GMT hires Ian McKenzie, Maria Trokoudes
09/05/2008. Communications-focused private equity firm GMT Communications Partners has appointed Ian McKenzie as senior advisor and Maria Trokoudes as a senior associate.

Lime Rock Partners V closes on $1.4bn
09/05/2008. Energy-focused private equity firm Lime Rock Partners has closed its fifth fund, Lime Rock Partners V, on $1.4bn.

3i invests in German DruckChemie
09/05/2008. 3i has agreed to back the €133m secondary buy-out of Ammerbuch, Germany-headquartered DruckChemie, a speciality service provider to the printing industry, from SG Capital Europe and Quartus.

Sterling Stamos hires Robert Goodman to head private equity activities
09/05/2008. Sterling Stamos Capital Management has appointed former vice chairman of Deutsche Asset Management Robert Goodman as global head of private equity and real assets.

American Capital Strategies opens second Boston office, expands sponsor finance group
08/05/2008. American Capital Strategies has opened a second office in the Boston area to expand its sponsor finance group's investment activities. The new office will be led by Tim Robinson, who the firm has appointed as a principal. In his new role, he will be joined by David Morris as vice president and Dan Hodges as associate.

LGV appoints Ivan Heywood as chief executive
08/05/2008. UK mid-market buy-out firm LGV Capital has appointed Ivan Heywood as its new chief executive. Heywood will succeed Adrian Johnson, who has been chief executive of the firm since July 2000.

Sameer Gandhi joins Accel Partners
08/05/2008. Silicon Valley venture capital firm Accel Partners has appointed former Sequoia Capital partner Sameer Gandhi as a partner in its Palo Alto office.

Oxford Capital launches fifth venture capital fund
07/05/2008. Oxford-based venture capital firm Oxford Capital has launched its fifth Oxford Gateway Enterprise Investment Scheme Fund. The firm expects that it will be open to new investors for about a year. It aims to raise between £15m and £20m for the new vehicle.

First Reserve, Schlumberger to acquire Saxon Energy Services
07/05/2008. Sword Canada Acquisition Corporation, an acquisition vehicle jointly owned by oilfield service company Schlumberger and energy-focused private equity firm First Reserve Corporation, has agreed to acquire drilling and well servicing business Saxon Energy Services for CAN$7 per share. The deal values the company at CAN$592m.

Activa invests in Sport 2000
07/05/2008. Paris-based private equity firm Activa Capital has agreed to take a 37 per cent stake in French sports retailer Sport 2000. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

DIC appoints Mark Lunn as managing director, corporate communications
07/05/2008. Dubai International Capital, the international investment arm of Dubai Holding, has appointed Mark Lunn as managing director, corporate communications.

Split Rock closes $300m fund
07/05/2008. US venture capital firm Split Rock Partners has closed its Split Rock Partners II fund on $300m. All of the investors from Split Rock's first fund returned as investors in the new fund, the firm said in a statement.

Partners Group opens China office
07/05/2008. Switzerland-based alternative asset manager Partners Group has opened an office in Beijing. The new location adds to the firm’s existing network of offices in Zug (headquarters), San Francisco, New York, London, Guernsey, Luxembourg, Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney.

Silver Lake Sumeru closes on $1.1bn
07/05/2008. Silver Lake has closed Silver Lake Sumeru, the firm's inaugural mid-market investment fund, on $1.1bn.

Actis adds three to infrastructure team
07/05/2008. Emerging markets private equity firm Actis has appointed three new directors to its global infrastructure business. Robert McGregor will be based in the firm's Singapore office to head the South East Asia region, where he will be joined by Vivek Dixit. Sanjiv Aggarwal will join the firm's Delhi office to lead Actis's infrastructure business in South Asia.

KPCB closes two funds
07/05/2008. Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers has closed its latest early stage fund, KPCB XIII Fund, on $700m. The firm has also announced the closing of its growth-stage investment fund, Green Growth Fund, on $500m, which will invest in companies developing solutions related to climate change.

PAI partners closes fifth fund on €5.4bn
06/05/2008. Paris-based private equity firm PAI partners has closed its PAI Europe V fund on €5.4bn. It is the largest private equity fund raised to date in Continental Europe.

Bowmark hires Paraag Davé, promotes Mark Salter
06/05/2008. UK mid-market private equity firm Bowmark Capital has appointed Paraag Davé as an investment manager. The firm has also announced the promotion of healthcare and leisure sector expert Mark Salter to senior partner.

Morgan Stanley PE's European team hires Jean-Philippe Barade, Alasdair Thomson
06/05/2008. Morgan Stanley Private Equity has hired Jean-Philippe Barade and Alasdair Thomson to join its London office as executive directors.

Paul Capital closes ninth secondaries fund on $1.65bn
06/05/2008. Paul Capital has closed its ninth private equity secondaries fund, Paul Capital Partners IX, on $1.65bn, above its original hard cap of $1.5bn.

EQT to acquire Strauss Innovation
06/05/2008. The EQT Opportunity Fund has agreed to acquire a majority stake in German private label retail chain Strauss Innovation via a capital increase. Following completion of the transaction, the current majority owner, the Geringhoff family, will continue to hold a significant stake in the company.

Israel Cleantech Ventures closes $75m debut fund
06/05/2008. Israel Cleantech Ventures has closed its debut fund on $75m, above its original target of $60m.

Nordic Capital, Avista Capital to acquire ConvaTec for $4.1bn
06/05/2008. Private equity firms Avista Capital Partners and Nordic Capital have agreed to acquire biopharmaceutical business unit ConvaTec from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company for approximately $4.1bn, subject to adjustments based on ConvaTec's audited 2007 financial statements and closing working capital.

Private equity consortium acquires telecom company GTS Central Europe
06/05/2008. A private equity consortium led by Columbia Capital, M/C Venture Partners and Innova Capital and including HarbourVest Partners, Oak Investment Partners and Bessemer Venture Partners has acquired 100 per cent of telecom service operator GTS Central Europe from Group Menatep Limited. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

PPM Capital renames itself Silverfleet Capital
06/05/2008. European private equity house PPM Capital has changed its name to Silverfleet Capital, following a buy-out in November 2007 from its previous owner, Prudential.

Tony Florence, Paul Walker join NEA's venture growth equity investing practice
02/05/2008. Venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates has appointed Tony Florence and Paul Walker as partners. Florence will focus on growth stage IT investing activities, while Walker will concentrate on later stage biotechnology and life sciences investments.

Headway Capital closes second secondaries fund on €150m
01/05/2008. UK secondaries firm Headway Capital Partners has closed its second fund, Headway Investment Partners II, on its hard cap of €150m. The fund had an original target of €100-120m. It held interim closings in October 2007 and February of this year.

Palamon appoints new CFO
01/05/2008. European mid-market private equity firm Palamon Capital Partners has appointed Gary Pritchard as CFO. Pritchard joins from specialty insurance and reinsurance group Catlin Group.

Catterton closes $300m consumer sector-focused fund
01/05/2008. US consumer sector-focused private equity firm Catterton Partners has closed its Catterton Growth Partners fund on its hard cap of $300m. The fund will target control oriented investments in companies requiring between $10m and $30m of equity capital.

CCMP to sell Safetykleen to Warburg Pincus in £565m deal
30/04/2008. CCMP Capital Advisors has agreed to sell industrial service provider Safetykleen Europe to Warburg Pincus in a deal that values the company at approximately £565m. The senior team at Safetykleen will roll over a 'substantial proportion' of their shareholding and will continue to lead the business going forward, according to a statement.

German firm CFH raises €60m venture capital fund for Saxony
30/04/2008. Leipzig, Germany-based private equity firm CFH has held a first closing on its new technology venture capital fund, Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen (TGFS), on €60m, the target size of the fund. The fund has a hard cap of €75m.

Swiss firm SCM opens Hong Kong office
30/04/2008. Zurich-headquartered SCM Strategic Capital Management has opened a new office in Hong Kong. The news follows the establishment of SCM Strategic Capital Management Asia earlier this year.

BCP hires three new operating partners
30/04/2008. Tom Hodson, Harry Schulman and AJ Wasserstein have joined Baird Capital Partners, the US-based buy-out fund of Baird Private Equity, as operating partners. They will work with BCP’s sector-focused teams in sourcing, evaluating and overseeing portfolio company investments.

Generation Investment Management closes Climate Solutions Fund on $683m
30/04/2008. London-headquartered fund management firm Generation Investment Management has closed its Climate Solutions Fund on $683m. The fund is a 'cross over' fund that will invest in private and public companies.

Israeli high-tech companies raise $617m in Q1 2008
29/04/2008. In the first quarter of this year 135 Israeli high-tech companies raised $617m from venture investors, the highest amount in seven years, according to a quarterly survey from the IVC Research Center. The capital raised in the quarter was 52 per cent above that raised by 121 companies in the first quarter of 2007, and 23 per cent above the previous quarter's amount raised by 115 companies.

Francisco Partners to sell Metrologic to Honeywell for $720m
29/04/2008. Technology-focused private equity firm Francisco Partners has agreed to sell Metrologic Holdings Corporation to industrial supplies manufacturer Honeywell International for $720m.

