Apax beats Blackstone Real Estate

Apax scored a dramatic victory over Blackstone Real Estate in London on Wednesday night – in an annual charity football tournament.

The London-based global private equity firm beat the real estate giants at the 2010 Annual Football Tournament organised by the Private Equity Foundation (PEF) following a dramatic sudden death penalty shootout.

Apax and Blackstone Real Estate, captained by former Goldman derivatives trader Boris Michev, had progressed to the final from a pool of 30 teams including the likes of Cinven, Permira, Silverfleet Capital, Doughty Hanson, TowerBrook Capital Partners, Bridgepoint Capital, TPG, Bain Capital, HarbourVest Partners and Candover, as well as the BVCA and not to mention Private Equity Media, a team of journalists including Robin Marriott, editor of PERE.

Apax’s Peter Flynn said after lifting the trophy it was “grit and determination” that won it. “We believe in results not fancy flicks but it helped having a very tall goal keeper,” he added. “Everyone’s had great fun for a great cause.”

The event was held at The London Soccerdome, formerly known as The David Beckham Academy, at Greenwich Peninsula.

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour and Chelsea’s record goal scorer Kerry Dixon were there on the night to watch the private equity teams fight it out.

The money raised is all going to support the PEF’s work helping children and young people’s charities to turn around young lives.

This year’s competition saw the young people’s team fielded by latest PEF charity, City Year London, but not even the presence of Dixon in its team could help them progress to the final stage of the Plate competition.

Shaks Ghosh, chief executive of the PEF, congratulated Apax and accountant Deloitte which went on to win in the Plate competition. “The tournament has provided a significant contribution to PEF’s work and I would like to say a very big thank you to all those who joined us, on and off the pitch, for a thrilling competition.”

In case you were wondering what happened to the Private Equity Media team, it got knocked out by law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, having earlier beaten TPG 2-0 as part of the group stage.