What is private equity investing? Who participates in it and why? How is Palamon positioned in the industry? How does private equity investing compare with public market investing? What are the similarities and differences between the two? Why is Palamon interested in TeamSystem? Does it fit with Palamon’s investment strategy? How much is 51% of TeamSystem’s common equity worth? Use both a discounted cash flow and a multiple-based valuation to justify your recommendation. What complexities do cross-border deals introduce? What are the specific risks of this deal? What should Louis Elson recommend to his partners? Is it a go or not? If it is a go, what nonprice terms are important? If it’s not a go, what counterproposal would you make?

Palamon has been positioned as a company that is owned by several partners. They are considered as an independent and professional partnership. Palamon European Equity& LP has acapital investment of 440m Euros and is known to manage some of the largest pool of funds.

Teaching Note Synopsis and Objectives In February 2000, a managing partner of a U.K.-based private equity fund, Palamon Capital Partners, faced the decision of whether to invest in an Italian software company,