Firms and Funds

Kirkland & Ellis, an international commercial law firm, is in the process of setting up a funds practice in Asia.   As part of the launch, partners Justin Dolling from London and Albert Cho from New York will relocate to Hong Kong in January 2009.   “Moving these two experienced partners to Hong Kong reflects […]

EQT Partners has opened a new office in Warsaw. It will be led by new partner Piotr Czapski, who previously was on the board of Polish telecom operator Netsia SA and, before that, led McKinsey & Co.’s business tech practice in Eastern Europe.

HONG KONG/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – With signs of cracks appearing across China’s credit system, concerns are growing that the country’s banks may be ill-equipped to handle a drop in the Chinese economy. Corporate collapses and defaults in the last few weeks, together with a tightening interbank lending market, show that China’s banks are hardly in the […]

It’s unsettling to witness attacks on the image of a “Wall Street corporate fat cat” echo around the country. According to Bob McCooey of NASDAQ, The finger pointing is “a political maneuver done for show.” And even worse, after a recent meeting with members of Congress, he said, “It’s amazing that so many members of […]

Mark-to-market accounting doesn’t translate well when the the S&P and Dow are down roughly 30% for the year. If Fair Accounting Standards laws base a portfolio company’s value on public market comps, then a major stock market drop like the one last week might equal a balance sheet eyesore for PE. At a conference yesterday, […]

The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) has opened a 20-person office in London.

Riverwood Capital (f.k.a. Bigwood Capital) is seeking $1.25 billion for its first institutional fund, according to LBO Wire. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based firm focuses on growth equity opportunities in tech hardware and hardware-related companies. It is run by Michael Marks, former KKR partner and Flextronics CEO.

Biofuels Capital Partners has abandoned its inaugural fund-raising drive, according to PE Week. The San Francisco-based private equity firm was planning to “bridge the gap between early-stage cleantech venture capitalists and expansion stage project financiers in the biofuels market,” and had secured around half of its $250 million target. Firm founder Bob Johnsen is now listed as CEO of Promethegen Corp. Read more (sub req.)

Charterhouse Capital Partners has held a €3.6 billion first close for its ninth European buyout fund, according to LBO Wire. The overall target is €6 billion. Limited partners include the Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management Board and the Washington State Investment Board. www.charterhouse.co.uk

Istithmar World Capital, the investment arm of Dubai World, is opening an office in New York. It is the firm’s first office in the Americas, and will be headed by Felix Herlihy and John Amato.