UK private equity-backed IPOs outperform market over 12 months, Cass report
29/04/2008. Private equity-backed IPOs outperform other IPOs by more than nine per cent one year after their public listing, research published by Cass Business School, London, found. The research was commissioned jointly by the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association and the London Stock Exchange.

Irish firm Fountain holds €75m first closing on maiden life science fund
29/04/2008. Dublin-headquartered Fountain Healthcare Partners, a spin-out investment team from Elan Corporation's corporate venture capital group, has held a €75m first closing on its inaugural fund, Fountain Healthcare Partners I. The firm initially targeted €40m but later increased the target size of the fund to €100m. It expects a final closing to occur within a year from now.

Bancroft raises €250m third fund, hires Agis Hiliarhopoulos
28/04/2008. CEE and Turkey-focused private equity firm Bancroft Private Equity has confirmed that it is raising its third fund, Bancroft 3. The fund has a target of €250m and is expected to hold a first closing shortly.

French firm Vermeer Capital holds €75m first closing on turnaround fund
28/04/2008. Paris-based firm Vermeer Capital has completed a €75m first closing on its maiden turnaround fund, called Vermeer Capital. The fund was launched seven months ago. It is expected to close on €90m within the next three months.

Darby hires David Hudson to lead Asia operations, global infrastructure
28/04/2008. Darby Overseas Investments, the private equity arm of investment management group Franklin Templeton Investments, has appointed David Hudson as senior managing director to lead the firm's Asia operations and its global infrastructure initiatives. Hudson will be based in Hong Kong.

Boston private equity firm Summit Partners closes two funds
28/04/2008. Summit Partners has raised two new funds: Summit Partners Europe Private Equity Fund closed on its hard cap of €1bn and Summit Partners Subordinated Debt Fund IV closed on $825m, exceeding the initial target of $700-800m.

Quaker BioVentures closes second fund on $420m
28/04/2008. Life sciences-focused venture capital firm Quaker BioVentures has closed its second fund, Quaker BioVentures II, on $420m, exceeding its $300m target. The fund held an interim closing on $17m in April of 2007.

Permira to sell debitel to freenet in €1.63bn deal
28/04/2008. Permira has agreed to sell German mobile service provider debitel to freenet, an entity listed on the German stock exchange, in a deal valued at €1.63bn.

Morgan Stanley Private Equity hires Aluri Rao to head new India team
25/04/2008. Morgan Stanley Private Equity has hired former ICICI Venture director of private equity Aluri Srinivasa Rao to lead the firm's newly established India presence.

HM Capital buys TriDimension Energy
25/04/2008. HM Capital Partners has acquired Dallas-headquartered oil and gas exploration company TriDimension Energy for an undisclosed amount. As part of the transaction, the company's management team will reinvest a substantial portion of its proceeds to acquire a minority stake alongside the Dallas-based private equity firm.

HitecVision to invest $120m in Spring Energy Norway
24/04/2008. Norway-based private equity firm HitecVision Private Equity has agreed to provide $120m in equity financing from its HitecVision V fund to Oslo oil and gas company Spring Energy Norway.

BS Private Equity to exit investment in Radici Film
24/04/2008. Italian private equity firm BS Private Equity and Centrobanca have agreed to sell 100 per cent of European plastic films supplier Radici Film to Dubai-headquartered Taghleef Industries. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but sources close to the deal said the deal was worth around €200m. BS Private Equity and Centrobanca expect to make about two times their money.

Meridiam Infrastructure raises €600m for public private partnership
24/04/2008. Meridiam Infrastructure, a subsidiary of Crédit Agricole Private Equity that specialises in investment in public private partnerships in the infrastructure sector, has closed a €600m fund called Meridiam Infrastructure. The fund was launched in early 2007 with an original target of €400m. It held a first closing with its two sponsors on €190m in May 2006.

Simmons & Company closes inaugural private equity co-investment fund on €87m
24/04/2008. The UK arm of energy-focused investment bank Simmons & Company International has closed its inaugural private equity co-investment fund for the energy sector, Simmons Parallel Energy, on €87.5m.

CVC acquires Dutch supermarket chain Schuitema in €950m deal
23/04/2008. CVC Capital Partners has acquired a 73.2 per cent interest in Dutch supermarket chain Schuitema from supermarket group Ahold in a deal that values the company at €950m.

Paine & Partners hires Bjarni Ármannsson, Frank Reite
23/04/2008. San Francisco and New York-based private equity firm Paine & Partners has hired Bjarni Ármannsson and Frank O Reite as operating directors. Ármannsson and Reite will focus on opportunities in the Nordic region, with an emphasis on the seafood, energy and financial services industries.

Economic downturn will not stop deal flow, message from BVCA conference
23/04/2008. The current economic climate may well create new investment opportunities for private equity players, most people said in a short live survey at a conference in London today. The conference, organised by unquote”, marked the 25th anniversary of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association.

Warburg Pincus closes $15bn fund
22/04/2008. Warburg Pincus has closed its latest private equity fund, Warburg Pincus Private Equity X, on $15bn, exceeding its target of $12bn. The fund focuses on early stage, growth and late stage businesses across North America, Europe and Asia.

Corsair Capital invests in US bank National City
22/04/2008. Financial services sector-focused private equity firm Corsair Capital and another, unnamed private equity investor are investing $985m in troubled US bank National City Corporation. A further $6.015bn of equity capital will be provided by investors including several of National City's institutional stockholders.

3i to invest €225m in Hispanic radio operator Unión Radio
22/04/2008. 3i has agreed to take a minority stake in Unión Radio. The firm has made an initial investment of €125m in the Hispanic radio operator, out of a total commitment of €225m, via a private placement and capital increase.

AIG Brazil Special Situations Fund II closes on $692m
22/04/2008. AIG Capital Partners has closed its AIG Brazil Special Situations Fund II on $691.9m, exceeding its target of $400m. The fund held a previous close in June 2007.

Private Advisors adds three professionals to Jens Bisgaard-Frantzen's team
21/04/2008. Private equity and hedge fund investment firm Private Advisors has appointed Matthew Baker, Jennifer Buckley and Rickard Fischerstrom as managing directors in the firm's London office, which is led by Jens Bisgaard-Frantzen, the former CEO and managing partner of ATP Private Equity Partners who joined Private Advisors in July 2007.

Shackleton closes second fund on £25m, acquires 13 secondary interests from 3i
21/04/2008. UK secondaries venture capital firm Shackleton Ventures has closed its second fund, Shackleton Secondaries II, on £25m. The firm has also announced that it has agreed to acquire 13 smaller long-term venture and development capital investments from 3i Group for an undisclosed sum. The capital for this transaction will come from the new fund.

J.C. Flowers abandons $7bn Friends Provident deal
21/04/2008. New York-based buy-out giant J.C. Flowers & Co. is no longer planning to make an offer for UK life insurance company Friends Provident.

LGT to acquire Hong Kong-based fund of hedge funds KGR Capital
21/04/2008. Pfaeffikon, Switzerland-headquartered alternative assets and fund of funds manager LGT Capital Partners has agreed to acquire Hong Kong-headquartered fund of hedge funds KGR Capital for an undisclosed amount.

Vision Global Investments establishes $1bn infrastructure fund for India
18/04/2008. Vision Global Investments, along with Indian financial firms SREI Infrastructure Finance and Primadona Global Holdings, has launched an India-focused infrastructure fund with a $1bn target.

KKR appoints Kenneth Mehlman as managing director
18/04/2008. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. has appointed Kenneth B Mehlman as managing director and head of global affairs. In his new role, Mehlman will focus on constructive outreach to stakeholders and portfolio companies, including relationships with governments, third parties and non-governmental organisations, according to the firm.

Candover, Goldman Sachs, AlpInvest to acquire Expro for £1bn
17/04/2008. Candover Partners, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and AlpInvest Partners have teamed up to acquire well flow management business Expro. The three firms have set up a new acquisition vehicle, Umbrellastream, through which they have agreed the £1.605bn deal.

Blackstone appoints Kemal Kaya as senior advisor in Turkey
17/04/2008. The Blackstone Group has appointed Kemal Kaya as a senior advisor based in the firm's Turkey office. As part of Blackstone's global private equity team, Kaya will focus principally on developing business initiatives and advising the firm on potential transactions in the region.

Swiss Adamant Biomedical Investments establishes Adamant Ventures in UK
17/04/2008. Swiss healthcare-focused financial advisor Adamant Biomedical Investments has formed a new venture capital subsidiary in the UK, Adamant Ventures. Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Adamant Ventures will target private equity investments in healthcare companies based in the UK, Scandinavia, Central Europe and the US.

CVC closes third Asia Pacific Fund on $4.1bn
17/04/2008. CVC Capital Partners has closed its latest buy-out fund for Asia, CVC Capital Partners Asia Pacific III, on $4.1bn. The fund had an original target of $4bn. It held its first of three interim closings in January 2008 on $3.4bn.

Advent closes fourth CEE fund on €1bn hard cap
17/04/2008. Mid-market buy-out firm Advent International has closed its fourth CEE fund on €1bn, the hard cap of the fund. ACEE IV had an original target of €750m.

