What's Building Value in Canada?

According to a report released Thursday by the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association, buyout investors added $25 to $30 billion in value to the Canadian economy and created 114,000 jobs between 2002 and 2006.

Take another look - 114,000 jobs created. No doubt - private equity builds value for Canadians.

Posted by Jeffrey Watson at Loewen & Partners, the Private Equity partner working with integrity for Business Owners and Family Businesses.

Private Equity Growing

Despite reports of Private Equity firms under siege in the current financial markets, the sector is continuing to prove resilient. Serent Capital, a mid-market fund from San Fransisco, was able to raise $250 million last month, 25 percent above its fundraising goal of $200 million.

Posted by Jeffrey Watson, Loewen & Partners., Toronto, Canada.

Private Equity at 2006 Levels

There were 29 private-equity buyouts in Canada in the first quarter. Only nine deals disclosed their values, of which purchase prices came to $2.4 billion. That tally is consistent with performance in 2006.

Posted by Jeff Watson, Loewen & Partners.

Canada's Biggest Private Equity Deal

On Wednesday, May 28 BCE asked the Supreme Court of Canada to hear an appeal of a lower court decision that could kill its planned buyout, saying it was important to clarify rules governing corporate boards. Bondholders successfully argued before a Quebec court that the C$34.8 billion privatization of BCE would unfairly devalue their bonds. This decision imposes obligations on company directors to creditors that have never before been recognized by a court in Canada.

Posted by Jeffrey Watson, Associate at the private equity firm, Loewen & Partners.

Raising Capital - A Fresh View From Toronto

A Guest to Canadian Private Equity Blog

A warm welcome to Jeff Watson, our guest columnist. We hope Jeff will visit us on a weekly basis to give an update on what is hapening in the world of private equity. Here's what's new from Jeff Watson:

Private Equity Funds are turning their attention towards the emerging markets as the U.S. and Western Europe economies continue to withstand economic slowdowns and the global credit crunch. New York-based private equity giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) announced this week that it will be opening an office in India by the end of this year.

KKR has a history of investing in the region, having acquired Flextronics International for $900 million in 2006, the largest ever leveraged buyout in India. Earlier this year, the private equity firm said it would invest $250 million in Bharti Infratel Ltd., India’s largest private telco firm.