Barclays Private Equity Bolsters German Team

Because of the influx of overseas players that have entered the German private equity market with the intention of building local teams, demand for experienced private equity professionals in Germany currently appears to be outstripping supply, and team building for some groups has been considerably slower than anticipated.

Barclays Private Equity, which opened a Munich office last year, found cause for celebration in March when it expanded its German executive team through the appointments of director Michael Bork and investment manager Dr Jan Weichmann. The firm expects to add a fourth executive to its Munich team by the year end.

Michael Bork joins from Reuschel Bank, part of the Dresdner Group, where he was head of corporate banking. Dr Jan Weichmann was previously an investment manager in Deutsche Bank’s private equity division.

Peter Hammermann, managing director of Barclays Private Equity Germany, said, “The German private equity market is growing at an impressive rate, which has created a demand for private equity providers that not only have the necessary funds, but also the technical expertise to ensure that deals reach completion. With these appointments, we are in an excellent position to satisfy that demand”.

Graeme White, head of Barclays Private Equity, predicted that opportunities in the German private equity market would continue to increase, boosted by the growing acceptance of financial buyers, the introduction of the euro and Germany’s continuing privatisation programme.

Barclays Private Equity, which to date has principally invested funds on behalf of its parent bank alongside an allocation from AXA Sun Life Asset Management, is currently considering raising its first third-party fund.

Simon Havers has been appointed a director of ABN AMRO Private Equity. He joined the firm’s London team from Granville just over a year ago and is responsible for group-wide marketing and fund raising for ABN AMRO Private Equity, ABM AMRO Mezzanine and ABN AMRO Quoted Investments. ABN AMRO Private Equity also draws on Simon Havers’ experience in the information technology and media industries, gained in posts at the BBC, Philips and Plessey, for its UK and European investments in those sectors.

The French office of Access Capital Partners (story page 8) is at 19, avenue de Messine, 75008 Paris, tel +33 1 56 43 61 00, fax +33 1 56 43 61 01. The firm’s UK address is 21 Grosvenor Street, London W1X 9FE, tel +44 171 495 6900, fax +44 171 495 8700.

Advent International’s Central & Eastern European Group has moved to 158 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TR. The main telephone number, +44 171 333 0800, is remains the same but the fax number has changed to +44 171 730 4119.

Agincourt Capital the new Irish technology-focused venture capital group that aims to add value buy assisting its investees with entry into the US market (story, page 9), can be contacted at 18 Herbert Street, Dublin 2, Ireland, tel +353 1 662 7000, fax +353 1 662 7066.

The firm’s US offices are at 8300 Boone Boulevard, Suite 500, Vienna, Virginia 22182, tel +1 703 848 9288, fax +1 703 848 9288.

BancBoston Capital has added two staff to its London-based European team during the early months of this year.

Brazilian-born Daniela Soares, who has transferred from the bank’s Boston offices, was appointed as a European investment officer. In her previous role, she was involved in leveraged buyouts, direct fund investments and secondary private portfolio investments. Daniela Soares’ involvement in the European private equity began last year when she undertook a five-month assignment in BancBoston’s London office to promote new relationships in Portugal and Spain, and worked on investments in Spain, France, Italy, Austria and the UK. Her responsibilities at BancBoston Capital will include identifying possibilities for leveraging investment opportunities between the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America.

Martin Mabille joined BancBoston Capital as a European investment analyst. A French national who was previously a senior consultant with Ernst & Young Entrepreneurial services in France, Martin Mabille will focus on investment opportunities in Francophone Europe and will also be involved in emerging growth transactions.

Chase Capital Partner s has moved to new premises in San Francisco and can now be contacted at 50 California Street, Suite 2940, San Francisco, CA 94111, tel +1 415 591 1200, fax +1 415 591 1205.

The new address for Clayton Dubilier & Rice’s London office, headed by Christopher Mackenzie, is 55 Grosvenor Street, London W1X 9DA, tel +44 171 290 5800, fax +44 171 290 5801.

Gresham Trust plans to open a Birmingham office during the first half of this year and has recruited Richard Whitwell, previously head of new investment at Murray Johnstone Private Equity in Birmingham, as a founder member of its Birmingham team. The firm last year flagged its commitment to expanding its investment activity in the regions with the appointment of director Simon Inchley to coordinate Gresham’s expansion in the Midlands and North of England. Simon Inchley will head the new Birmingham team, assisted by Richard Whitwell, Gresham Trust plans to recruit two further executives to complete the regional team.

Meanwhile Mark Hammond, formerly a director of acquisition finance at the Royal Bank of Scotland, has joined Gresham Trust’s London office as an investment director. Gresham Trust managing director Paul Marson-Smith said the firm has worked with Mark Hammond on several deals and is therefore confident that it is taking on “a very professional operator”.