Fifty-nine percent of private equity executives believe their investment activity will rise over the next year, while 33 percent believe it will remain “about the same” and 8 percent expect to decrease their investment activity, according to a recent poll taken by audit, tax, and advisory firm KMPG.

EQT VI is to acquire 70% of Tiger, a variety retail store concept with more than 170 stores across 16 European countries. EQT VI was supported by SEB Enskilda as M&A advisor, Accura as legal and tax advisor, and KPMG as financial advisor.

Israeli high-tech firms raised $483 million in venture capital in the first quarter, after raising $2.14 billion in 2011, according to the the Israel Venture Capital Research Center, writes Reuters. The amount raised in the January-March period was 15 percent lower than the fourth quarter but flat versus the first quarter of 2011, IVC, in [...]

MONDAY 19 MARCH Venture Capital Forum Canada Hosts Funding Platform for Start-up Companies The week kicks off with the first day of the three day Venture Capital Forum Canada hosted by the French Chamber of Commerce in Canada. The forum takes place at the Hôtel Intercontinental
 Montréal. Prominent speakers over the three days include Jean-René [...]

More than 20 Israeli funds are currently raising capital, says the CEO of the Israel Venture Capital Research Center.

Consultancy KPMG has named Marc Moyers as head of its U.S. Private Equity Group, the company announced Monday. He succeeds Shawn Hessing who is retiring from the firm. Moyers joined KPMG LLP in 1977 and became a partner with the company in 1986.

Conventional wisdom is that emerging markets present the best return prospects for today’s private equity investors, but many are remaining closer to home.

At least that’s the finding of KPMG, which last month polled 60 senior private equity professionals. Forty-eight percent picked North America as the best place for investing based on competition, relative valuations, projected returns, economic outlook and relative ease of doing business. China came in second with 19%, while Latin America ranked third with 17% and India had 7 percent.

Stephen Gaines has stepped down as managing director and head of U.S. corporate finance for KPMG, according to an email he sent earlier today to friends and colleagues. He had joined KPMG in 1993, and took over the corporate finance group in June 2001.

In his email, Gaines wrote:

I have been with the firm for 17 years, the last 8 leading the Corporate Finance business. My decision to leave has been brewing for a while as I am looking to pursue other interests. First, however, I plan on taking a few months off to rest, relax and get to know myself and my family a bit better than the pace of the last 17 years allowed.

peHUB has put in a call to KPMG about who might replace Gaines

KPMG has named Drew Koecher as head of its U.S. restructuring services group. He most recently was service leader for KPMG’s transaction services group and was Americas leader for global accounting advisory services.

KPMG has named Shawn Hessing as national managing partner of its U.S. private equity group. He joined the firm in 1979, and was named a partner in 1993.