Second Opinion

Dropping Like Flies: Only half of the 22 private equity-backed European companies that were actively considering initial public offerings one month ago are still on track in their plans, Financial News research has found. (Subscription needed) How did Steve Schwarzman Spend His Birthday? The Valentines Day baby was spotted playing a round of tennis for #63. Yep I'm doing my best Us Weekly Impression right there. (Dealbreaker, Social Diary) The IPO Market: Busier, Yet Chilly: Resurgent stock volatility and concern about debt levels at some initial public offering candidates have made eager issuers cut back or cancel (MSNBC) Bonus Tally: Wall Streeters saw their bonuses leap by 17% in 2009. That's up from the 47% drop in 2008, so things are on the mend, depending on your view of the situation. (WSJ)

Best law Schools: Here are the schools with the highest percentages of grads hired by the top law firms. (National Law Journal) Don't Overthink it: Wharton is not trying to trick you on its admissions application. And other "myths" busted. (BusinessWeek) Foot In the Door: The perfect private equity resume. (FINS) Scroll to the bottom: NY Times issues its most amusing correction thus far this year. It involves pimping and President Obama. (NYT) M&A Scoops: Blackstone is looking to exit Gold Toe Socks, seeking around $450 million. (NY Post)

Advance Reviews of Wall Street 2: "A surprisingly satirical movie." (Clusterstock) Under pressure: European private equity firms aren't getting their bread-and-butter. (WSJ) Where did all the laid off bankers go? Not out of finance, according to LinkedIn. The network has tracked the changes in employer of its users and found that they mostly went to Barclays and Credit Suisse. More details here. (LinkedIn) How Does It Feel To Be Beat by a Pension Fund? The Ontario Teachers' Pension Fund is doing an end run around private equity-and racking up better returns (BusinessWeek)

Don't Be a Sucky Presenter: Some tips from Jason Moriber (New Comm Biz) Link for Links: Reuters rounds up the recent influx of bankruptcy M&A news this week. (Reuters) Hahahha: It's no big deal that PE-backed IPOs aren't coming into fruition! Not at all! Even for a mega-funds! Like Carlyle! Just ask David Rubenstein! (BusinessWeek) From Finance to Film: After 10 years at Citadel and six more in the movie business, Julio DePietro, 38, is debuting his first film, "The Good Guy," a dramatic comedy whose main characters work at a financial institution called "Morgan Brothers."(Deal Journal) PE Arrogance: The private equity industry got a dressing-down from one of its chief defenders against potentially draconian regulation being discussed by the European Union. (Finalternatives)

Playing it safe: Johannes Huth, KKR's head of Europe, is "cautiously optimistic" about 2010. (Financial News) For Sale Already? Retweet.com, a competitor to the much more popular Tweetmeme service, has put itself on the auction block. (Mashable) Anyone Want to Make a Vanity Investment? Terra Firma may sell Abbey Road to raise money for EMI. Paul McCartney hopes someone will rescue it. (Sidney Morning Herald) Private equity needs to improve its courtship: Investors neither wanted nor were ready for the wave of private equity IPOs being pushed through. (Telegraph) Sharia PE: Reuters is holding its Islamic Summit, and speakers predicted a PE boom for Islamic finance. (Reuters) Women in PE: In terms of geography, North America-based private equity firms have the highest percentage, 8.5%, of female employees in senior management roles in the industry. Not surprising, but disappointing. (Preqin)

Last Year's PE Doldrums: They're fading fast, according to a study from Pitchbook via DealFlow media. Leaving the Baby in the Arms of Private Equity: In response to my article last week on Succession Capital partners, Nick Leopard at Accordion Partners had some thoughts. (Changing the Game) Fund Managers Do Not Trust Private Equity: Bold Headline. Sub only. (Financial news) Hong Kong Singapore Shanghai and Shenzen: Those are four finance hiring hotspots in Asia, according to this detailed article. (FINS) PE Roll-Ups: PE firms are shopping for bite-sized acquisitions in the new post-LBO world, but will today's roll-up pan out? (IDD) Monomoy Capital Partners seems to think so. (peHUB) Scorn: There's at least one person who isn't a fan of Obama's financial reforms and that's Hank Paulson. (Times Online)

Happy early Valentine's Day, everyone... Revenge of the Wall Street Traders: Moe Tkacik reports from Wall Street's version of the Tea Parties. Leading the charge is a firm called John Thomas Financial. (Daily Finance) Scary Headlines: David Reilly is fear-mongering the President into taking action with headlines like this one: Man Up, Obama, or Make Way for President Palin: (Bloomberg) How Generous are PE Pros: Slate and PE Beat have outlined the most generous Americans in 2009 and you'd be surprised at which PE pro is ranked highest. (Slate, PE Beat) The Elusive IPO: Not as easy as for private equity as we might have thought. (Dealbook)

Blackstone IPO Pipeline Clogs: "The worst may be over, but there is little to celebrate." That includes the below-expectation pricing on Graham Packaging. And PS., will you look at the lovely News Corp. influence on the photo choice for this story? Of course a story about IPOs has to be accompanied by photo of a hot woman. (WSJ) Love Stinks: Five parodies of the Google Superbowl ad. (Mashable) Chartjunk: How companies skirt the truth with pretty pictures. (DealZone) Silicon Valley the New SoHo? Is Silicon Valley losing its edge? One source quoted compares it to SoHo, once a cheap place to live and make art but now too expensive for artists. The mere question reminds me of the LCD Soundsystem song, "Losing My Edge," with the lyrics: "I'm losing my edge to better-looking people with better ideas and more talent. And they're actually really, really nice." And also: "I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know." (Dealbook) Write-Ups On The Way: Private equity portfolio valuations could rise by up to 20 percent in 2009, in a sign the buyouts industry is coming back to life after more than a year of turmoil, industry participants said. (Reuters) Ruffled Feathers: GE is taking issue with some parts of Hank Paulson's new book "On the Brink," and if Paulson's account is true, there could be legal ramifications. (Dealbook)

Snow Whiskey! Some Wall Street traders who made it to work today hope they can't make it home. (Bloomberg) Meet Lisa Carnoy: Bank of America's "$19 Billion Woman." (WSJ) "Breast-aurant"?! Hooters is on the block. And yes, I had no idea the respectable establishment referred to itself as a "breast-aurant" but just wow. And of course, the Post could not resist a "sagging" sales comment. (NY Post) Fabulous Chaise Lounges: Dealbreaker isn't so sure John Thain will be able to handle the temptation to redecorate his new executive office at CIT. (DB) David the Raging Bull: Carlyle's David Rubenstein is speaking up once again in favor of the private equity industry. (DJ)

In Europe its 9.02.10. Ha. (Entertainment Fix) $140 1BR Affordable Snow Fort Sublet in Capitol Hill: Now available for rent! Includes Wireless internet, doorman with fez, premade snowballs. (Craigslist) Get It While You Can: The Flotation Window could slam shut on PE. (Telegraph) Paranoid optimism: PE firms "shouldn't underestimate the impact on their industry that rising populism and politicians taking whacks at banks and bureaucracies will have." (NY Times) Email Forward of the Day: Rice Student Thinks Jefferies Is "More Courteous" Than Its Counterparts And Has "The Best Corporate Culture In Town" (Dealbreaker) And here's another, more service-y take on the same topic. (Business Insider) RISKY: The key to LBOs is not a lack of risk (that would not be an LBO by nature) but less of it. (NY Times)