April 2008 Issue

Cross-portfolio purchasing programs can boost portfolio performance and cut down on costs dramatically. 

Here are the top five ways private equity firms are using technology to track portfolio company performance. 

Fair value is the rule. Now comes the hard part – creating a system for consistently measuring the fair value of your portfolio companies. CFOs weigh in on how they blend art with science in search of the right approach. 

How does a firm convince its dealmakers to input their daily activities into a front office tracking system? By tying this task to deal attribution – the key ingredient in compensation and investment career-building. 

Managing IT at offices around the world requires centralizing systems into a few technology hubs and sourcing the right local expertise. 

As their technology needs evolve, private equity firms need to know how to bring together the right mix of in-house professionals and third-party vendors. 

Ropes & Gray has opened their Chicago office with a trio of vets from Mayer Brown. 

Born of a major secondary deal with Lucent, New Venture Partners’ deal team now spend their days combing through the R&D labs of British Telecom and Royal Philips Electronics, among others, looking for hidden – and potentially profitable – gems. 

When working away from the office, GPs frequently rely on Citrix, which recreates your office computer desktop.

Until now the American Stock Exchange had a de facto monopoly on the recent deluge of ‘blank check’ IPOs. Now NASDAQ is getting in on the game, as the corporate structure gains credibility. 

A California legislator has introduced a controversial bill that would ban pension ties to sovereign wealth fund-backed private equity firms. 

Despite vigorous lobbying by business groups, the UK government has pushed ahead with its plans to introduce the annual levy on foreigners working in Britain. 

Hedge fund Bulldog Investors is suing the SEC, arguing non-registered funds have a right to advertise. 

Jennifer Zarrilli has been with the energy firm for 10 years.

Many GPs are hoping to avoid a scenario whereby they report the fair value of an LBO deal as worthless.