HgCapital, the private equity company formerly known as Mercury Private Equity, is banking on making a quick killing with its $8m (€9.4m) investment in Acuid Corporation, a developer of chip communications technology.

HgCapital is planning to take Acuid public some time next year. The accelerated timeframe from investment to probable exit is more reminiscent of venture capital horizons 18 months ago, when companies were floated just months after funding.