Comment: Gearing works two ways

With hindsight, the decision of UK asset manager New Star Asset Management to borrow money to return £364m (€430.7m) to shareholders in April 2007 was sadly mis-timed.

Taking account of cash on its balance sheet, New Star's net debt shot up to £226m. To avoid a possible breach of banking covenants, chairman John Duffield was last week forced to renegotiate loan terms with the banks, led by HBOS.

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Venture Debt Firms Tilt Toward Mature CompaniesExternal link

Venture Debt Firms Tilt Toward Mature Companies