Can Private Equity Make an Exit in Time?

Hitachi is one case of a conglomerate looking to shed a losing business. But Covid-19 clouds the strategies for potential investors. Private equity firms are circling Japan Inc., looking to carve out parts of large, cumbersome conglomerates. Enticing as the targets are, turning them into returns could be tough. Buyout funds have eyed Japan for […]

After layoffs, travel start-up TripActions is hiring and raises $155 million

(Reuters) – U.S. corporate travel startup TripActions on Thursday said it raised $155 million at a valuation of $5 billion, after a sharp downturn in business due to the coronavirus pandemic last year forced it to lay off a quarter of its staff. The company now has 750 employees and is looking to double that […]

Goldman chief executive says Spac boom is unsustainable

David Solomon issues warning after financing tool is used to raise nearly $79bn from investors last year. David Solomon, Goldman Sachs chief executive, says the boom in listings of blank-cheque companies on Wall Street is unsustainable, casting doubt on a financing tool used to raise nearly $79bn from investors last year. Speaking to analysts as […]

Impax Asset Management adds Sean Maguire as Managing Director

Impax Asset Management (Impax), a specialist asset manager investing in the transition to a more sustainable global economy, has appointed Sean Maguire as a managing director in firm’s private equity/infrastructure team in London. Impax is one of the longest established private markets managers in the large and rapidly growing renewable energy sector. Sean’s industry network […]

Schwarzman Predicts Gentler Biden Approach to Beijing

Blackstone head has been close to Trump, but he also is an investor in Chinese companies. One of Donald Trump’s biggest financial backers, Blackstone Group Chairman Stephen Schwarzman, declared that the Biden administration would take a “softer tone” regarding China, and that he expected less animosity between the two countries. Schwarzman, who also happens to […]

Blackrock rides rising stock market to exceed forecasts

The world’s biggest money manager beat market expectations yesterday as rising equities lifted Blackrock’s assets under management to a record high. Higher levels of activity in the stock market helped to boost the group’s profits by a fifth. Adjusted net quarterly income reached $1.57 billion, up from $1.31 billion in the quarter to December 31, […]

10 Outrageous Private Equity Predictions For 2021

As in past years, these outrageous predictions take actual events and trends to extreme conclusions. Some may come to pass, but the primary goal is to amuse. OP1 – Thirty Percent of Funds are Raised Digitally, Indirectly Benefitting New Managers Although a critical mass of the globe’s population is vaccinated against Covid-19 and travel restrictions […]

10 big things: Affirm leads a feeding frenzy for fintech

Fintech has been a venture capital hotspot ever since the global financial crisis, a calamity that exposed some serious flaws in an industry long dominated by an upper-crust of traditional names. In the ensuing years, a host of new companies pitching upstart technologies have begun to gain ground on the establishment, winning over converts among […]

Palatine appoints ESG Director

Palatine, a mid-market private equity firm, has promoted Stephanie Wall to the position of ESG Director. In her new role Wall joins Palatine’s senior management team. She will continue to lead projects across Palatine’s Buy-Out and Impact funds to embed ESG (environmental, social and governance) practices and continuous improvement across its portfolio, with a particular […]