Jenny Blinch

The UK government-backed fund of funds has invested in Advanced Finance Investment Group’s maiden fund, which will hold a second close this year on its way to $150m.

Chris Rowlands' decision to leave 3i is the latest in a series of senior management changes at the global firm. Rowlands has spent 17 of the past 25 years working for 3i, and twice has been considered by market insiders as a contender for the CEO role.

As we continue to see casualties of the global economic crisis in Asia, it is worth noting that many of the headline private equity victims so far have been Western firms attempting to expand into Asia, writes Jenny Blinch.

The $40m investment from the private equity arm of Saudi Arabian bank NCB Capital will enable Egypt’s Sigma Pharmaceutical to expand into other key markets.

The Bahrain-based firm has added a third school to its education platform with the acquisition of Dubai-based Al Maaref school.

Samir Assaad Samaan, formerly NBK Capital’s head of private equity, will lead the Abu Dhabi-backed firm’s push into the buyout market.

The Middle East saw a record-breaking fundraising year in 2008, according to the latest statistics, but fundraising is slow going and some private equity funds are struggling to even reach a first close.

Following on from its debt default in December, the Kuwaiti-government backed financial institution has restructured its management as part of ongoing reform. It is unclear how this affects its private equity activities.

The proceeds of the firm's fourth rights issue will be used to fund growth opportunities at portfolio companies.

The Abu Dhabi government-backed investment company has hired former Volvo executive Anders Ljungqvist for the role, as it positions itself to build up its third party fund management.