Private equity posts
FeedPosted Nov 19th 2009 2:10PM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: Deals, Rumors, Private equity, Media World
Playboy is such a mess that even the hint that a company is interested in it triggers a reaction. Oak Hill Capital Partners, a private equity firm, announced Wednesday that it has no interest in buying ailing adult media company Playboy (PLA), despite previous media reports indicating the contrary. Of course, this sent Playboy's shares down 3.7%. Oak Hill didn't just say "no way" to the present but made it clear for the future as well.
This follows a statement by Golden Gate Capital that it wouldn't be involved in a Playboy acquisition, again, despite suggestions in the media that it might make a move for the bunny. The latest possible buyer is Iconix Brand Group, which is generally hungry for brand acquisitions. Playboy is keeping its mouth shut on the matter.
Continue reading Bunny beaten: No interest in Playboy
Posted Nov 9th 2009 8:20AM by Tom Taulli (RSS feed)
Filed under: Deals, Private equity, Northrop Grumman (NOC)

Could it be that private-equity buyouts are making a comeback? There are certainly signs of a return. Just last week, TPG and the Canada Pension Plan agreed to shell out $4 billion for IMS Health (
RX).
This week, we have another interesting deal: KKR and General Atlantic will
buy TASC for $1.65 billion. TASC is the consulting unit of Northrop Grumman (
NOC).
Actually, the military giant had little choice but to unload the division because of a conflict of interest. How can you provide unbiased consulting to the U.S. government as well as sell weapons to it?
Continue reading KKR guns for a military deal -- buys Northrop Grumman's TASC
Posted Oct 22nd 2009 12:30PM by Tom Taulli (RSS feed)
Filed under: Private equity
There are chills spreading across the executive suites in Corporate America. As seen with the latest from the U.S. pay czar, there will be 50% pay cuts -- on average -- for 175 executives of firms that received federal money.
Might this spread like a virus?
It's too soon to tell. However, there has been a refuge; that is, private equity. Right?
Continue reading TPG coughs up $20 million in fees. Huh?
Posted Oct 18th 2009 1:40PM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: Private equity
The amount of investable assets available to venture capital funds has basically been a growth story since 2003. Dry powder slipped 7% in 2004 and 10% in 2008, but increased in every other year over this period.
Now, the dry powder number sits at $155 billion, according to alternative investment research firm Preqin, just off its December 2007 peak of $160 billion. The big number, however, masks a wide range of market situations for venture capital funds. Dry powder levels vary by strategy and region. To get a sense of what's going on behind the scenes, check out the five facts below about venture capital dry powder.
Continue reading Five views of venture capital dry powder
Posted Oct 12th 2009 12:50PM by Tom Taulli (RSS feed)
Filed under: Private equity
While the private equity industry is massive today, it is still a recent innovation. In fact, the industry got its start about 40 years ago.
And one of the pioneers is Lionel Pincus, who created Warburg Pincus. Unfortunately, he Pincus died over the weekend. He was 78.
With an MBA from Columbia, Pincus began his career on Wall Street as an investment banker (with Ladenburg, Thalman & Co.) No doubt, it was an extremely helpful experience, in terms of learning corporate finance and building a strong network of contacts.
Continue reading Lionel Pincus: A private equity legend dies
Posted Oct 12th 2009 12:30PM by Brent Archer (RSS feed)
Filed under: Good news, Private equity, Options, Technical Analysis, Blackstone Group L.P (BX), Initial public offerings
The Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX - option chain) shares are rising today on reports that the buy-out firm is planning to unload a number of its portfolio companies, including TeamHealth, which provides outsourcing services for the health-care industry, and Merlin Entertainments Group, of Europe, which owns Legoland and Sea Life. Up to eight IPOs and five sales to private equity companies are in the works. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on BX.
Blackstone opened Monday at $15.50. In morning trading the stock hit a low of $15.50 and a high of $16.18. As of 11:15, BX was trading at $15.79 up 0.94 (6.3%). The chart for BX looks bullish.
Continue reading Blackstone (BX) planning to shed up to 13 companies
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