Jupiter, the asset manager owned by Commerzbank, is set to buy itself out with backing from UK firm Candover and US rival TA Associates for £680m.
HgCapital has completed its exit from the Hirschmann Group, selling the car communication division to management for an undisclosed sum.
UK investment trust Mithras has launched a fund-of-funds programme, which will be headed by Tandem Private Equity founder Gillian Brown.
Fresh from its $39 billion take-private of Equity Office Properties, Blackstone becomes the world’s second largest operator of tourist attractions and theme parks with a £1 billion deal to buy The Tussauds Group.
The London-based firm has closed its largest fund so far after receiving commitments of nearly €900 million from a range of US and European investors.
HgCapital’s consumer team has completed its deal in three months, buying UK fashion retailer Americana International for £190 million.
Based on some of the recent press coverage of the industry, it would be easy for the casual observer to get the impression that private equity is the root of all evil.
The US-German investment house’s latest life sciences-focused fund will invest principally in US biotechnology companies.
According to proprietary data from sister publication Private Equity Real Estate magazine, last year’s record fundraising looks set to continue in 2007.
The New York-based firm has surpassed its target goal of $800 million with the closing of its new $850 million fund.