Fundraising

A larger buyout market has shown signs of gathering momentum in Spain over the last few years. To what extent has it been derailed by the credit crunch? Toby Lewis explores.

In a recent interview with sister magazine Private Equity International, Oaktree chairman Howard Marks discussed his firm’s rapid expansion and expertise in profiting from troubled times.

A $3.5 billion distressed-for-control fund was recently closed by MHR Fund Management, the New York firm led by Carl Icahn’s former chief investment advisor Mark Rachesky. It is more than three times the size of the firm’s 2002 fund.

Central and eastern European buyout firm Mid Europa Partners closed the largest-ever fund in the region on €1.53 billion, 40 percent oversubscribed.

VSS has agreed to pay $185 million for direct marketing company TRANZACT, generating for its owner, Halyard Capital, a return of 12 times its investment and an 85 percent IRR.

Kabir Misra is in charge of a new Softbank affiliate that is making its mark across Asia.

Private equity vehicles and sovereign wealth funds from the Middle East are making headlines - and worrying politicians - with high-profile direct investments in Western markets, writes Rob Kotecki.

Nicholas Lockley, editor of PrivateEquityOnline.com, looks behind the headlines of the last four weeks on the web.

Sweden's smaller deal market is hoping to stay immune from the contagion sweeping the LBO market. Andy Thomson reports.

Ten years ago, some of the largest firms got creative when debt became scarce – with disastrous results.