Pharos, TPG to acquire American Beacon Advisors for $480m
17/04/2008. Pharos Capital Group and TPG Capital have agreed to acquire American Beacon Advisors, the asset management subsidiary of AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines. The firms have established a new acquisition vehicle, Lighthouse Holdings, to acquire the company for approximately $480m. AMR will retain a minority equity stake in the business.

FTVentures raises $512m growth capital fund
16/04/2008. San Francisco and New York-based FTVentures has closed its third fund, FTV III, on $512m. The fund was launched in March 2006 with a target size of between $500m and $600m. It held a first closing on 15 December 2006 on $220m.

3i closes $1.2bn infrastructure fund for India
16/04/2008. 3i Group has closed its 3i India Infrastructure Fund on $1.2bn, above its $1bn target. The fund held a first closing on $500m in September 2006.

Partners Group opens Luxembourg office, hires Jerry Ludig
16/04/2008. Zug, Switzerland-headquartered alternative asset manager Partners Group has added a new location to its office network. The Luxembourg office is Partners Group's ninth office.

Peter Georgiopoulos launches fund for maritime and clean energy industries
16/04/2008. Maritime and energy industry veteran Peter C Georgiopoulos has launched Green Maritime Partners, a private equity fund targeting environmentally sustainable investments within the maritime and clean energy sectors. Georgiopoulos himself will provide the capital for the fund.

Macquarie, SBI launch $2bn India infrastructure fund
16/04/2008. Macquarie Capital Group and State Bank of India (SBI) are to raise a new $2bn fund targeting direct infrastructure investment opportunities in India.

Q1 number of US venture capital funds raised lowest since 2003
15/04/2008. With 57 venture capital funds raised in the US, the first quarter of this year saw the lowest number of funds raised since the third quarter of 2003, when there were only 34, according to the US National Venture Capital Association and Thomson Financial. The figure represents a decrease by 31 per cent from the same period in 2007.

Tenaska Power Fund to sell Holland Energy power plant for $383m
15/04/2008. US energy-focused private equity fund Tenaska Power Fund has sold gas-fuelled power plant Holland Energy to Indiana electric cooperatives Wabash Valley Power and Hoosier Energy for $383m.

Clearview closes $250m fund
14/04/2008. US lower mid-market private equity firm Clearview Capital has closed its first institutional private equity fund, Clearview Capital Fund II, on $250m, the hard cap of the fund. The fund had an original target of $200m.

Siparex closes second mid-market fund on €150m
14/04/2008. Sigefi, the management company of the Siparex Group, has closed a new fund, the €150m Siparex Middle Market II. The firm will make growth capital/LBO investments in larger SMEs (with valuations up to €150m) from it new fund.

TowerBrook appoints John Sinik as managing partner
14/04/2008. London and New York-based private equity firm TowerBrook Capital Partners has appointed John Sinik as a managing director. Sinik will be based in the firm's London office.

August Equity sells Healthcare Homes Group to Bowmark for £75m
14/04/2008. UK private equity firm August Equity has completed the sale of residential care provider Healthcare Homes Group to fellow UK private equity firm Bowmark Capital for £75m.

RiverVest closes second venture capital fund on $75m
14/04/2008. St Louis, Missouri-headquartered life sciences venture capital firm RiverVest Venture Partners has closed its second fund, RiverVest Venture Fund II, on $75m. The fund held previous closings in late 2006, on around $40m, and December 2007, on around $60m, the firm said.

HRJ Special Opportunities Fund I closes on $195m
14/04/2008. HRJ Capital has closed its latest fund of funds, HRJ Special Opportunities Fund I, on $195m. A 'significant portion' of the investor base is located outside the US, including Germany, the UK and France, according to a statement.

DIC, First Eastern launch $1bn fund
14/04/2008. Dubai International Capital, the investment arm of Dubai Holding, and Chinese private equity firm First Eastern Investment Group have launched a new fund, China Dubai Capital, to target opportunities in China. The fund is expected to hold a first closing in May 2008 on at least $500m.

HgCapital to sell Boosey & Hawkes to Imagem Music for £126m
11/04/2008. European mid-market private equity firm HgCapital has agreed to sell Boosey & Hawkes, a UK-headquartered classical music publishing and rights group, to Imagem Music for approximately £126m. Imagem Music is the music publishing fund of Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP and CP Masters.

New York State Common Retirement Fund to commit $500m to green investments
11/04/2008. The New York State Common Retirement Fund has announced its intention to increase its commitments to environmentally-focused investment strategies by $500m over the next three years.

Mezzanine Management Central Europe closes second CEE fund on €261m
11/04/2008. Vienna-headquartered independent mezzanine firm Mezzanine Management Central Europe has closed its second CEE mezzanine fund, Accession Mezzanine Capital II, on €261m, exceeding its hard cap of €250m. The fund held a €100m first closing in spring 2007.

Apax to acquire TriZetto in $1.4bn deal
11/04/2008. Apax Partners has agreed to acquire California-based healthcare IT solutions provider TriZetto Group in a transaction valued at approximately $1.4bn. Trizetto customers health insurance firm BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and healthcare company The Regence Group are also investing in the company.

Gresham to back £82.5m MBO of Johnson Clothing
11/04/2008. UK mid-market buy-out firm Gresham has agreed to back the £82.5m MBO of East Midlands, UK-headquartered corporatewear provider Johnson Clothing Limited from Johnson Service Group.

UK fund Darwin Private Equity I holds third closing
10/04/2008. UK lower mid-market private equity firm Darwin Private Equity has completed the third closing of its inaugural fund, Darwin Private Equity I, with commitments totalling £207m. The target of the fund is £250m.

BNP Paribas Private Equity appoints Daphné Dussauge
10/04/2008. BNP Paribas Private Equity has appointed Daphné Dussauge as head of corporate development. In her new role, Dussauge will be responsible for ensuring the development of the offering and the selection and distribution of private equity in France and overseas.

Partners Group Global Mezzanine 2007 closes above target on €447m
10/04/2008. Zug, Switzerland-headquartered alternative asset manager Partners Group has closed its Partners Group Global Mezzanine 2007 fund on €447m, exceeding its original target of €300m.

US firm Atlantic Street holds first closing on $70m special situations fund
10/04/2008. Atlantic Street Capital, a Stamford, Connecticut-based private equity firm with a focus on lower mid-market special situation and deep value investments, has held a first closing on its inaugural fund. The firm did not disclose how much capital it had received. The new fund has a target of $70m.

German firm SHS holds first closing on third life sciences, healthcare fund
09/04/2008. Tübingen-based SHS Gesellschaft für Beteiligungsmanagement has held a first closing on its third fund. The firm has now raised €40m for its SHS III fund, which is expected to close on €70m by the end of this year.

TPG to invest $800m in Russian pharmaceutical company SIA International
09/04/2008. TPG Capital has agreed to acquire a 50 per cent stake in Russian pharmaceutical distributor SIA International from company founder Igor Rudinsky, in a deal worth approximately $800m. The transaction is funded entirely through equity, according to a statement.

US private equity fundraising up 32 per cent on year in first quarter
09/04/2008. In the first quarter of 2008, US private equity firms raised $58.5bn in 81 funds, up nearly 32 per cent from the $44.3bn raised in 68 funds during the first quarter of 2007, according to Dow Jones Private Equity Analyst.

DN Capital holds €50m first closing on second fund
09/04/2008. London-based venture capital firm DN Capital has held a first closing on its second fund, Global Venture Capital II, on €50m. The fund has a target of €100m and is expected to close by the end of this year.

EIF appoints new CEO and deputy chief executive
08/04/2008. The European Investment Fund has appointed Richard Pelly as CEO and Jean-Marie Magnette as deputy chief executive. Pelly succeeds Francis Carpenter, whose term of office ended in February.

Alto Partners Development Capital to sell Italian manufacturer Metalcastello
08/04/2008. Milan-based mid-market buy-out firm Alto Partners, through its Development Capital I fund, has agreed to sell its majority stake in Italian independent gear manufacturer Metalcastello, alongside other investors, to Indian manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra and Indian private equity firm ICICI Venture. The agreement is the result of an auction.

Luiz Eugenio Figueiredo takes over as chairman of ABVCAP
08/04/2008. The Brazilian venture capital and private equity association ABVCAP has appointed Luiz Eugenio Figueiredo as its chairman for the 2008-2010 period. He has succeeded Marcus Regueira of FIR Capital.

Intel Capital launches $500m China Technology Fund II
08/04/2008. Intel Capital has announced its second China investment fund, the $500m Intel Capital China Technology Fund II. The new fund will focus on the areas of wireless broadband, technology, media, telecommunications and cleantech in China.

US firm Odyssey to sell protective equipment producer Norcross for $1.2bn
08/04/2008. Odyssey Investment Partners has agreed to sell Oak Brook, Illinois-based protective equipment producer Norcross Safety Products to Honeywell International in a transaction valued at approximately $1.2bn. The New York-based mid-market private equity firm is will make an approximate six times return on its investment, sources close to the deal said.

Exponent buys Lowell Holdings
08/04/2008. London-based mid-market buy-out firm Exponent Private Equity and company management have acquired Lowell Holdings, a Leeds-based specialist debt purchasing company, from Cabot Square Capital.

