Chris Witkowsky

Deal volume drops in 2015 Mexico helps sustain deal volume with record year Fundraising also drops across the region Disheartened by economic troubles in Brazil, many Latin America deal-makers headed to Mexico last year. Mexico pulled in a record $2.3 billion through 88 private equity and venture capital investments in 2015, said the Latin America Private Equity and […]

KKR marks down data center business Aceco Firm accuses former owner GA of hiding problems at the company KKR and GA in private arbitration Kohlberg Kravis Roberts’ first direct investment in Brazil is in deep trouble. The firm invested around $250 million into data center operator Aceco TI in 2014, but the value of the investment has […]

Warburg commits to $500m line of equity for oil & gas company Distressed assets not a priority Deal emerged from longtime Warburg relationship Despite depressed oil prices, Warburg Pincus has committed $500 million to seed efforts by a team of industry veterans to establish an oil and gas exploration and development company. Now that we “have the […]

Chris Pietersen jumped from Bain after about a year Prior to Vista and Bain, Pietersen worked at First Reserve Vista expands IR team with numerous funds in market Vista Equity Partners hired former Bain Capital investor relations executive Chris Pietersen in December, according to the firm’s website. Pietersen, who joined Vista as a senior vice […]

SEC made ‘informal request’ Carlyle cooperating with SEC request SEC focused on proper disclosure around fees The SEC has requested additional information from The Carlyle Group on its past use, if any, of accelerated monitoring fees, according to the firm’s 10-K annual report filed Thursday. “We are cooperating fully with the SEC’s informal request,” the filing said. […]

Carlyle to wind down DGAM Solutions ‘refocusing’ on secondaries, managed accounts Solutions reported lower ENI last year Carlyle Group will shutter its fund-of-hedge-funds Diversified Global Asset Management as it works to rebalance its Investment Solutions business unit. Bloomberg was first to report that Carlyle decided to shutter Toronto-based DGAM, which the firm acquired in 2014. The […]

Fundraising for first-timers is getting harder LPs pull away from first-timers as markets wobble Outlook for first-timers remains sluggish It’s always hard for a fledgling private equity firm to raise a debut fund, though LPs for the past few years have been more willing to explore relationships with first timers. This was a product of […]

The shadow of the SEC is looming over the private equity secondary market. SEC officials have been vocal about their scrutiny of zombie funds and the restructuring process. Agency officials have said at past conferences they plan to watch this area closely to make sure limited partners are being treated fairly. In restructurings, new investors buy assets […]

Mike Ireland left First Avenue Stephen Hines, president of U.S. business, left last year Firm hired several principals over last two years Mike Ireland, a partner at placement agency First Avenue Partners, left the firm recently, a spokeswoman confirmed. Ireland was a partner and co-head of Americas sales, according to his LinkedIn profile. He started at […]

Aurora Capital Group has collected around $650 million for its fifth flagship fund, which is targeting $800 million, according to a person with knowledge of the firm. Fund V has a hard cap of $1 billion, the person said. Founded in 1991 by Gerald Parsky, assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury during the Ford administration, the […]