M&A Research: Global

During Q3 2011, 97 private equity funds reached a final close, raising an aggregate USD 44.8 billion, down from the USD 82.8 billion raised by the 175 funds that closed in Q2 2011, according to this Preqin report.

A report from Preqin reveals private equity fund performance remained strong in Q1 2011, with a rolling one-year horizon IRR for all private equity of around 20% for the year to March 2011.

Investor appetite for distressed private equity funds has increased significantly over the past few years, with these funds now accounting for 10% of all private equity fundraising, compared to 3% in 2006, Preqin reports in a new study.

In this paper Pablo Fernandez, professor of finance at IESE Business School in Madrid, revises several methods used for valuing brands. Among them, those of Interbrand, Damodaran, Financial World, Houlihan Valuation Advisors, Market Facts, Young & Rubicam and CDB Research & Consulting.

The October edition of Outlook from Smith & Williamson looks at changes in world markets over the month and how these will affect investments. It finds markets had a torrid time in the third quarter and exhibited enormous volatility.