Foundation closes $750m fund
08/04/2008. US early stage venture capital firm Foundation Capital has closed its sixth fund, Foundation Capital VI, on $750m.

Israeli venture capital funds raise $1.1bn in 2007
07/04/2008. Israeli venture capital funds raised $1.1bn in 2007, a 21 per cent increase from the $903m raised in 2006, according to information published in the IVC Research Center's IVC 2008 Yearbook.

Industri Kapital to acquire Flabeg from EquiVest/CBR
07/04/2008. European mid-market private equity firm Industri Kapital has agreed to acquire Nuremberg, Germany-headquartered mirror manufacturer Flabeg from German private equity firm EquiVest/CBR. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Advent closes €6.6bn upper mid-market buy-out fund
07/04/2008. Mid-market buy-out firm Advent International has closed its sixth global buy-out fund, GPE VI, on €6.6bn, the hard cap of the fund. The new fund had an original target of €5bn.

Permavest closes $63m fund of funds for China
07/04/2008. Hong Kong-based private equity fund manager Permavest Investment has closed a $63m private equity fund of funds. Raised from high-net-worth clients spanning the Asia Pacific region, the fund will target private equity and venture capital partnerships in China.

Apax Partners, LBO France to acquire Maisons du Monde
07/04/2008. Apax Partners in France and LBO France have agreed to acquire a majority stake in French home decoration and furniture retailer Maisons du Monde from Barclays Private Equity and iXEN Partners. The company's management team will retain a 20 per cent stake, whilst iXEN, a shareholder since 2005, will also retain its minority interest. Financial details were not disclosed.

GS Capital Partners walks away from $1.07bn Myers Industries deal
07/04/2008. GS Capital Partners has told Myers Industries, a US manufacturer of polymer products for the industrial, agricultural, automotive, commercial and consumer markets, that it is no longer planning to go ahead with the proposed acquisition of the company.

Dr Michael Gutch joins H.I.G. Ventures' life sciences team
07/04/2008. H.I.G. Ventures, the venture capital affiliate of private equity investment firm H.I.G. Capital, has appointed Dr Michael Gutch to its life sciences investment team. In his new role, Dr Gutch will work alongside H.I.G. managing directors Aaron Davidson and Bruce Robertson, focusing on investment opportunities in the biopharmaceuticals and medical device segments.

Private equity firms invest $3.3bn in India in first quarter
07/04/2008. Private equity firms invested about $3.3bn across 97 deals in India during the quarter ended 31 March 2008, according to Venture Intelligence. The amount was up from the $2.7bn invested during the same period last year, while deal flow was down from 101 deals.

DLJMB opens Michigan office
04/04/2008. DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, a private equity investment affiliate of Credit Suisse, has opened an office in Troy, Michigan to serve the Midwest and the mid-section of the US.

John Coyle co-heads Permira's New York office
04/04/2008. John Coyle, formerly global head of JP Morgan Securities' Financial Sponsor Group, has joined Permira as a partner and co-head of the New York office. Coyle will be responsible for running the office together with Tom Lister, the co-managing partner of Permira and co-head of the New York office.

Serent Capital closes inaugural fund on $250m
04/04/2008. San Francisco-based private equity firm Serent Capital has closed its inaugural fund on $250m, exceeding its initial target of $200m.

GLE acquires early stage investment specialist YFM
04/04/2008. GLE Group, a UK angel and early stage venture capital provider to small and growing enterprises in Europe, has completed its acquisition of early stage investment specialist YFM Group. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Partners Group opens Sydney office, appoints Martin Scott, Mike Siebert
03/04/2008. Zug, Switzerland-headquartered alternative asset manager Partners Group has opened an office in Sydney. Former Zurich Financial Services head of investment sales Martin Scott has been appointed to the new office.

Finnish firm Amanda Capital establishes new fund to invest in listed private equity
03/04/2008. Finnish private equity firm Amanda Capital is establishing a new vehicle, Amanda SICAV-SIF - Liquid Private Equity Fund, which will invest globally in listed private equity firms and funds. Amanda Capital itself will invest €5m in the new fund.

Actis hires Chris Coles as senior consultant
03/04/2008. Emerging markets private equity investor Actis has appointed Chris Coles as senior consultant to enhance the firm's existing risk management capabilities, assist with larger deal sourcing and debt financing and provide ongoing portfolio management support.

Exit value falls in 2007, CMBOR
03/04/2008. Exit value fell to £23.8bn in 2007, significantly down from the record £26.9bn achieved in 2006, according to the Centre for Management Buy-out Research, a private equity market information provider founded by Barclays Private Equity and Deloitte.

BS Private Equity makes 2.5 times return on Sicurglobal sale
03/04/2008. Italian private equity firm BS Private Equity has agreed to sell 100 per cent of security and surveillance business Sicurglobal to London-based private equity firm Stirling Square Capital Partners. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but sources close to the deal said the enterprise value was in the €150-200m range.

Darby hires Sean Glodek as senior vice president in Warsaw office
02/04/2008. Darby Overseas Investments, the private equity arm of investment management firm Franklin Templeton Investments, has appointed Sean Glodek as senior vice president in the firm's Warsaw office. In his new role, Glodek will source and execute new investments from the €248m Darby Converging Europe Mezzanine Fund.

3i supports insurance group Hyperion's expansion in Middle East, Asia
02/04/2008. 3i has invested £50m in London-based insurance group Hyperion for a minority stake in the company. The transaction values the company at approximately £120m.

HgCapital invests €185m in Swedish wind farm
01/04/2008. European private equity firm HgCapital has acquired a 75 per cent stake in the 95.4 megawatts Havsnäs onshore wind farm in Sweden. The transaction represents the largest energy project financing in the Nordic market to date, according to HgCapital.

Sonali De Rycker joins Accel Partners' London team as partner
01/04/2008. US technology venture capital firm Accel Partners has appointed Sonali De Rycker as a partner in the firm's London office. Sonali joins a team of nine UK-based investment professionals.

CVC to back Swedish-Danish post office merger
01/04/2008. CVC Capital Partners, the Swedish Ministry of Enterprise, Energy & Communications and the Danish Ministry of Transport have agreed to merge Sweden's Posten and Post Danmark. The merged group, 60 per cent owned by the Swedish state and employees of Posten and 40 per cent owned by CVC, the Danish state and employees of Post Danmark, will have annual revenues of approximately SEK45bn (€4.8bn).

Cadent closes second fund on $473m
01/04/2008. Rye Brook, New York-based energy-focused private equity firm Cadent Energy Partners has closed its second fund, Cadent Energy Partners II, on $473.3m. The fund exceeded its initial target of $375m.

Wind Point sells biscuit business Nonni's for $320m
01/04/2008. Wind Point Partners has exited its investment in baked goods supplier Nonni's Food Company. The US mid-market private equity firm has sold the business to Greek food production company Vivartia for $320m.

DLJ South American Partners closes $300m fund for Argentina, Brazil, Chile
01/04/2008. DLJ South American Partners, a firm established in December 2006 by Credit Suisse's Alternative Investments business and a team of South America-based investment professionals led by Carlos Garcia and Marcelo Medeiros, has closed its first private equity fund on $300m.

Providence appoints Andrew Tisdale as managing director in London office
31/03/2008. Providence Equity Partners has appointed Andrew Tisdale as a managing director in the firm's London office. In his new role, he will be involved with existing portfolio companies and in developing new investments for the firm.

CBPE backs £142m MBO of Energy Cranes
31/03/2008. UK mid-market private equity firm Close Brothers Private Equity has backed the £142m MBO of Aberdeen-based Energy Cranes International from its parent, London-based investment firm LMS Capital. CBPE has invested £60m alongside the company's management team led by Energy Cranes CEO John Jordan.

TCR Capital closes TCR Capital Partners III on €160m
31/03/2008. French lower mid-market buy-out firm TCR Capital has closed its third fund, TCR Capital Partners III, on over €160m. The fund had an original target of €150m and held a first closing on €71m in December 2006.

Private equity consortium to acquire Gilat Satellite Networks for $475m
31/03/2008. A consortium of private equity investors including The Gores Group, Israel-based investment company Mivtach Shamir Holdings, DGB Investments and companies affiliated with Roy Ben-Yami, Ami Lustig and Eytan Stibbe has agreed to acquire Israeli satellite communications services business Gilat Satellite Networks for approximately $475m.

CapMan hires Jukka Ruuska, establishes fund to invest in listed companies
31/03/2008. Nordic private equity firm CapMan has appointed Jukka Ruuska, president of the OMX Nordic Exchanges and the Stockholm Stock Exchange, to help the firm establish an equity fund focusing on listed companies in the Nordic region. The fund will apply methods and tools from the world of private equity to public equity investing and value creation.

Canadian firm iNovia raises CAN$107m for seed and early stage VC fund
28/03/2008. Canadian seed and early stage venture capital firm iNovia Capital has raised CAN$107m for its latest fund, iNovia Investment Fund II. The new fund focuses on the IT, life sciences and cleantech sectors. The fundraising process was launched in November 2006 and in April 2007 the firm completed a first closing on CAN$64m. The final closing is expected to occur by the end of April 2008.

NVP India hires Mohan Kumar, opens office in Bangalore
28/03/2008. Technology venture capital firm Norwest Venture Partners has hired Mohan Kumar as executive director of NVP India. Based in the firm's new Bangalore office, Kumar will focus on technology investments in India.

3i to acquire UK software consultancy Civica
28/03/2008. 3i-backed Cornwall Bidco has agreed to acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of UK-based software consultancy business Civica at a price of 270 pence per Civica share, valuing the company at approximately £190m.

Bain Capital, TLH sue banks for failure to finance Clear Channel deal
27/03/2008. Bain Capital Partners and Thomas H. Lee Partners have filed complaints in the Supreme Court of the State of New York and the Texas State Court in Bexar County, Texas, against Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Deutsche Bank and Wachovia to enforce binding commitments by the banks to provide debt financing for the private equity firms' acquisition of Clear Channel Communications, a specialist in the out-of-home advertising industry.

Gryphon Investors appoints Dennis O'Brien as operating partner
27/03/2008. San Francisco-based private equity firm Gryphon Investors has appointed Dennis F O'Brien as a partner. O'Brien will join Gryphon's operating resources group and will monitor and improve the performance of some of Gryphon's portfolio companies.

CMEA Ventures closes seventh fund on $400m
27/03/2008. Californian venture capital firm CMEA Ventures has closed its seventh fund, CMEA Ventures VII, on $400m. Investors in the fund included Guardian Life Insurance Company.

Aureos acquires 30 per cent of South African company Sandbox Holdings
27/03/2008. Emerging markets-focused private equity firm Aureos Capital's Aureos Southern Africa Fund has acquired a 30 per cent equity stake in South Africa-based electronic security and business software company Sandbox Holdings.

Partners Group closes US venture-focused fund
26/03/2008. Zug, Switzerland-headquartered alternative asset manager Partners Group has closed Partners Group US Venture 2006, a $250m fund focusing on investments in established US venture and growth capital partnerships.

M&As of VC-backed Israeli high tech companies totalled $1.9bn in 2007
26/03/2008. Last year 32 M&A deals involving venture capital-backed Israeli high tech companies accounted for $1.9bn of the $3.2bn total value of M&A deals (75) involving any kind of Israeli high tech companies, according to data from the IVC Online Database, developed and maintained by the IVC Research Center.

Riverstone, AEC commit $1bn to solar joint venture
26/03/2008. New York-based energy-focused private equity firm Riverstone Holdings and power company AES Corporation have committed up to $1bn as part of a new joint venture to focus on solar photovoltaic projects. AES and Riverstone will provide up to $500m each over five years to the jointly owned entity, to be called AES Solar.

Bain Capital walks away from $2.2bn 3Com deal
26/03/2008. Bain Capital Partners has terminated the merger agreement with Massachusetts-headquartered 3Com Corporation. Bain Capital said in a statement that it did not go ahead with the transaction 'because the US government's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) said it intended to take action to prohibit that transaction.'

Newbury Partners closes maiden fund on $702m
26/03/2008. Stamford, Connecticut-based secondary firm Newbury Partners has closed its first fund on $702m. The fund was launched at the end of 2006 with a $700m target.

Tandem Capital closes first fund on €40m
26/03/2008. Spanish private equity firm Tandem Capital has closed its first fund, Tandem Capital Gestion, on €40m. The fund was officially launched in July 2007.

Alice Ruth joins Quadrangle
25/03/2008. Quadrangle Group has appointed Alice A Ruth as a managing principal of Quadrangle Group and CIO of Quadrangle Asset Management.

Carlyle completes €1.1bn investment in Completel and Numericable
25/03/2008. The Carlyle Group has completed its €1.1bn equity investment in Numericable and Completel. Carlyle has become a shareholder in the French cable companies alongside European buy-out firm Cinven and European media and telecommunications investor Altice, the existing shareholders.

VC-backed Israeli high tech companies raise $538m in 13 IPOs in 2007
25/03/2008. Last year VC-backed Israeli high tech companies raised a total of $538m in 13 IPOs, according to data from the IVC Online Database, developed and maintained by the IVC Research Center.

EQT Partners appoints Peter Korsholm to head Denmark operations
21/03/2008. Nordic private equity firm EQT Partners has appointed Peter Korsholm as head of EQT Equity Denmark, leading the firm's Copenhagen office. The appointment comes after former head Ole Anderson decided to step down after five years.

Northern Light hires John Wu as venture partner
20/03/2008. China-focused venture capital firm Northern Light Venture Capital has appointed John Wu as a venture partner. Wu will be based out of the firm's Shanghai office and will be responsible for evaluating and sourcing new investment opportunities in early and growth stage consumer and technology-enabled businesses.

Wellington Partners hires Loïc Le Meur as venture partner
20/03/2008. Pan-European venture capital firm Wellington Partners has hired web entrepreneur Loïc Le Meur to join its venture partner programme. Le Meur will support Wellington's portfolio companies in the field of digital media and internet services.

ECI Partners to acquire Premier Research Group for £60m
20/03/2008. UK mid-market buy-out firm ECI Partners has agreed to acquire clinical trial business Premier Research Group for approximately £60m.

Venture-backed BladeLogic to be acquired for $800m
20/03/2008. Venture-backed data centre automation business BladeLogic has agreed to be acquired by software company BMC Software for approximately $800m. The company had previously received investments from Battery Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Globespan Capital Partners and MK Capital.

Industri Kapital to sell ELFA for €222m
19/03/2008. Industri Kapital has agreed to sell electronics distributor ELFA for SEK2.1bn (€222m). The European buy-out firm made more than three times its original investment and recorded an IRR of 90 per cent, according to sources close to the deal.

Kohlberg & Company raises $1.5bn sixth private equity fund
19/03/2008. Kohlberg & Company has closed its sixth private equity fund, Kohlberg Investors VI, on $1.5bn, well above its initial $1bn target.

CalSTRS awards $200m mandate to Invesco
19/03/2008. The California State Teachers' Retirement System has announced that Invesco Private Capital will manage its second private equity fund of funds portfolio of new and next generation manager partnership investments. CalSTRS's New and Next Generation Manager Fund II is a $200m private equity portfolio.

European private equity investment reaches €68.3bn - preliminary figures
19/03/2008. European equity capital invested in 2007 could exceed the €71bn of 2006, according to preliminary figures released by PEREP_Analytics, a new and independent data-gathering body endorsed by the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association and 14 national associations in Europe. Preliminary figures in 2006 showed lower investment levels than in the current data for 2007. Final figures for 2007 may, therefore, be revised upwards from the current €68.3bn.

US Web 2.0 investment jumps 88 per cent in 2007 to $1.34bn
19/03/2008. Last year venture capitalists invested a record $1.34bn into 178 Web 2.0 deals in the US, up nearly 88 per cent over amounts invested in 2006, according to new data announced by Dow Jones VentureSource.

Bain Capital closes €3.5bn European buy-out fund
19/03/2008. Boston-headquartered Bain Capital has closed a €3.5bn buy-out fund for Europe, according to various reports. The fund had an original target of €2.5bn.

EQT Partners hires Thomas Ramsay to head Finnish operations
18/03/2008. Nordic private equity firm EQT Partners has hired Thomas Ramsay as partner and head of EQT Partners in Finland, enabling Udo Philipp, interim head of EQT Equity Finland, to return to his position as partner in Germany.

European private equity funds raise €74.3bn in 2007, EVCA preliminary figures
18/03/2008. European private equity funds raised a total of €74.3bn in 2007, according to preliminary figures released by PEREP_Analytics, a new and independent data-gathering body endorsed by the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association and 14 national associations in Europe.

Michael Bernstein joins BCP as healthcare services executive-in-residence
18/03/2008. Baird Capital Partners, the US-based buy-out fund of Baird Private Equity, has appointed Michael Bernstein as an executive-in-residence focused on healthcare services investments. Based in the Milwaukee office, Bernstein will help the team source and evaluate new investment opportunities and also support existing portfolio companies.

WL Ross to acquire Option One's mortgage servicing business for $1.1bn
18/03/2008. New York-based financial restructuring group WL Ross & Co., through its affiliate, AH Mortgage Acquisition Co., Inc., has agreed to acquire the Option One mortgage servicing business from H&R Block for approximately $1.1bn.

Permira hires financial services sector specialist Daniel Healy as senior advisor
17/03/2008. Permira has appointed Daniel M Healy as senior advisor to the firm. Based in New York, Healy will advise Permira on opportunities across a number of sectors, with a focus on financial services.

Ferd Private Equity spins out, renames itself Herkules
17/03/2008. Norway's Ferd Private Equity has renamed itself Herkules Capital to mark its independence from Ferd AS. The firm will relocate its offices to central Oslo.

IDG Ventures Atlantic closes $280m fund, renames itself Flybridge
17/03/2008. Boston-based Flybridge Capital Partners, formerly known as IDG Ventures Atlantic, has closed its latest fund, the $280m Flybridge Capital Partners III, focused on early stage venture investments.

Carlyle Capital Corporation to wind up
17/03/2008. Carlyle Capital Corporation, the Carlyle Group's $22bn mortgage-backed securities fund, intends to file for compulsory winding up in Guernsey, according to a statement.

