Middle East & North Africa

Origo recruits South African MD(2)

Beijing-based private equity group Origo Sino-India has hired John Blake as managing director of mergers and acquisitions.

Former PCG heavyweights found rival firm(2)

Monte Brem, the former president of gatekeeper Pacific Corporate Group, has founded a competing firm in California with two other ex-PCG executives.

Sainsbury’s faces fresh takeover interest(2)

Three Delta, a Qatar-based investment group, has bought a 15 percent stake in UK retailer Sainsbury’s, increasing the pressure on the board to realise greater value from its real estate assets.

Qatar National and Oxford Capital launch venture firm(2)

Qatar National Bank has teamed up with Oxford Capital Partners to found Qatar Capital Partners, which will back technology companies in Qatar.

European Venture Partners re-brands, closes third fund(2)

European Venture Partners, a provider of venture debt products, has changed its name to Kreos Capital and has closed its third fund on €200m.

Battery grows Silicon Valley team(2)

Battery Ventures has hired away two tech industry professionals, VeriSign’s Matt Niehaus and Google’s Satya Patel.

4D raises $181m for hydrocarbons(2)

Paris-based 4D Global Energy Advisors has closed another fund exclusively focussed on small to medium sized companies in the hydrocarbons sector.

Oak backs Reunion.com(2)

US VC firm Oak Investment Partners has completed a $25 million funding round for social networking site Reunion.com, one of the biggest investments in the area to date.

Ontario Teachers expands to London(2)

Teachers’ Private Capital, the private equity arm of the Canadian pension, has launched its first foothold outside of Toronto with a London office led by Andrew Claerhout.

Israel’s Vintage closes third fund(2)

Vintage Venture Partners, an Israeli fund of funds and secondaries firm, has closed its third fund at $125 million.