Firms and Funds

Start-up Mansbridge Capital Management has set out to round up $100 million for a debut fund of funds earmarked for smaller buyout partnerships of no more than $1 billion in size. It has secured $30 million so far. “History has shown that the smaller buyouts have consistently outperformed the larger buyouts,” said Lance Mansbridge, one […]

I wrote here yesterday that a seed-stage fund called MentorTech Ventures just closed its inaugural fund. This was done in the context of today’s jaunt down to Philly (I should leave soon, since my plane does), because MentorTech focuses primarily on IT and medical device companies that originate within the University of Pennsylvania. But it also […]

Buyer: Advent International Target: Mr. Clean Platform: Atmosfera Headquarters: Brazil Price: $23 million Advent International is trying to clean up in the laundry business. One of its portfolio companies in Brazil, Atmosfera, just vastly expanded its textile cleaning business by acquiring Mr. Clean—not the famous American detergent emblazoned with the bald-headed cleaning genie, but Brazil’s […]

Mid-market firm raises €52m

UK firms sell ASP to mobile phone giant

Think you’re adventurous because you invest in China or India? Have some courage. Invest in Libya. The North African country began an economic resurgence by dismantling its nuclear program in late 2003, and now is poised to get its first-ever private equity fund. The manager is Tuareg Capital, an eight-month-old firm with staffers in Bahrain, […]

Activa Capital buys French jam maker

Limited partner: California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Commitment: $400 million Fund manager: Centinela Capital Partners The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) has made a $400 million commitment to funds-of-funds manager Centinela Capital Partners as part of its effort to invest more capital with emerging managers–particularly ones that invest in California. Centinela intends to […]