Gulf Capital, Credit Suisse to establish strategic alliance
17/03/2008. Gulf Capital and Credit Suisse have established a strategic alliance to focus on investing in the Gulf and Middle Eastern economies. Both parties will commit a 'significant amount of investment capital' to the alliance, according to a statement.

CPPIB receives shareholder approval to acquire Auckland International Airport
17/03/2008. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board's estimated CAN$1.5bn bid for the acquisition of a 39.2 per cent stake in Auckland International Airport has received shareholder approval.

European private equity shows stable performance in 2007
17/03/2008. The European private equity industry has produced a net IRR of 11.7 per cent in 2007, with buy-outs and venture capital returning 16.1 per cent and 4.5 per cent, respectively, according to preliminary figures compiled by Thomson Financial in collaboration with the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. These returns were on a pooled average basis.

Silver Lake Sumeru appoints John Brennan as managing director
14/03/2008. Silver Lake Sumeru, the mid-market investment group of technology-focused private equity firm Silver Lake, has appointed former senior vice president of Adobe Systems John Brennan as managing director. He will be based in the firm's Menlo Park office.

Helion Venture Partners closes India-focused fund on $210m
13/03/2008. India-focused venture capital firm Helion Venture Partners has closed its second fund on $210m. The firm closed its first fund in 2006, on $140m.

SFW Capital Partners closes inaugural fund on $300m
13/03/2008. New York-based mid-market private equity firm SFW Capital Partners has closed its inaugural fund on over $300m.

Globespan hires cleantech expert Dr Daniel Leff as venture partner
12/03/2008. Technology venture capital firm Globespan Capital Partners has appointed Dr Daniel V Leff as venture partner. Based in the firm's Palo Alto office, Dr Leff, alongside managing directors Ullas Naik and Dave Fachetti, will focus on cleantech investments companies. He will also work on investments in the semiconductor-related technology field.

Noro-Moseley Partners hires Greg Foster
12/03/2008. Atlanta, US-based venture capital firm Noro-Moseley Partners has appointed Greg Foster to its investment team. Foster will focus on technology investments, with a specific emphasis on opportunities in the digital media space.

XAnge Private Equity closes €50m fund
12/03/2008. Paris-based private equity firm XAnge Private Equity has closed its most recent fund, XPansion, on its target of €50m. The fund was launched in July 2006.

Baring Asia, Chengwei Ventures invest $88m in China CBM Investment Holdings
11/03/2008. Asian private equity group Baring Private Equity Asia, together with Shanghai-based venture capital firm Chengwei Ventures, has invested $88m in China CBM Investment Holdings, as part of an MBO of green energy company Asian American Gas.

Union Square Ventures closes second fund on $156m
11/03/2008. New York-based early stage venture capital firm Union Square Ventures has closed its second fund, Union Square Ventures 2008, on $156m.

BC Partners hires James Rubin, Daniel Selmonosky in New York
10/03/2008. European buy-out firm BC Partners has appointed James Rubin and Daniel Selmonosky as senior partners in the firm's New York office. They will join Raymond Svider and Justin Bateman, who will relocate from the London office.

3i's Alice Escoffier joins Advent International's Paris team
10/03/2008. Advent International has appointed Alice Escoffier as assistant director in its Paris office.

W Capital Partners closes second fund on $700m
07/03/2008. New York-based direct secondary private equity firm W Capital Partners has closed its second fund, W Capital Partners II, on $700m, exceeding its original target of $500m.

YL Ventures hires Robert Goldberg as venture partner
07/03/2008. Europe and Israel-focused early stage technology venture capital firm YL Ventures has appointed internet and digital media veteran Robert Goldberg as a venture partner. Goldberg will be YL Ventures' permanent presence in Silicon Valley.

Cognetas, Englefield acquire Morrison Utility Services for £135m
07/03/2008. European mid-market private equity firms Cognetas and Englefield Capital have jointly acquired UK utility company Morrison Utility Services, part of Anglian Water Group, for £135m, alongside company management.

Morgan Stanley Private Equity to invest AUS$750m in Learning Care Group
06/03/2008. Morgan Stanley Private Equity has agreed to acquire a 60 per cent stake in US childcare business Learning Care Group, from Australian parent company A.B.C. Learning Centres, for AUS$750m ($702m). A.B.C. will retain a 40 per cent stake.

Lyceum targets investments in legal services sector, hires three
06/03/2008. UK mid-market private equity firm Lyceum Capital is targeting investment opportunities in the legal services sector, which should arise from the Legal Services Act 2007. The firm has established a new legal industry advisory board and recruited Tony Williams, Paul Hewitt and Professor Richard Susskind, OBE to the board.

Pequot Ventures to become independent from Pequot Capital
05/03/2008. Pequot Ventures, the New York City-based venture capital arm of hedge fund Pequot Capital Management, plans to become independent from Pequot Capital. The firm will rename itself FirstMark Capital. The deal still requires investor approval.

Capvis Equity III closes on €600m
05/03/2008. Swiss mid-market buy-out firm Capvis has closed its Capvis Equity III fund on €600m, above its original target of €500m.

Bridgepoint makes 2.5 times return on Tunstall Group sale
05/03/2008. European private equity firm Bridgepoint has sold telecare systems company Tunstall Group to Charterhouse Capital Partners in a £514m transaction. Bridgepoint has realised a 2.5 times return on the original investment, according to a source close to the deal.

Altira closes $178m fund
05/03/2008. Energy technology-focused venture firm Altira Group has closed its fifth fund, Altira Technology Fund V, on $176m. The fund will target the traditional and renewable energy sectors.

LDC sells Britton Group to HSBC Private Equity for £77m
05/03/2008. UK mid-market private equity firm LDC has exited its investment in UK-based extrusion and plastic packaging manufacturer Britton Group through a £77m secondary buy-out backed by HSBC Private Equity and HSBC Bank.

NGP closes $4bn energy fund
04/03/2008. Energy-focused private equity firm Natural Gas Partners has closed its ninth fund, Natural Gas Partners IX, on its hard cap of $4bn. The fund was launched in August of last year, and held interim closings on $2.1bn in September and on $2.6bn in November 2007.

ETF closes inaugural fund on £110m
04/03/2008. European cleantech fund Environmental Technologies Fund has closed its first fund on £110m, having held a previous closing in November 2006, on €50m. The fund had an original target of £100m.

Halder-GIMV Germany II closes on €325m
04/03/2008. German mid-market buy-out specialist Halder, since 2000 part of Belgian private equity firm GIMV, has closed its latest fund, Halder-GIMV Germany II, on €325m. The fund had an initial target of €275m.

Blackstone appoints Gerry Murphy as senior managing director
04/03/2008. The Blackstone Group has hired Gerry Murphy as a senior managing director, based in London. In his new role, Murphy will focus principally on supporting Blackstone's portfolio companies across Europe and Asia.

Magenta director Valerio Boccardi joins Palamon as vice president
04/03/2008. European mid-market buy-out firm Palamon Capital Partners has appointed Valerio Boccardi as a vice president, based in London.

Carlyle appoints Olivier Sarkozy as co-head of Global Financial Services Group
04/03/2008. The Carlyle Group has appointed Olivier Sarkozy, half-brother of French president Nicolas Sarkozy and global head of FIG Investment Banking at UBS, as co-head and managing director of its Global Financial Services Group. He will be based in New York.

Nexit Infocom II holds €50m first closing
03/03/2008. Nexit Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on wireless and mobile technologies, has held a €50m first closing on its second fund, Nexit Infocom II. The firm plans to raise more than €100m for the fund by the end of this year.

First Reserve agrees to acquire Gamesa solar unit for €261m
03/03/2008. Energy-focused private equity firm First Reserve Corporation has agreed to acquire solar energy business Gamesa Solar from Spanish sustainable energy company Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica for €261m.

Granville Baird hires Moritz Freiherr Schenck, Matthias Zillmer as partners
03/03/2008. Hamburg, Germany-based mid-market private equity firm Granville Baird has appointed Moritz Freiherr Schenck and Matthias Zillmer as partners.

WL Ross agrees to invest up to $1bn in financial guarantor Assured Guaranty
03/03/2008. Private investment and fund management firm WL Ross & Co. has agreed to buy $250m of common shares of Bermuda-based financial guaranty holding company Assured Guaranty and to provide a commitment to purchase up to $750m of additional Assured shares at the option of the company.

Advent partner Istvan Szoke to build CVC's CEE team
03/03/2008. Europe and Asia-focused buy-out house CVC Capital Partners has hired Istvan Szoke to build an investment team focusing on the firm's CEE activity.

Gresham sells Giles to Charterhouse Capital for reported £185m
03/03/2008. UK mid-market private equity firm Gresham Private Equity has exited its investment in insurance broking company Giles through its sale to Charterhouse Capital Partners. Financial terms of the deal were not officially disclosed, but several reports suggested that the deal was worth up to £185m.

Baird expands activities in China
03/03/2008. Baird Private Equity, the private equity group affiliated with Robert W Baird & Co., has launched a China-based investment team, Baird Capital Partners Asia. Operating out of offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, the team will focus on growth equity investment opportunities in Greater China, in sectors including business services, manufactured products and healthcare.

