Paul Fruchbom

Six months after its acquisition of New Skies Satellites, The Blackstone Group has taken the satellite operator public in a $200m IPO, valuing the firm’s equity at almost three times its initial investment.

Hamilton Lane recently hired former World Bank principal investment officer Francesco Mainolfi to run its hedge fund of funds business. In an interview, Mainolfi said that a more sophisticated level of ‘convergence’ may soon emerge in the private equity world.

After investments ranging over 11 years and three private equity funds, Hicks Muse has finally exited its holdings in Clear Channel, resulting in a loss for its Fund IV investors.

Guggenheim Aviation Partners has closed a new fund to purchase used passenger planes, partnering Guggenheim Capital with a group of aircraft lease experts.

In a transaction involving two beleaguered private equity firms, Forstmann Little will acquire 24 Hour Fitness from McCown De Leeuw for approximately $1.6bn.

Fifteen months after acquiring German dental equipment manufacturer Sirona for €418m, the Swedish private equity firm has sold the company to Madison Dearborn in a deal that fetched approximately €800m.

Amid recent staff turnover and the launch of an internationally focused subsidiary, the private equity advisory firm has separated its direct investment and institutional management arms into two different business units to create more operating focus.

A few months after CalPERS chief investment officer Mark Anson warned of a private equity “bubble”, the board of the California pension fund will soon decide whether to give him more autonomy in making private equity allocation decisions. By Paul Fruchbom