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Altius expands investment team

Two new hires come as the fund of funds is working to secure $150m for Fund II, which is expected to reach a final close by the end of the year.

KKR continues Japan build-up

The global firm has promoted Shusaku Minoda to chairman of KKR Japan and hired a new managing director and chief executive for the country, after adding two professionals last month.

Brookfield sees high turnover in fundraising team

Four senior executives in the alternative asset manager’s private funds group have been laid off or resigned recently, contributing to significant turnover of the fundraising team in the last year.

Idinvest appoints new partner

Olga Koulechova will be working on developing investor relations at the Allianz private equity spin-out, which plans to double its assets under management within the next five years.

Penta founder steps down

Martin Kúšik’s role at the evergreen fund will be taken over by partner Marek Dospiva and investment director Thomas von Werner, a few weeks after the firm opened its first office in Germany.

AXA private equity debt head leaves

Cécile Mayer-Lévi has opted out of the next fund cycle, leaving Olivier Berment as head of AXA PE’s private debt activities just after the firm closed a long-awaited spin-off from its parent insurance group.

LDC expands Yorkshire team

The in-house private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group has appointed Joe Farren as an investment director as it sees its deal pipeline improving in the region.

Privately Speaking: Sonali De Rycker of Accel Partners

European venture has disappointed investors for a decade. But many believe the prospects for this segment of the market have never been better – and funding is starting to concentrate around a few managers who seem to have the models to take advantage. Accel Partners’ European arm, which has just closed a $475m fund, is emerging as one of the best of its breed – and in Sonali De Rycker, it boasts a partner described in some quarters as ‘the best VC in Europe’. James Taylor went to meet her, to ask why LPs should believe that this time will be different...

First Round: The Dirty (Dishes) Dozen

In March, the great and good of UK private equity descended on the Victoria & Albert Museum for the valedictory fundraising dinner of the Private Equity Foundation, an industry-backed group that supports and develops youth charities. As ever, the highlight was the blind auction, where guests bid generously for prizes donated by various buyout firms and managers.

First Round: Guess who’s back?

As you scan the pages of this august publication, dear Reader, First Round knows just what you’re thinking. Oh yes. You’re thinking: gosh, I miss seeing Mitt Romney’s tanned and chiselled features on these pages every single cotton-picking month without fail. What’s that? Oh.