Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Register  |  Subscribe  |  Rss Icon RSS  |  Current Issue
 

Fidelity to close private-equity unit

Lack of debt financing will force shutdown of Fidelity Equity Partners at the end of July

By Sue Asci
June 19, 2009, 5:48 PM EST
Post a Comment
Share
Dismal economic conditions are forcing Fidelity Investments to shut down a private-equity unit.

The Boston-based firm will close Fidelity Equity Partners, which has about $500 million in assets, at the end of July, said Anne Crowley, a spokeswoman for the company.

“Debt financing is largely unavailable as a result of the economic conditions,” she said. “This has made the leveraged-buyout market not as attractive.”

The two-year old unit, based in Boston and London, had 12 employees split between the two locations.

The unit invests Fidelity’s own money, and “no outside investors or customers of Fidelity were involved,” Ms. Crowley said.

The unit had made investments in four companies and the firm will maintain those stakes, she said.

The closure of the unit does not affect the firm’s venture capital business, Fidelity Ventures, which was established more than 40 years ago and continues to invest in companies, Ms. Crowley said.



Share


Recommend this article?

User Comments






Reproductions and distribution of the above news story are strictly prohibited. To order reprints and/or request permission to use the article in full or partial format please contact our Reprint Sales Manager at (732) 723-0569.
Consuelo Mack Wealthtrack

 



Fund Data Provided by
Markets Data Provided by
Lipper QuoteMedia