HitecVision closes $800m fund
29/02/2008. HitecVision Private Equity, a Stavanger, Norway-based firm focused on growth stage investments in the oil and gas industry, has closed its latest fund, HitecVision V, on $800m, exceeding the original $600m target. The fund has been marketed to international investors since November 2007.

Cleantech venture capital investment in 2007 jumps 43 per cent to $3bn
29/02/2008. Venture capitalists invested a record $3bn in 221 cleantech deals worldwide in 2007, a 43 per cent increase over the $2.1bn invested in 173 similar deals in 2006, according to new data released by Dow Jones VentureSource.

Viking Venture III holds first closing on NOK525m
29/02/2008. Trondheim-based Viking Venture has held a first closing on its latest fund, Viking Venture III, on NOK525m. A second and final closing is planned for later in the year, the firm said.

AIG Capital Partners sells AFM Cinemas in Turkey
29/02/2008. AIG Capital Partners and other shareholders have completed the sale of 51.91 per cent of Istanbul, Turkey-headquartered cinema and entertainment company AFM Uluslararasi Film Produksiyon Tic. ve San. to A1 Group, the investment group of the Alfa-Group Consortium. The transaction values the company at $75m.

Tembusu closes maiden fund on SG$100m
28/02/2008. Singaporean growth stage investor Tembusu Partners has closed its maiden fund, Tembusu Growth Fund, on SG$100m ($66m). The fund held a previous closing on S$50m in February of last year.

Deutsche Beteiligungs AG to back ICTS Europe MBO
28/02/2008. German mid-market buy-out company Deutsche Beteiligungs AG, its co-investment fund DBAG Fund V and ICTS Europe Holdings management have agreed to acquire ICTS Europe from Fraport for €100m.

Nova Capital hires Mike Nevin
27/02/2008. Secondaries direct player Nova Capital Management has appointed Mike Nevin as an investment partner.

Axcelis rejects $544m TPG, SHI offer
27/02/2008. US semiconductor company Axcelis Technologies has rejected an unsolicited proposal by Japanese manufacturer Sumitomo Heavy Industries and TPG to acquire the Beverly, Massachusetts-headquartered company for $544m.

Vitruvian Partners closes inaugural fund on €925m
27/02/2008. London-based mid-market private equity firm Vitruvian Partners, a firm set up in 2006 by former partners of Apax Partners, BC Partners and Bridgepoint, has raised €925m for its first fund, the Vitruvian Investment Partnership. The Vitruvian Investment Partnership had an original target of €900m.

Endless closes second fund on £164m
27/02/2008. Leeds, UK-headquartered buy-out and turnaround specialist Endless has closed its latest fund, Endless Fund II, on £164m, exceeding the fund's original target of £120m. This was a first and final closing.

Blackstone, First Reserve, Petroplus in $2bn oil joint venture
27/02/2008. Petroplus Holdings has teamed up with The Blackstone Group and First Reserve to pursue acquisitions of crude oil refineries in the US. Each partner has committed $667m in equity to this venture.

US venture capital firm Chrysalis closes $163m fund
27/02/2008. Chrysalis Ventures has closed its fourth investment fund on $163m, exceeding its $150m target. The fund will offer equity capital to young growth companies in the Midwest and Southern US.

Target Partners holds first closing on €61.5m
26/02/2008. Munich-based early stage venture capital firm Target Partners has held a first closing of its new fund, Target Partners Fund II, on €61.5m. The fund has a target of €120m.

London-based TLcom Capital holds first closing on second fund on over €50m
26/02/2008. London-based venture capital firm TLcom Capital has held a first closing of its new fund, TLcom II, in excess of €50m. The target size of the fund is €150m.

Hellman & Friedman agrees to acquire Getty Images for $2.4bn
26/02/2008. Hellman & Friedman has agreed to acquire digital media company Getty Images for approximately $2.4bn.

FountainVest to receive $400m from Canadian investors
26/02/2008. The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the investment management division of the Canada Pension Plan, and Teachers' Private Capital, the private investment arm of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, are investing $200m each in newly established Chinese private equity fund FountainVest. The CPPIB has also opened an international office in Hong Kong.

Clarus Ventures closes second fund on $660m
26/02/2008. US life sciences-focused venture capital firm Clarus Ventures has closed its second fund, Clarus Lifesciences II, on $660m.

Nexxus Capital holds third closing on third Mexican fund on $142m
26/02/2008. Mexico City-based private equity firm Nexxus Capital has held a third closing on its third fund, Nexxus III, on $142m. The fund has a target of $250m.

Barclays Private Equity makes 2.5 times return on Kurt Geiger sale
25/02/2008. UK mid-market private equity firm Graphite Capital has backed a £95m MBO of European shoe retailer Kurt Geiger from Barclays Private Equity.

Candover Investments hires Jamie Paton to head new Asia office
25/02/2008. Candover Investments has appointed Jamie Paton to lead the firm's expansion efforts in Asia. Initially, Paton will be based in Hong Kong while he is evaluating options in the region. Candover Investments plans to open its first Asian office.

Highland hires John Palfrey as venture executive
25/02/2008. Highland Capital Partners has hired Harvard Law School professor John Palfrey as a venture executive.

Orchid Asia closes $420m China fund
22/02/2008. China-focused private equity firm Orchid Asia Group Management has closed its fourth fund, Orchid Asia IV, on $420m, the hard cap of the fund. The fund had an original target of $350m.

Bridgepoint to acquire UK food retailer Pret A Manger
22/02/2008. European private equity firm Bridgepoint has agreed to acquire a majority stake in UK food retail chain Pret A Manger. The value of the deal is around £345m, according to a source close to the deal.

Investindustrial closes fourth fund for Southern Europe on €1bn
22/02/2008. Southern European mid-market buy-out firm Investindustrial has closed its fourth fund, Investindustrial IV, on the hard cap of €1bn, exceeding its original €800m target.

HgCapital sells UK exhibition and events business Clarion Events to VSS for £120m
22/02/2008. European mid-market private equity firm HgCapital has sold Clarion Events to Veronis Suhler Stevenson for an enterprise value of £120.5m. The sale represents a 34 per cent IRR for investors, according to a statement.

First Reserve to acquire helicopter services company CHC for CAN$3.7bn
22/02/2008. Energy sector-focused private equity firm First Reserve Corporation has agreed to acquire CHC Helicopter Corporation, a Vancouver, Canada-headquartered provider of helicopter services to the offshore oil and gas industry, in an all-cash transaction which values the company at an adjusted enterprise value of CAN$3.7bn.

Buy-and-build activity reaches record levels in 2007, study
22/02/2008. Last year saw a record number of 385 follow-on acquisitions by private equity-backed businesses, according to ten year study on the buy-and-build strategies of private equity-owned portfolio companies in Europe, released by mid-market private equity firm PPM Capital in conjunction with Mergermarket.

TPG completes $288m investment in Japanese financial firm NIS Group
21/02/2008. Private equity investment firm TPG has invested approximately ¥31bn ($288m) in Japanese non-bank financial firm NIS Group Co. and Nissin Leasing (China) Co.

360° Capital closes €100m fund
21/02/2008. 360° Capital Partners, a venture capital firm focused on France and Italy, has closed on over €100m of capital commitments. The fund held a previous closing on around €50m in December 2006.

Sun Capital completes Kellwood deal
21/02/2008. Sun Capital Securities Group, has completed its acquisition of Kellwood Company for approximately $767m, including the assumption of Kellwood's net debt.

Providence appoints James Bankoff as senior advisor
20/02/2008. Providence Equity Partners, a US private equity firm investing in media, entertainment, communications and information companies, has appointed former AOL executive vice president of programming and products, James P Bankoff, as a senior advisor. In his new role, Bankoff will advise Providence on new investment opportunities and on some of the firm's existing investments in the online and digital media space.

JPMorgan allocates $750m to private equity investment in Asia Pacific
20/02/2008. JPMorgan Asia Pacific is committing $750m to mid-market private equity investment opportunities in the Asia Pacific region. The expansion will be headed by Varun Bery and John Troy, co-founders of private equity firm TVG Capital Partners, who are joining JPMorgan as managing directors.

Blackstone to invest $60m in Indian logistics company Allcargo
20/02/2008. The Blackstone Group has agreed to invest $60m in Indian private sector logistics operator Allcargo Global Logistics. Blackstone also intends to purchase additional shares of Allcargo from the open market, while keeping its ownership position below 15 per cent.

Venture capital investment in China up to $2.49bn in 2007
20/02/2008. In 2007 venture capitalists invested $2.49bn across 241 deals in China, according to the China Quarterly Venture Capital Report, released by Dow Jones VentureSource. The amount invested was the highest since 2001, when $2.87bn was invested in 62 deals. It represents a five per cent increase over 2006, although deal flow was down by 14 deals in 2007.

AtriA backs MBO of French company Abcd
20/02/2008. French mid-market private equity house AtriA Capital Partenaires has backed an MBO of turnkey contractor Abcd from Affine. AtriA will be the main shareholder in the company through a newly established holding vehicle, Abcdgroup. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Avalon closes $150m venture capital fund
20/02/2008. US early stage venture capital firm Avalon Ventures has closed its eighth venture fund, Avalon Ventures VIII, above its $150m target. The fund held a previous closing on around $100m in August of last year.

