 billion buyout of Clear Channel. Goldman Sachs recently did the same for its $1 billion buyout of Myers Industries.

The buyout group continues to enhance its debt market activities with closure of its first ever ‘credit liquidity’ fund.

Istithmar, a Dubai government-owned investment firm, reportedly plans to diversify into venture capital and debt investing as the unavailability of leverage makes larger deals more difficult.

CVC Capital Partners, the global buyout firm, is consulting investors for its latest fundraising effort while its chairman Michael Smith has reportedly said limited partners as long-term investors are not driven by short-term problems.

Mounir Guen, chief executive of MVision, a global placement agent, joins PEO on day three of its Countdown to 2008.

Palamon Capital Partners has carried out its ninth investment for its latest fund as it looks to benefit from the growth of online clothes shopping.