February 2012 Issue

Latin America’s largest economy has for this second time this year slashed taxes on foreign investment in local private equity funds.

Private equity firms should heed a recent US court case ruling that 'conscious avoidance' of bribery can still result in charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Dechert has poached talent from Mayer Brown as part of a new office opening in Germany, and Proskauer continues to bulk up its London funds practice as law firms continue to battle for talent and remain ahead of the competition.

Following a plea from legislators, US regulators have pushed back the comment period on the closely watched Volcker Rule. The move could spell trouble for banks who still face a July compliance deadline.

In addition to a round of New Year promotions, HarbourVest Partners has appointed former 3i executive Stuart Howard as chief operating officer within its European listed products division.

We ask Clifford Chance partner Simon Crown what impact the EU’s (soon to be revised) Markets in Financial Instruments Directive could have on private equity fund managers.

When selling fund interests in the secondaries market, buyers and sellers too often work from a different set of assumptions.

Both LPs and GPs have something to complain about when it comes to reporting practices – yet not everyone is wholeheartedly applauding the standardisation measures emerging.

Domestic fundraising in China and India is increasingly on the radar of regulators.

With capital under management globally approaching $3 trillion, private equity is an asset class badly in need of unimpeachable measurement standards.

The SEC is sensibly looking to relax rules on general solicitation, but if fund managers are to begin broadcasting fundraising efforts more openly, it may require an act from Congress.

In Europe, pensions will join insurers and banks in needing to set aside sufficient emergency capital for assets deemed risky – yet another regulatory-inspired roadblock for GPs on a crowded fundraising trail.

An innovative partnership between KKR, Apollo and a major US pension offers a sneak peek at the future

Mitt Romney's rivals for the Republican nomination for the US presidential race are ramping up attacks on his past, causing some LPs and GPs to worry about industry-wide ramifications.