CDC commits $180m to four Latin American funds
19/02/2008. UK government-backed private equity emerging markets fund of funds investor CDC Group has made new commitments totalling $180m to four private equity funds in Latin America. The four funds are: Actis Latin American Private Equity Fund III, Aureos Latin America Fund, Patria's Brazilian Private Equity Fund III and Advent Latin American Private Equity Fund IV.

European mid-market firm Balmoral buys Oyster Marine
19/02/2008. European mid-market private equity firm Balmoral Capital has acquired UK yacht builder Oyster Marine. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal is believed to be worth around £80m.

Hasso Plattner, MAN Ferrostaal launch ZAR350m venture capital fund for South Africa
18/02/2008. Professor Hasso Plattner, co-founder of SAP, and German industrial services provider MAN Ferrostaal have teamed up to establish a ZAR350m ($46m) technology venture capital fund for South Africa. Hasso Plattner Ventures Africa will later also consider investment opportunities in other emerging African markets, the firm said.

Aureos Capital launches $400m Africa fund
18/02/2008. Emerging markets-focused private equity firm Aureos Capital has launched a new $400m Africa Fund. The fund will invest in unlisted mid-cap businesses across Africa, seeking to make investments of between $2m and $10m.

Hellman & Friedman to acquire Gaztransport & Technigaz stake for €310m
15/02/2008. San Francisco-based private equity firm Hellman & Friedman has agreed to acquire a 30 per cent stake in French marine engineering company Gaztransport & Technigaz from Saipem, a turnkey contractor operating in the oil and gas industries, for €310m.

H.I.G. appoints Olivier Boyadjian to head Paris office
15/02/2008. H.I.G. Europe, the European affiliate of private equity firm H.I.G. Capital, has appointed Olivier Boyadjian as managing director for its Paris office.

BC Partners to acquire Istanbul-listed supermarket chain Migros
14/02/2008. BC Partners, alongside minority investors including Turkven Private Equity and DeA Capital, has agreed to acquire 50.8 per cent of Turkish supermarket chain Migros Türk from Koç Holding at a price of YTL21.85 per share, representing a market capitalisation of YTL3.9bn ($3.25bn). As part of the deal, Bülend Özaydinli, former CEO of Koç Holding and Migros, will become chairman of the group.

Paine & Partners to acquire engineering company Stabilus from Montagu
14/02/2008. San Francisco and New York-based private equity firm Paine & Partners, formerly Fox Paine, has agreed to acquire German industrial engineering company Stabilus from European private equity firm Montagu Private Equity. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Value of European buy-outs in 2007 at €175bn
13/02/2008. Last year the value of European buy-outs increased by 0.7 per cent to €175.3bn from €174bn in 2006, according to the latest European Buyout Review by Incisive Media in association with Bridgepoint. The volume of deals was up six per cent to 775 transactions in 2007.

Catalyst Microfinance Investors closes fund on $125m
13/02/2008. Private equity investment fund Catalyst Microfinance Investors, managed in partnership by microfinance institution ASA of Bangladesh and investment firm Sequoia, has closed on $125m.

PE industry invests heavily in research, development - BVCA report
13/02/2008. Private equity-backed companies continue to be a major driver of the UK economy, The Economic Impact of Private Equity in the UK report published by The British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association confirms. In the five years to 2006/2007, in private equity-backed companies, research and development expenditure increased by 14 per cent per annum, compared to a national growth rate of just one per cent per annum.

Thomas H. Lee Partners, Goldman Sachs invest in MoneyGram recapitalisation
13/02/2008. An investment group led by growth buy-out firm Thomas H. Lee Partners and investment banking firm Goldman, Sachs & Co. has agreed to invest at least $710m in a recapitalisation of payment services company MoneyGram International.

Infinity hires John Hunt as partner
12/02/2008. Manchester, England-based private equity firm Infinity Asset Management has appointed John Hunt as a partner. In his new role, he will be involved with generating and managing investment opportunities for the firm.

GIMV, KBC establish joint investment vehicle for Russia
12/02/2008. Belgian private equity firms GIMV and KBC Private Equity have teamed up to establish a new firm, Eagle Capital Partners, to target the Russian market. The firms are planning to invest around €10m each per year over the next three years.

BVCA announces membership of Sir Mike Rake's Guidelines Monitoring Group
12/02/2008. The British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association has announced that Alan Thomson, former group finance director of Smiths Group, and Jeannie Drake, retiring deputy general secretary of the CWU (the Communication Workers Union) have been appointed as independent members of the new monitoring body set up in response to Sir David Walker's recommendations on increasing transparency and disclosure by the private equity industry. Robert Easton, managing director at The Carlyle Group, and David Blitzer, senior managing director at The Blackstone Group, will represent the private equity industry.

General Atlantic, Hellman & Friedman invest $575m in Emdeon
12/02/2008. General Atlantic and Hellman & Friedman have acquired all remaining interests in Emdeon held by HLTH Corporation. General Atlantic purchased a 52 per cent interest in the company from HLTH in November 2006.

MBF Healthcare to acquire Critical Homecare Solutions for $420m
11/02/2008. MBF Healthcare Acquisition Corp., a publicly traded special purpose acquisition vehicle managed by private equity firm MBF Healthcare Partners has agreed to acquire Conshohoken, Pennsylvania-based home infusion therapy company Critical Homecare Solutions Holdings, from Kohlberg & Company, for $420m.

Lyceum Capital closes first independent fund above target on £255m
11/02/2008. UK mid-market private equity firm Lyceum Capital has closed its new fund - the first since the team's May 2006 MBO from WestLB - on £255m. Lyceum Capital Fund II had an original target of £200m.

HRJ Capital closes fifth venture capital fund of funds on $273m
11/02/2008. HRJ Capital has closed its latest venture capital fund of funds, HRJ Capital VC V, on $273m.

Eqvitec hires Hadar Cars as investment director
08/02/2008. Nordic technology-focused venture capital firm Eqvitec Partners has appointed Hadar Cars as an investment director in its Stockholm office.

Canaan Partners closes fund on $650m
08/02/2008. Venture capital firm Canaan Partners has closed its eighth fund, Canaan VIII, on its target of $650m. The new fund will focus on the technology and healthcare sectors and brings Canaan's total capital under management to $3bn.

Sofinnova Ventures appoints David Hytha to the firm's IT team
08/02/2008. Early stage venture capital firm Sofinnova Ventures has appointed David Hytha to the firm's IT team as an executive-in-residence.

Industri Kapital acquires Groupe Etanco
08/02/2008. European private equity firm Industri Kapital has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire French building fastener and fixing systems company Groupe Etanco from the Lebraut family in partnership with CEO Ronan Lebraut and members of the founding family and management. The size of the transaction was not disclosed, but has been reported to be worth around €250m, according to a source close to the deal.

Biffa agrees to £1.23bn acquisition by Montagu, GIP
08/02/2008. UK waste services company Biffa has agreed to be acquired by WasteAcquisitionco, an acquisition vehicle formed by private equity firms Montagu Private Equity, Global Infrastructure Partners and also UCIL, in a deal that values Biffa at approximately £1.225bn.

Alchemy Partners acquires optical fibre company Geo for £62m
07/02/2008. London-based mid-market private equity firm Alchemy Partners has acquired optical fibre network company Geo from technology corporation Hutchison Whampoa Group, in a deal worth £62m.

Novacap closes two funds totalling CAN$565m
07/02/2008. Canadian private equity firm Novacap has closed two funds: Novacap Industries III on CAN$400m and Novacap Technologies III on CAN$165m.

KKR invests $250m in Bharti Infratel
07/02/2008. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Co. has invested $250m in Bharti Infratel, a wholly owned subsidiary of Indian mobile company Bharti Airtel. The investment will be made by KKR's Asia-focused private equity fund and its global private equity fund.

Mid-Atlantic VCs more active in Q4 2007 than a year ago
06/02/2008. In Q4 2007 a total of 89 per cent of the regional investors closed at least one new investment, compared to 64 per cent in the previous quarter and 72 per cent in Q4 2006, according to the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association's venture capital survey results for the fourth quarter of 2007.

3i to back $395m MBO of Alpharma's Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
06/02/2008. 3i has agreed to back the MBO of Norway-based pharmaceutical business Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, a division of NYSE-listed Alpharma, in a deal worth around $395m.

Pine Brook hires former JPMP CIO Arnold Chavkin
05/02/2008. New York-based private equity firm Pine Brook Road Partners has appointed Arnold L Chavkin as a managing director.

European venture capital investment in 2007 reaches highest total since 2002
05/02/2008. Venture capital investment in European companies topped €4.56bn in 2007, the highest annual total since 2002, when it reached €5.14bn, according to the quarterly European Venture Capital Report published by Dow Jones VentureSource. However, Europe’s deal count fell for the sixth year in a row with 897 deals completed, ten per cent fewer than in 2006 (998).

Acto Mezzanine closes €187m fund
05/02/2008. Acto Mezzanine has closed its Acto Mezzanine FCPR fund on €187m, ahead of its €150m target. The fund focuses on sponsorless transactions bas