Fundraising

Sixty-eight private equity firms are feeling the heat of FOIA thanks to ‘Coingate.’

From its long-time base in Minneapolis, Norwest Equity Partners has quietly built a record of success in private equity. Overseeing the administrative side of the business has been John Whaley, who has been with Norwest for more than 25 years. The firm's sole limited partner is Wells Fargo & Co. In 1999 and again in 2004, Wells Fargo committed $800 million to Norwest Equity Partners VII and VIII, respectively. The firm also manages two mezzanine funds, the most recent having raised $400 million from Wells Fargo. NEP also maintains an office in Los Angeles. Private Equity Manager spoke recently with Whaley about how Norwest is the same as any other private equity firm, and how it differs on account of its publicly traded, regulated LP.

IRS rules regarding the allocation of carried interest create complexity in a transient private equity market.

Across Europe, the dominance of the limited partnership is no longer unquestioned. By Andy Thomson

FRONTLINE 2006-01-01 Staff Writer Alvarez targets Asian BVI companiesDistressed advisor Alvarez & Marsal Asia has formed a partnership with MWM Corporate Services to provide services to British Virgin Island-listed business that operate throughout Asia. In a statement, Alva

Hedge funds must now register as investment advisers. Are private equity funds next?

As private equity continues to draw capital, investors are keenly interested in measuring the asset class' performance history and are calling for self-regulated reporting standards among private equity firms. In France, direct funds and fund of funds manager AXA Private Equity is the first to be awarded GIPS (Global Investment Performance Standards) certification. Instrumental to AXA's adoption of the GIPS reporting standards has been Marie-Lys Halloppé, head of the firm's administration and finance department. Since joining the AXA group in 1982, Halloppé has led the firm's financial communications, portfolio valuations and private equity performance audit functions. Private Equity Manager recently spoke with Marie-Lys Halloppé about AXA's adoption of GIPS and the expected impact of adhering to these standards on the firm's activities.

Political giving is good, but the road to bad publicity and regulatory change is often paved with well intentioned campaign contributions. By David Snow

As the wins and losses of private equity become more visible to - and influenced by - the public eye, GP firms are finding more reasons for keeping a communications crisis management strategy on hand. By Judy Kuan

The management company advisory board is, to some, a vital aid to entering new markets, but to others an unnecessary luxury. By Andy Thomson