News & Analysis

A trio of sovereign wealth funds is in negotiations to take a stake in the UK-based private equity firm, in a move that could value the company at around £1.5bn.

The Cleveland, Ohio-headquartered firm has acquired a Korean preschool operator, its second deal in Asia, and its 20th in 2008.

The publicly listed investment firm also disclosed in its second quarter earnings call that it is nearing its $2.5bn target on a private equity-style credit fund – yet its fundraising pace has dropped more than 70 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil sands-related construction services company Voice Construction has been acquired by middle market investor Genstar Capital. The 173 billion barrels of oil tucked away in Alberta’s oils sands have become increasingly lucrative as oil prices skyrocket.

The $67bn Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is branching out into alternatives and seeking up to three private equity and real estate advisors to manage a $5.5bn alternatives ‘pot’.

Richard Bibby, associate director of corporate finance for KPMG, looks at approaches to valuing an investment in a hypothetical hotel chain

A mergermarket survey shows that Kekst & Company remains the top PR adviser to North American M&A by both deal value and volume.

Climate change is already a pressing issue on the minds of policymakers, but the business community would do well to consider how climate change affects their models and growth plans as well. Jennifer Harris recently spoke with Gwen Ruta of Environmental Defense Fund about the importance of taking environmental issues into account during the due diligence process. Ruta works with EDF's corporate partners to improve the environmental efficiency of their operations. Last year, EDF worked with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and TPG to draw up a plan for cleaning up portfolio company, power provider TXU. EDF is currently working with KKR on its Green Portfolio initiative, a partnership to help the buyout firm improve the environmental performance of its portfolio companies

The IRS is closing the window to comply with 409A of the Internal Revenue Code statute concerning deferred compensation, and those that dawdle in compliance efforts will face stiff penalties. By Jonathan Lewis and Elizabeth Pagel Serebransky, Debevoise & Plimpton

There are profits to be made in the emerging markets, but do your homework before rushing in, says Jeremy Hurewitz, a senior consultant in the global services division of Control Risks North America. To learn more about Control Risks, visit http://www.control-risks.com.