Western Europe

SVG recruits marketing and corporate finance directors(3)

SVG Capital, the UK fund of funds, has hired James Witter (pictured) and Sharad Rathke as directors after making a trio of appointments last month.

Gresham to profit from UK hunger for pasties(2)

Gresham, the UK mid-market buyout firm, has bought the West Cornwall Pasty company, banking on the Cornish snack’s durability in an economic downturn.

Baird and Lubar to sell healthcare design firm for $247m

Baird Capital Partners and Lubar & Co. will contribute $85 million in rollover equity to finance the acquisition by REIT Cogdell Spencer.

GP Investments matches Latin American fund record(4)

The quoted Latin American firm GP Investments has closed its fourth fund on $1.3bn with partners in the firm contributing almost a third of the capital to equal Advent International's record breaking Latin offering.

KKR signs Turkey’s largest deal(4)

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, the US buyout firm, has bought UN Ro-Ro in its first transaction in Turkey, making it the latest firm to gain exposure to the country and the neighbouring MENA region.

Lion looks to private bidders for Wagamama(4)

Lion Capital, the European buyout firm, has called off a planned listing for Japanese restaurant chain Wagamama because a trade sale will fetch a better price as it looks to exit after two years ownership.

AIC endorses Walker reporting guidelines for all large companies(3)

The Association of Investment Companies, a UK trade body, has recommended the Walker report’s guidelines should be extended to all large companies because the regulations should not solely target private equity.

‘Mother of all tax hikes’ opposed by industry groups, Republicans(4)

The Private Equity Council, National Venture Capital Association, International Council of Shopping Centers and many Republican lawmakers have come out in opposition to legislation introduced yesterday that would significantly increase US taxes for alternative investment fund managers.

Report: LPs align to demand better deal terms

The 10th largest public US pension has said a group of large institutional investors, including a sovereign wealth fund, are discussing how best to group together to obtain more favourable deal terms. The LPs are also reportedly conferring on investments in private equity firm franchises.

Macquarie consortium in $7.4bn US utility deal(3)

Puget Sound Energy, Washington state’s largest utility company, will be taken private in a $7.4 billion transaction by a consortium including Macquarie, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation.